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news
release |
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ANDREW J. SPANO, Westchester County Executive SUSAN TOLCHIN, Director
of Communications |
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CONTACT: SUSAN TOLCHIN (914) 995-2932
VICTORIA HOCHMAN (914)
995-2950
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MARCH 15, 2004
SPANO VISITS LM KLEIN MIDDLE SCHOOL IN HARRISON FOR NO JUNK FOOD WEEK
County urges students
county-wide to ditch junk food for one week to develop better eating habits
In an effort to keep kids
from becoming victims of what is fast becoming America’s number one preventable
cause of death, Westchester County Executive Andy Spano today kicked off No
Junk Food Week in county schools.
Speaking before a
school-wide assembly at the Louis M. Klein Middle School in Harrison, Spano
told more than 800 6th-8tth graders that obesity was fast becoming
the number one preventable cause of death in this country and that students
needed to change their eating habits.
“I know junk foods taste
good, but they are not good for you,’’ said Spano. “It’s not a matter of giving
up French fries today and then you’re done. It’s a matter of learning how to
eat healthier, and changing your habits little by little. Once you get the hang
of it, it’s not so hard.’’
Spano was at the school to
urge students to join others in 25 schools across the county who are giving up
junk food for the week as part of a Westchester County-sponsored No Junk Food
Week. The Westchester County Health Department’s Fit Kids program to fight
childhood obesity is running the competition during the month of March, which
is national nutrition month.
Schools across Westchester
(see attached list) have agreed to participate by asking their students to sign
a pledge, promising to eat only healthy snacks for one week. Prizes provided by
the county will be raffled off to those who sign up and the school with the
most participants will be presented with a framed certificate from the county
executive and the health commissioner.
Spano’s appearance coincided
with Harrison’s Wellness Week, in which the school has planned a week’s worth
of events to underscore the importance of healthy eating and exercise.
(MORE)
Page 2 of 3 No Junk Food
Week
The school held a health
fair in the gym from 10 a.m. - 12 noon, following the 9 a.m. school-wide
assembly. The fair featured displays and food vendors that offered kids healthy
food alternatives from sushi to baked chips. Other presenters – including dance
and martial arts schools and fitness clubs - will visit the school throughout
the week.
Also speaking at Monday’s
event were Health Commissioner Dr. Joshua Lipsman and Harrison Superintendent
of Schools Louis Wool.
The Federal Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention reported last week that in 2000 there were
400,000 deaths related to poor nutrition and lack of physical activity, a 33 percent
jump from 1990. This puts obesity only slightly behind smoking as the number
one preventable cause of death in the United States. But while the number of
deaths attributed to smoking is declining, those attributed to obesity continue
to rise.
NO JUNK FOOD WEEK PARTICIPANTS