Spotlight - Governors Council on Physical Fitness and Sports

F.R.E.S.H.

SILVER MEDALIST

The F.R.E.S.H. Program is grant-funded by Kaiser Hospital at $30,000 per year. It focuses on active living and healthy eating in the young child. In operation at the City of South San Francisco's two licensed preschools, it serves 100 children per day. Activities include age-appropriate nutrition education, sports and fitness, family fun nights, healthy cooking, lunch box packing seminars, parent workshops, gardening activities, and take home activities to decrease the amount of television viewing.

Statistics show that the percentage of overweight young people has doubled since 1980. The "California for Public Health Advocacy" reported that childhood obesity rose 6.2 percent statewide from 2001-2004. The study showed that 35.4% of Hispanic children, and 17.9% of Asian children are overweight. Hispanics and Asians make up 71% of our preschool program. Staff measure the children's body mass index, and the children will be tracked over time.

The F.R.E.S.H. program was developed in 2005 to educate children and their families at the preschool age so that they may avoid being part of this statistic. By offering this program to preschool children, they are developing healthy eating habits and acquiring active living skills early on so that it is becoming part of their lifestyle and breaking the cycle of obesity.

Children are more likely to be active and make healthy food choices if their parents are more active and/or support their participation in physical activities and healthy eating. After one year in the program, 50% of the parents report a change in their behavior and 75% report a change in attitude.

This program is innovative in that it is the first progam aimed at preschoolers in the City of South San Francisco. It recognizes that the greatest role model in young children's lives are their parents and it is designed to involve them in the process of influencing lifestyle changes.

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