Schools

DPH Ranks Medfield Students 14th Healthiest in State

In a recent study analyzing data from 254 school districts in the state, Medfield ranked 14th in the state with the lowest percentage of overweight and obese kids.

 

According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, students in the Medfield Public School District rank 14th among "Massachusetts towns with least overweight, most fit kids," according to a story by WCVB The Boston Channel.

The DPH keeps data on the percentage of overweight and obese students in each school district, says the story. Data used was from Body Mass Screening done in schools in 2009, 2010 and 2011. 

Find out what's happening in Medfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Students in grades 1, 4, 7, and 10, in 254 districts and organizations, were surveyed. 

In this study, Medfield ranked 14th in the state with the lowest percentage of overweight and obese kids.

Find out what's happening in Medfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Of the top 92 school districts listed, some of our neighbors ranked:

  • ranking / town / Body Mass Index
  • 5. Needham, 14.8
  • 9. Dover-Sherborn, 16.4
  • 11. Hopkinton, 17.1
  • 14. Medfield, 19.2
  • 17. Westwood, 19.9
  • 25. Wellesley, 21.1
  • 39. Medway, 23.1
  • 47. Holliston, 23.8
  • 50. Ashland, 23.9
  • 53. Sharon, 24.0
  • 59. Millis, 25.6
  • 66. Walpole, 26.0
  • 69. Natick, 26.3

At the top of the list at No. 1 was South Shore Regional Technical School (8.8 BMI); at the bottom of the list, No. 92, was Danvers (28.6). 

Susan Cowell is the district's Wellness Department Head. She said the study "is a thorough, reliable, and really positive step toward addressing the significant public health problem of obesity."

"Being overweight, obese or underweight can put a person at risk for serious medical conditions, so I'm very happy the DPH is taking action to aid in both intervention and prevention," said Cowell. "It's one part of a more comprehensive plan designed to improve the healthof our children, and for them to establish habits which will keep them healthier throughout their lifetimes."

She said it also adds substance in recognizing the need for quality comprehensive health education, physical education and parent education; and provides an impetus for all administrators, teachers and parents to provide the most nutritious food available and frequent opportunities for physical activity throughout every day.

Cowell explained that BMI is only one measure of a child's health status, and an elevated BMI can be the result of a student being particularly muscular or other family history factors, but this process is just a screening tool, not a diagnostic tool. Therefore, a child with an elevated or underweight BMI would then be evaluated by their physician where other appropriate screenings would take place.

Patch: Are you happy that Medfield ranked 14th in the state?

Cowell said she is pleased with the town's standing within the state but said she remains concerned about the 175 students (in grades 1, 4, 7, and 10) whose BMI came in overweight or obese.

"We owe it to those kids, and the others like them in the nine grades which weren't included in the study, to step up our efforts to provide an educational environment that keeps the health of our students at a high priority," she said.

The Wellness Department is currently revising the district's Wellness Policy, and will also recommend stronger language which supports a healthier school environment relative to food availability, nutrition education, physical education and physical activity.

Patch: To what can Medfield attribute its low obesity/overweight rate?

Cowell said there are several factors involved and that, while she is "very, very pleased" to be lower than most..."we need to take into consideration the fact that our current cultural habits have created a less healthy, more overweight society overall."

She said it is not unusual to find lower rates of overweight and obesity in communities with higher household incomes, but she credits school administrators who have recognized the importance of the work the district's health and physical educators do with our students and have supported those programs.

"There is now significant research to support what we in the wellness field have always known: Good nutrition and an active lifestyle lead to better learners, more fit bodies, a reduction in illness, and thus better school attendance," she said. 

Patch: What does a report like this say about Medfield's wellness curriculum?

"I think it says we're on the right track, but that we can do more. Many of the communities with higher BMIs than Medfield do not have the programming that our students participate in, and I hope that those towns recognize that the cost of cutting those programs is greater than the cost of running them," said Cowell. 

She described the current wellness curriculum as "excellent" at all levels but said the district continues to make improvements when needed.  

"Just this year, we have expanded our nutrition education curriculum at all levels, and have more fully implemented yoga from grades K-10. Our ballroom dance program, initially started in grade 8 and 10, has been expanded as well, and this year will include students in grades 4-12. Sequential fitness education can be seen in every grade, and recognizing fitness as a sport in and of itself (not just a means to good health) is the next phase in our curriculum development.  


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here