Studies predict that America's youth will be the first generation not to live as long as their parents.

America's weight problem has a lot to do with that trend. In the past 30 years, adult obesity rates have more than doubled and youth rates have tripled. Illinois has not escaped--recent studies show that approximately 25 percent of adults and 11 percent of youth are obese in our state.

Many factors contribute to the breadth of this crisis. The availability and affordability of healthy food, restricted time and space for exercise, and limited public knowledge of the risks and costs associated with obesity are a few examples.

The Healthy Lifestyles School (HLS) project started in the summer of 2009 with the goal of promoting healthy lifestyle choices among students and families at Garfield Primary School, Trewyn Middle School, and Manual High School in Peoria.

The Full Service Community Schools (FSCS) Advisory Council proposed the project to Quality Quest and a team was assembled. Team members included school principals and staff, local government officials, youth, health and community focused non-profits, parents, nutritionists, medical experts, and local businesses.

After all the research was gathered, the HLS team worked diligently on developing long and short-term recommendations to present to the FSCS Advisory Council.

 Recommendations:

• Create a Full Service Community School Wellness Council
• Develop and implement wellness model for Full Service Community Schools
• Expand on-site afterschool physical activity programming
• Increase physical activity of students
• Offer nutrition education at every grade level (K-12)
• Work directly with food service providers to offer the healthiest meals possible
• Encourage parent-focused nutrition education initiatives and develop programs to work with youth requiring intervention in addressing obesity

The Healthy Lifestyles School Project implemented a Wellness Council as part of the Full Service Community School. The Wellness Council is a multi-stakeholder group that works to improve health and wellness in this community.

Additionally, the Peoria Health Department I-Plan Obesity Initiative was addressing this issue in Central Illinois. To prevent duplication of efforts, the Wellness Council and Peoria Health Department have combined strategies for greater collaboration and success. As a result, the Central Illinois Wellness Council now encompasses three sub-committees: Obesity, Oral Health, and Reproductive Health.

Successes:

• USDA Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Grant award for 2011-2012 at Trewyn School
• Community garden built at Garfield School with the help of Gifts in the Moment
• Presented at the Food & Nutrition Conference in San Diego
• Published in Journal of American Dietetic Association
• Implemented YMCA after-school exercise program using Peoria Fire Department as mentors
• YMCA & subsequent Wellness Council initiative awarded Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Pioneering for Health Communities planning grant

Black Belt: Cheryl Toland - Quality Quest
Team Lead: Viktor Schrader - Quality Quest

Team Members:

Daurice Figgers, Parent/Activist
Shannon Fowler, Peoria Health Dept.
Carl  Cannon, Peoria Park District
Terri Cannon, Logan Park/Peoria Park District
Dr. Jeanette Davidson, Bradley University
Stan Hangen, Parent Rep
Sandy Burke, School District 150
Dr. Tim Vega, OSF Healthcare System
Stacey DeJaynes, MMCI District 150 Health Clinic
Denise Urycki, Exergaming/GITM
Taunya Jenkins, Manual High School
Joyce Banks, Schwari-Chenga Project
Cheryll Boswell, METEC
Lori Frampton, Peoria Housing Authority
Brenda Coates, Peoria Housing Authority
Kevin Curtin, Garfield Primary School
Eric Thomas, Trewyn Middle School
Heather Young, Manual High School
Dr. Mike Taylor, Caterpillar Inc.
Kyle Dooley, Sen. Dave Koehler's Office
Amanda Newell, Bradley University
Kim Keenan, Exergaming/GITM
Marjorie LaFont, U of I Extension Office
Jo Garrison, OSF Healthcare System