Southeastern Louisiana University

Nursing students host "Falling into Healthy Habits" at Champ Cooper

Contact: Christina Chapple

11/2/06

CAPTIONS …

(1) HEALTHY FOOD CHOICES – Southeastern Louisiana University nursing students Aubrey Elias of Covington and Paige Stevens of Roseland discuss healthy eating choices with Champ Cooper students, from left, Blair Wascom, Jessica Walsh, and Blake Rappold.

(2) TOO SWEET? -- Southeastern Louisiana University student Kathy Steffans, a senior nursing major from Mandeville, shows Champ Cooper students Blake Rappold, Brittany Lutz, Jessica Walsh, and Blair Wascom how much sugar is in some of their favorite foods.

     HAMMOND – Senior nursing students from Southeastern Louisiana University conducted an all day health fair targeting childhood obesity at Champ Cooper School on Oct. 30.

     The students partnered with personnel from the LSU Agricultural Center to present “Falling into Healthy Habits,” an interactive educational program, to seventh and eighth grade students. The program was designed to help the students make healthy choices on a daily basis through hands-on learning and education.

     Students learned how to read the new food guide pyramid and food labels, determine age appropriate portion sizes, and measure their body mass index. They also learned how to make healthier food choices by limiting their fat and sugar intake, especially at fast food restaurants.

     The nursing students presented the program as part of their Capstone project,” a community-based health program required for graduation. School of Nursing seniors are required to design a project that addresses a health problem or concern and to collaborate with the community to implement it.

     “We decided to target childhood obesity because statistics show that nearly 20 percent of children ages 16-19 are overweight,” said senior nursing student Kathy Steffans of Mandeville. “Louisiana has one of the highest obesity rates in the nation with one in three school-aged children being obese. Childhood obesity puts individuals at risk for stroke, high blood pressure and diabetes later in life.”

     The Southeastern nursing students presenting the program under the direction of their instructor, Cathy Holland, associate professor of nursing, were Steffans, Donna Bankston of Franklinton, Aubrey Elias of Covington, Carol Hinson of Holden, Brandi Huber of Slidell, Anna Neal of Mandeville, and Paige Stevens of Roseland. LSU AgCenter participants were Kathy Mauthe, Linda Edwards and Natasha Pittman.