By Michelle Bliss
Wilmington, NC –
The study is called HOPS--Healthier Options for Public Schoolchildren and it incorporates specialized school menus with foods of the month and educational materials like cartoon characters, posters, and stuffed animals.
It also helps with projects like classroom gardens, assemblies with guest speakers, and extra P.E. equipment.
Dr. Arthur Agatston is the creator of the South Beach diet and his research foundation heads this study.
He says childhood obesity needs to be addressed now in public schools.
"While kids are overfed, they are literally malnourished--they're not getting fruits and vegetables. And a lot of the academic problems, behavior problems, ADHD--all things like that, I believe, are nutritionally-related."
New Hanover County school officials say a small percentage of parents refused to allow their kids to participate because the study records student BMIs to measure school-wide progress. Student names are not attached to the collected BMIs.
Check out the HOPS menu.
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