FOOT SPECIALISTS SPONSOR STUDENTS’ WINTER WONDERLAND WORKOUT TO STAMP OUT CHILDHOOD OBESITY

The sixth grade class of Camellia Waldorf School (Sacramento, CA) recently enjoyed early morning walks through frost kissed meadows, hikes along snow dusted trails, playing soccer in the brisk winter air, and ice-skating beneath a full moon, all while taking in the spectacular views of Yosemite National Park.  The trip was made possible in part by a Fit Feet Fight Fat grant from the California Podiatric Medical Association (CPMA), a professional organization representing over 1,000 foot and ankle specialists throughout the state.

“We were thrilled with the offer of support from The California Podiatric Medical Association.” said a beaming Judi Mattson, Camellia Waldorf School’s sixth grade teacher.  “It was truly an amazing and awe inspiring experience for the students, for many of whom this was their first trip to Yosemite.

“What made CPMA's grant so appealing was its emphasis on healthy outdoor activities and experiences for children.  Healthy living is an integral part of the Waldorf education here at Camellia, where wholesome, nutritious food choices and physical exercise is stressed.  CPMA’s Fit Feet Fight Fat grant was a sponsorship that we could  embrace and endorse, and we wholeheartedly appreciate the Association's generosity” concluded Mattson.

 “We were excited when the opportunity to sponsor the students’ hike presented itself,” said Jon A. Hultman, DPM, MBA, Executive Director of the California Podiatric Medical Association.  “This is a positive, proactive, fun way to reach youngsters about the importance of exercise and physical fitness, especially during the winter months, when kids tend to hibernate and burn only about half as many calories as they do during the summer months.

 “We’ve all seen the numbers,” said Dr. Hultman.  “Nearly 61 percent of American adults and 15 to 20 percent of children are overweight or obese. In some predominantly African- American and Hispanic communities, nearly half of children are overweight or obese. Unfortunately, the vast majority of these overweight children will remain so as adults. The health care cost of obesity-related diseases is estimated to be over $100 billion a year.

 “The question has been asked again and again as to what we can do about the epidemic of childhood obesity now confronting the nation.  Of course we can treat the resulting diseases, which often manifest themselves early on in the foot, but treating obesity-related diseases does nothing to stop the spread of the epidemic.  The old saying ‘an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure’ is clearly evident here.”

Dr. Hultman went on to say, “Most of the approaches currently being put forth to combat childhood obesity have been aimed predominately at controlling food choices, including banishing junk food and soda vending machines from school campuses, increasing regulations on what types of food can be served at schools, and even attempts to sue fast food companies for causing a child’s obesity.

 “Obesity is the result of consuming more calories than are expended.  The current focus on restricting intake is only a partial answer.  The human body was designed to move, but comparatively little emphasis is being placed on the need to increase physical activity.  We are no longer a society of hunter-gatherers, expending all the calories we consume, nor are we any longer primarily an agrarian society, where long hours of hard labor were required in fields to secure enough food stuffs to sustain a family.  We now have the ability to produce and consume food far in excess of what we need to survive, leaving us with ever-increasing girths and body mass indices.  In my opinion, we need to take a two-prong approach to combating our obesity epidemic.  One of course is making healthier food choices, but equally important is the need to engage in more physical activity.

“The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) notes that only two states, Illinois and New Jersey, require students in every grade level to have daily physical education (P.E.).  Six states and the District of Columbia require two-years, and twelve states require half-a-year to one-and-a-half years of physical education.  Another twelve states have no requirement for Physical Education and leave it up to local school districts.  It is during these formative years that the patterns of behavior and habits are formed that we carry over into adulthood.”

Hultman, himself an avid sports enthusiast and strong proponent of the overall, positive effects of physical exercise went on to note findings of the American Heart Association with regard to grade school children getting fit.  Some of those findings note:

• A California study shows that students who meet physical achievements in school do better in math and reading than those who do not.
• Children who are physically active miss school four times less often than those who are inactive.
• Even though heart attacks and strokes are rare in children, evidence shows that the process leading to those conditions begins in childhood.
• Inactive children, when compared with active children, weigh more, have higher blood pressure, and lower levels of heart-protective high-density lipoproteins.
• Only about 60% of elementary students participate in organized sports or physical activity programs outside of school.
• A quarter of the nation's children do not attend any school P.E. classes.

 “One of the easiest, most effective, and cost-efficient ways of both getting kids in shape and staying in shape is walking,” Hultman said.  “It’s fun and free.  All you really need is a good, sturdy, comfortable pair of shoes.”   He gives the following tips for buying shoes:

• Shop for shoes later in the day; feet tend to swell during the day, and it’s best to be fitted while they are in that state.
• Try to select a shoe with a firm midsole, stiff heel counter, appropriate cushioning, and flexibility at the ball of the foot.
• Have your feet measured while you’re standing.
• Buy shoes that don’t pinch your toes, either at the tips, or across the toe box.
• Always try on both shoes, and walk around the store.
• Always buy for the larger foot; feet are seldom precisely the same size.
• Don’t buy shoes that need a “break-in” period; shoes should be comfortable immediately.
• Try on shoes while you’re wearing the same type of socks or stockings you expect to wear with the shoes.
• If you wear prescription orthotics—biomechanical inserts prescribed by a podiatric physician—you should take them along to shoe fittings.

 Hultman also recommended using a pedometer. “A pedometer can motivate you to log more steps each day.  Experts say if we all added 2,000 more steps to our day, we’d get and stay in shape.

 “Also,” said Hultman, “parents need to get up, out, and active with their children.  It’s not okay to tell your youngster to go outside and play while you’re on the couch chowing down on chips.”

Founded in 1912, the California Podiatric Medical Association (CPMA) represents over 1000 of the state’s premier foot and ankle specialists.  For over 94-years CPMA has served the people of California by promoting the science and art of podiatric medicine, protecting the public health, and elevating the standards of medical education. 

For more information visit www.podiatrists.org or call 800-794-8988