School Nurse Peg Quilty Attends Forum: "Talking With Kids About Healthy Lifestyles"

School nurse and health educator, Peg Quilty RN, MSN, recently attended “Talking With Kids About Healthy Lifestyles” a forum at the Massachusetts State House for educators and other professionals who work on behalf of young people. She says she has returned to Beacon “full of new ideas” to inspire both staff and students to become more active and eat healthier.

The forum, which was presented by Partners Healthcare/Community Health and Jeanne Blake’s Words Can Work and co-sponsored by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, began with an urgent warning: Massachusetts is experiencing an epidemic of childhood obesity.

Some startling statistics tell the story: between 23% and 30% of 10- to 17-year-olds across the state are overweight or obese. These children are at a higher risk for heart disease, diabetes, asthma, depression and low self esteem. Obese children and teens are also at risk for being alienated and bullied by peers.

Quilty says she was encouraged to see the Great Hall packed with political leaders, concerned school administrators, educators, nurses, parents and students, all looking to improve the health and nutrition of young people..

She was particularly impressed by Dr. Lindsay Shaw, who spoke enthusiastically about the cognitive and emotional benefits associated with exercise, and cited numerous studies that show that increased physical activity can lead to improved mood and better performance in school.

When Shaw was asked how schools can fit in more time for physical activity, she asked everyone in the room stand up and run in place taking quick tiny steps for 15 seconds, stopping and repeating this three times leaving everyone breathless, energized and laughing. Pointing out that this exercise took less than two minutes, she said it was just one example of something that could easily be incorporated into the school day.

Eager to check out some of the resources she discovered at this forum, Quilty says she will be sharing the Helping Kids Make Healthy Choices DVD with others at Beacon. And after hearing some of the panelists talk about the lack of healthy foods being offered in many schools throughout the state, she has decided to take a closer look at the lunch food and the “healthy“ vending machine choices at Beacon.

Quilty is also hoping to start a Wellness Council at Beacon to encourage students and staff to make some changes that will promote healthy lifestyles at Beacon. “My hope is that 2012 is a year of renewed emphasis on health and wellness at Beacon.”