Introduction

• Overall health is strong and robust at this age

• Percentage of obesity increases at this age compared to early childhood

  • In school-age children may have increased autonomy over food choices , and prefer sweet or fast foods

  • More screen time, insufficient physical activity

  • Genetic variables Has long-term health and psychosocial consequences

• Has long-term health and psychosocial consequences

  • Diabetes, high cholesterol, cardiovascular

  • Peers, bullying

  • Children vulnerable to messages

• Some improvement in social policies on healthy eating

Health & Nutrition

1. Focus on maintaining healthy eating and wellness

   1. Need calories for growth , energy

2. Balance in messages of healthy eating

   1. Diet culture pervasive at younger ages, especially as media expands

   2. Themes of acceptance

3. More time needed for school-age children in physical activity, outdoors

Chronic Illness

• Chronic illnesses are on the rise

• Asthma: a chronic lung disease that involves episodes of airflow obstruction.

• Most common childhood chronic disease.

• Incidence has steadily increased over the years.

  • Exact causes are unknown, but it is believed that it results from a hypersensitivity to environmental substances that triggers an allergic reaction.

• Treated with inhalers and medications.

• Physical activity is a possible protective factor against asthma development.

• Often monitored in school

Sleep

• Sleep improves for most children and then declines again as older, adolescents

• CDC recommends 9-12 hours of sleep

• Both lack of sleep and poor sleep quality have negative consequences for children.

• Somatic complaints, poorer school performance, mood disorders, motor skills problems, behavior problems

• In one study, a pattern of sleep problems over a 4- year period from preschool to school age was associated with a 16-fold increase in the risk of psychosocial symptoms, problems with social interactions, and anxious/depressed mood.

• Nocturnal enuresis (bedwetting) may still occur. Important to look at underlying causes