In 2009 the U.S Center for Disease Control and Prevention has further supported the consensus of existing evidence that children from low-socioeconomic status (SES) backgrounds continue and have and increasing risk for becoming overweight and remaining overweight.
http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2009/jan/07_0226.htm. Socioeconomic status (SES) is viewed as a categorical measure of three variables: income, education and occupation. Those in the social strata with the minimal levels of these variables have maximal levels of health risks and obesity. Implicit to obesity and its unequal distribution are disparities in income, education and occupation. Focusing only on healthy eating and being more physically active misses the heart of the problem.
PROJECT ASPIRE: AN OVERVIEW  back to the top
Project Aspire is a comprehensive wellness program that addresses this oversight by encouraging and initiating an interest in professional health careers. While our emphasis is indeed on nutrition and physical activity we do not omit the importance of education and occupation.
There is an obvious need for school-age obesity prevention programs in general; however, Project Aspire is specifically designed to address the unique needs of youth and families from less advantaged socioeconomic backgrounds.
Obesity Prevention Interventions
Culinary Educators for Students and Parents back to the top
Since the 1960s there has been a 300% increase in fast food consumption and a 200% increase in childhood obesity. There is more money spent on fast food than on higher education. About two-thirds of mothers with young children are working moms. As a result, a major percentage of children and teens eat with TV not families.
Single parenting or having both parents in the work place has resulted in fewer cooked meals at home, and more important, fewer opportunities for children to develop cooking skills and healthy eating habits.
In response to these challenges, Project Aspire provides trained culinary educators from the Natural Gourmet Institute, the leader in culinary arts education, as a regular feature of our classroom curriculum. Culinary educators emphasize natural food preparation, recipe terminology, identification of whole food labels and label literacy.
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| Culinary educator teaches whole food preparation. |
Motion is the Potion back to the top
Project Aspire provides schools with a trained physical education teacher to supplement the limited physical education programs in the schools. Classroom lessons, outdoor special events, and annual school Olympics are all part of the Motion is the Potion full-school year program. Children learn the importance of daily exercise through fun activities and innovative video games.
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| Led by Project Aspire physical education teacher, children warm up for school Olympics wearing their Project Aspire t-shirts |
GameBikes and DancePads back to the top
Video games have contributed significantly to the childhood obesity epidemic. Enter a revolutionary idea: a stationary bike or dance pad that interfaces with Sony Playstation, Nintendo Wii, and Microsoft X-Box. Instead of using only their fingers to play the games, children control every movement of their legs and bodies to power, speed and steer their way through interactive video game courses.
“Instead of being sedentary game spectators, kids become energized athletic participants…these game bikes are just the balance between aerobics and fun, and can help make kids both healthy and happy.”(Dr. Mehmet Oz)
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| A Project Aspire student at the Bronx High School of Medical Science on a GameBike racing video |
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| Two high school students follow the prompts on a video DancePad |
RMR testing for Student/Teachers/Parents back to the top
Most Americans (especially American teenagers) are weight conscious. Resting Metabolism Rate (RMR) testing, is a non-invasive, and painless breathing procedure that in minutes accurately determines an individual’s calorie needs. RMR testing has also been used in behavioral programs to ameliorate eating disorders (Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT). Project Aspire uses this state-of-the-art technology to engage students in lessons on weight management.
Measured RMR is a vital component in the creation of an individual nutrition plan (INP). RMR testing is especially useful for students to develop personal weight management skills. Resting Metabolism Rate testing helps students understand their personal energy requirements and to learn how to self-manage weight-loss or weight-gain without dangerous diets. RMR testing helps to promote increased physical activity as students recognize how difficult it is to balance their energy equations without exercise. RMR scientifically illustrates the significant individual differences in human metabolism. Recognition of metabolic differences (fast or slow) enables students to realize how biological metabolic predispositions can foster differences in bodyweight. This realization and understanding helps students mediate the prejudice and discrimination and social distain that underlie the mental anguish of obesity.
| RMR: Nutrition’s Missing Link |
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Student at Bronx High School of Medical Science
has her metabolism tested. |
 Project Aspire/Operation Lab Coatback to the top
Project Aspire, a new health program of the Children’s Health Education Foundation, Touro College
The mission of Project Aspire is to bring health education into classrooms and to encourage students to pursue careers in the health field. A goal of Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine (TOUROCOM) is to attract students from diverse backgrounds. Bridging the gap between schools and the community, faculty and medical students from TOUROCOM will visit schools and teach students from pre-kindergarten through high school about nutrition, hygiene and good health habits, incorporating current New York State and New York City academic standards in health and health-related subjects.
An elementary school initiative of Project Aspire is Operation Lab Coat, which provides the students with a free lab coat. The children wear the lab coats during Project Aspire-related activities and presentations, such as today’s grand opening of the medical school. The Operation Lab Coat students at today’s ceremony are from P.S. 197, Renardo Wright, Principal, and represent the 10 Central Harlem schools that are planning to participate in Project Aspire. These elementary school students are the Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine Class of 2024. |
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