Jan 8, 2009 7:02 pm US/Eastern
Boston School Helps Combat Obesity Among Students
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
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Students at the Umana School in East Boston have healthy food options, including wraps, fresh fruit and salad.
WBZ
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Roberto Paredes lost 20 pounds by eating healthy and exercising more.
WBZ
Roberto Paredes is a healthy, athletic 15-year-old, but he wasn't always this way.
"When I was in elementary school, I was fat."
He lost 20 pounds by eating right and exercising more. Now he's getting help keeping the weight off at his middle school, the Umana School in East Boston. Instead of cookies, chips and soda, the cafeteria offers healthy wraps, fresh fruit and salad, and the kids eat them.
"I had the steak and cheese wrap with salad and corn," said 13-year-old Catrena Ody.
Fifteen-year-old Marfel Melendez likes the fresh fruit. "When they give pears and apples I eat them, oranges I eat them."
The school instituted a wellness program two years ago. Principal Jose Salgado said the need is great: more than half of Umana's students are overweight or obese and 17 percent are at risk of developing Type Two Diabetes. But, he says they don't emphasize weight loss. "I think the focus must be on health, what does it mean to be a healthy person and a functional healthy person."
With the help of grant money, the school hired a chef who cut the school lunch calorie count by 40 percent. Each student has his or her Body Mass Index, BMI, measured. If there's a problem, the nurse sends a letter home to the parents offering help. And they've also added a number of exercise programs to keep the kids moving.
Roberto Paredes has the help and motivation he needs to stay fit. This football player describes how it felt to lose the extra weight, "I felt beautiful."
Massachusetts is expanding anti-obesity efforts by requiring major restaurant chains to prominently post calorie counts for their fare either at the counter or on the menu.
Details: 'Mass In Motion' Plan
Read: Schools, Restaurants Targets Of Obesity Fight
Does your child have a healthy body mass index?
Exercise calorie calculator.
Healthy recipes for kids.
Healthy, kid-friendly recipes.
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