CHILDREN BROADLY MISDIAGNOSED WITH ADHD, STUDY FINDS — School-aged children are being under and over diagnosed for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), according to one of the largest studies conducted on ADHD. The study in the Journal of Attention Disorders revealed only about one-third of children taking medication for ADHD met the diagnosis criteria. Meanwhile, a substantial number of children who met the criteria had not been diagnosed or treated for the disorder. Researchers said the problem stems in part from studies that rely on parents’ perceptions and clinicians not properly trained to assess or diagnose mental disorders. The 10-year study conducted from 2002-12 followed 10,427 children from elementary school through middle school in four school districts in South Carolina and Oklahoma. Teachers and parents provided reports on children’s ADHD diagnoses, medical treatment, other health problems and health risk behaviors. Sources: Journal of Attention Disorders (9/5/12), ScienceDaily (10/19/2012)

PARENTS ADMIT RESPONSIBILITY FOR CHILDHOOD OBESITY — In a new survey from Yale’s Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, 60 percent of parents blamed themselves for the rise in childhood obesity, with the rest of the responsibility assigned to an unhealthy food environment. The online survey of 2,454 parents with children ages 2 to 17 with an average family income of $59,000 was conducted three times from 2009-11. Expense, easy access, and children’s media use and advertising were cited as the top barriers to ensuring healthy eating habits for their families. Source: Los Angeles Times (11/1/12)

STUDY FINDS SMARTPHONE USE INCREASES TEENS’ SEXUAL ACTIVITY — Researchers at the University of Southern California found the use of smartphones increases the likelihood of sex among teens. The study results presented at the American Public Health Association’s annual conference revealed that teenagers with smartphones are 1.5 times more likely to be sexually active, almost twice as likely to be solicited for sex online, and more than twice as likely to have sex with someone they met online. The study team analyzed data from 1,839 students within the Los Angeles Unified School District. Findings from the study also showed that non-heterosexual teenagers are five times more likely to solicit sex online than their heterosexual classmates. Sources: New York Daily News (11/5/12), University of Southern California School of Social Work (11/9/12)

REGULAR MEALS DECREASE CHILDREN’S OBESITY RISK — Preliminary data from Indiana University research suggests the combination of consuming more meals and playing sports reduces children’s risk for gaining weight or remaining overweight. Conversely, consuming soda, watching TV, and playing video games increases students’ risk of gaining weight or remaining overweight, said the study’s author. The study examined 5,300 students at 11 schools who participated in the Healthy, Energetic, Ready, Outstanding, Enthusiastic Schools (HEROES) program. Findings of the survey also showed that a school’s socioeconomic environment influenced students’ weights, with obesity or overweight more likely in poorer schools. Sources: MedlinePlus (10/30/12), Indiana University (10/30/12)

VICTIMIZED STUDENTS MORE LIKELY TO CONSIDER SUICIDE — A study in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine found that bullied or abused students are more likely than their peers to consider suicide. The report concluded that children who suffer from seven or more types of victimization are six times more likely to contemplate suicide than other students. Other findings were that within a month prior to the start of the study, 4.3 percent of the students interviewed had experienced suicidal thoughts. Findings also showed that youth who were sexually assaulted were 3.4 times more likely to experience suicidal thoughts and those who were maltreated were 4.4 times more likely to experience suicidal thoughts. The study examined nearly 1,200 children aged 10 to 17. Sources: MedlinePlus (10/22/12), Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine (10/22/12)

MIXED DATA ON LEAD LEVELS FOUND IN MINNESOTA CHILDREN — Unsafe lead levels in Minnesota children are down significantly from 1995. Data released by the Minnesota Department of Health indicates the number of children with high levels of lead in their blood went from 4,339 in 1995 to 584 in 2011. However, federal health officials changed safety standards for lead levels since then, and under these new standards more than 3,000 Minnesota children are still considered as having unsafe lead content in their blood. Source: Star Tribune (10/25/12)

CHILDREN WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES ARE MORE LIKELY TO BULLY — Children with mental disorders are three times more likely to be bullies than other children, according to Brown University researchers. Their survey, presented in October at the American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference and Exhibition, concluded that children diagnosed with depression were three times more likely to be identified as bullies by parents or guardians, and children diagnosed with Oppositional Defiant Disorder were six times more likely to receive this label. The data came from the 2007 National Survey of Children’s Health of more than 64,000 children. Source: American Academy of Pediatrics web post (10/22/12)

SURVEY SHOWS AGREEMENT WITH FEDERAL SCHOOL FOOD STANDARDS — The California Endowment reported 91 percent of parents with children in California public schools support the new federal meals standards under the Healthy and Hunger-Free Kids Act being implemented in schools this year, and 82 percent of students agree. Both groups surveyed also approved of the new calorie limits and agreed that school lunches have improved over past meals. Additionally, majorities in both groups want the new standards to include food sold outside of the federal meal program, such as in vending machines and school stores. Six hundred parents and 509 students were surveyed in early October 2012.

These findings were released at the same time as a report from the Kids’ Safe and Healthful Foods Project showed that rising obesity rates may be caused by overconsumption of just 110 to 165 calories daily. This is roughly the same number of calories that differentiates a snack of an apple from a bag of chips, though most secondary schools do not sell fruits and vegetables in their school stores, snack bars, or vending machines. Sources: The California Endowment press release (10/18/12), Kids’ Safe and Healthful Foods Project press release (11/1/12)

COOPERATIVE EXERGAMES LEAD TO TEEN WEIGHT LOSS — Overweight students who participated in a 20-week “Wii Club” during the 2009-10 school year in which they played exercise games that forced them to cooperate with their peers to earn points lost an average of 3.6 pounds during that period. Students in the control group, who did not play the games, gained 1.9 pounds over the same period, while students in a third experimental group who played exergames in competition with other students maintained their weight. The study by researchers from the Children’s Digital Media Center at Georgetown University was funded through a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Heath Games Research program and published in the journal, Obesity. Seventy-four overweight and obese high school students in an under-resourced neighborhood in Washington, DC were recruited to participate by playing the exergames 30-60 minutes per school day during lunchtime or after school. Source: Pioneering Ideas blog (10/30/12)

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POLICIES TO PROMOTE SCHOOL SAFETY AND PREVENT VIOLENCE  
NASBE released a new chapter in its acclaimed Fit, Healthy, and Ready to Learn series of school health policy guides, Policies to Promote School Safety and Prevent Violence. The chapter covers a wide array of topics, including comprehensive planning, safety inspections and maintenance, school security, safe routes to school and driver education, anti-bullying strategies, health and safety education, and preventing athletic injuries.

FREE RESOURCES TO HELP WITH NEW SCHOOL MEALS — The U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Services’ “The School Day Just Got Healthier” campaign offers a variety of resources for administrators, educators, parents, and students to help them learn more about and adapt to implementation of the new school meal pattern. Visit the program site to access fact sheets on athletic programs and afterschool meal services, frequently asked questions about calories in school meals, and more tools.

RESOURCE AVAILABLE FOR CREATING STRONG PHYSICAL ACTIVITY PROGRAMS THROUGH POLICY — The National Physical Activity Plan’s Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program (CSPAP) Policy Continuum is a valuable resource for policymakers to determine what policy options are best for their communities. The tool provides a list of model policy language that address several key areas, with each example rated according to its objective strength. Additionally, the continuum provides suggestions for monitoring progress and requiring accountability for implementation.