“Schools have to meet attendance and
test score requirements. SHAC members know that the healthier children are, the better they do in school and the fewer classes they miss. Once we’re able to make that connection between academ- ic performance and health, it becomes easier to affect change in school health,” Dr. Pont said.
A 2009 study by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) indicates physically fit stu- dents are more likely to perform well on tests and have fewer disciplinary prob- lems in school. Dr. Pont says school districts value
having physicians and other health care professionals serve on local SHACs. “Doctors are health leaders in the community. They can have a great im- pact on the health of children. People look to physicians for health informa- tion because doctors can supply them with accurate information from reliable sources,” he said. Physicians interested in joining their local SHAC can visit the school district’s website for information or contact the school superintendent. Dr. Pont suggests physicians attend a SHAC meeting to get an idea of what’s involved in member- ship and to see that it’s a collaborative atmosphere. Keller family physician Erica Swe-
gler, MD, chair of the TMA Committee on Infectious Diseases, was Keller High School team physician for seven years. She says physician involvement in school health is beneficial.
“I valued my time on the sidelines. As a physician, I was able to work with the athletic trainers on assessing athletes for injury and on managing athletes with health conditions,” she said.
A healthy foundation Dr. Swegler recognizes the importance of building a foundation for healthy life- styles in children.
“Obesity is one of the greatest health
threats to our generation and subsequent generations. Healthy diet and adequate exercise are keys to good health in chil- dren, and those habits will follow them into adulthood,” she said. Keeping Texas children moving and ensuring healthy eating habits help cur-
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tail the state’s obesity rate. The Texas Public Health Coalition (TPHC), of which TMA is a charter member, devel- oped legislative recommendations that include the following obesity prevention priorities:
• Preserve funding for the Texas School Health Network within the Texas De- partment of State Health Services (DSHS) budget while supporting the chronic disease prevention exception- al item related to obesity prevention.
• Restore a half-credit of PE in high school as well as health as a require- ment for graduation.
• Strengthen the TEA’s prekindergar- ten health standards related to nutri- tion and physical activity. Allocate a specified percentage of the Texas De- partment of Agriculture’s health and nutrition grants for programs serving young children.
• Use local SHACs to make policy rec- ommendations to school districts on the types and quantity of sugar-sweet- ened beverages sold in school vend- ing machines and a la carte offerings.
• Support policies that address obesity and a lack of access to affordable and healthy foods, including using vacant state land for community gardens and incentives for private landowners to offer a portion of their land for the same purpose.
• Support establishing nutritional con- tent standards and guidelines that set local food procurement targets for foods offered via vending machines
and food service programs in state facilities and agencies.
For a full list of TPHC legislative priorities and for information on the group’s members, mission, and advo- cacy areas, visit
www.texmed.org/publi chealthcoalition. Joel Romo, senior director of govern-
ment relations for the American Heart Association Southwest Affiliate, chairs the TPHC obesity subcommittee. “In developing these recommenda- tions, our subcommittee took a lot of time to examine all aspects of obesity prevention in order to garner support for addressing obesity in the classroom and at the kitchen table, on the school playground and at neighborhood parks,” he said. Sen. Jane Nelson (R-Flower Mound),
chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, says she shares the coalition’s “overall goal to encour- age Texans to take better care of their health.”
In line with the coalition’s recommen- dation to increase physical activity and health education requirements in public high schools, Senator Nelson introduced Senate Bill 134 this session to require one-and-a-half credits of PE and one- half credit of health education for high school graduation. “One of the best ways to convince
more Texans to live healthy lifestyles is to instill good habits during childhood, which is why I will fight for more physi- cal education in our schools. Healthy
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March 2013 TEXAS MEDICINE 49
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