Dr Katz: Connecticut Schools Receiving Free Nutrition DVD

DERBY — In an attempt to help curb the incidence of childhood obesity, Dr David L. Katz, director of the Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center and founder of The Turn the Tide Foundation, Inc, will be providing complimentary copies of the Nutrition Detective DVD to all school district superintendents in Connecticut. Nutrition Detective is a brief, 90-minute, nutrition program designed for elementary school aged children.

Dr Katz developed the program to help address the growing epidemic of obesity in children.

“Everyone should recognize the urgency of this epidemic,” said Dr Katz. “We are watching children develop what was, not long ago, ‘adult onset’ diabetes, now called type 2. We are seeing signs of heart disease risk in ever younger people. Since the obesity epidemic has been created by an array of factors in modern society, combating obesity will require an array of solutions.”

He said schools can be one vital part of this solution.

“The dietary choices that children make today have profound effects on their health,” said Dr Katz. “Kids care about health when you get them to understand that healthy people feel better and have more energy. In short, healthy people have more fun! Nutrition Detectives gets kids to care about their health, and gives them the clues they need to do something about it — and to help their whole family get healthier.”

Through the new DVD format, the program is now available in an exciting video filmed in a “magical” classroom. Through special effects and simulation, Dr Katz uses his magic classroom to convert six students into “certified nutrition detectives,” and takes the viewing audience on that same health-promoting journey.

The DVD-based curriculum teaches valuable lessons about the importance of eating well, with an emphasis on practical skills needed to identify and choose nutritious foods. The program teaches children to be “clued in” to health, and gives them five essential clues a “Nutrition Detective” needs to get right to the truth about nutrition on any food package by helping them how to understand nutritional information on food packages; see past deceptive marketing claims; distinguish whole grain foods from refined grains; and recognize the importance of eating natural whole foods such as fruits and vegetables.

The Nutrition Detective program has been available in print form for several years, and is in dozens if not hundreds of schools throughout the United States. Dr Katz and his colleagues have recently completed a three-year, controlled evaluation of the health effects of the program in 13 elementary schools in Missouri and, with funding from the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, is currently partnering with the New Haven School District and their wellness program to bring Nutrition Detective to selected fourth and fifth grade classes.

Production and distribution of the DVD has been funded by an unrestricted educational grant from Juice Plus+, a natural whole food-based product providing nutrition from fruits, vegetables, and grains in capsule form, and by Dr Katz’ nonprofit Turn the Tide Foundation. The foundation was founded on Dr Katz’ mission to empower families to lead healthier lives and thereby reduce the risk of obesity and other chronic diseases. Nutrition Detective program materials are available on-line at www.davidkatzmd.com/nutritiondetectives.aspx.