Nutrition

Indicator Definition
High school students who report eating five or more servings of fruits and vegetables every day for the past seven days.

High school students who ate five or more daily servings of fruits and vegetables in past seven days in Colorado4

High school students who ate five or more daily servings of fruits and vegetables in past seven days by sex and race in Colorado5

Indicator Significance
According to results from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, the state with the highest percentage of high school students reporting optimum consumption of fruits and vegetables is Rhode Island at 25 percent. During adolescence, there is a tendency for teens to engage in poorer eating habits than in childhood when their eating is more closely monitored by parents. Poor eating habits in adolescence can have serious health consequences in later life, including osteoporosis, obesity and immature adult stature. Eating disorders are most prevalent during this period of physical development. Nutritional surveys indicate that the highest prevalence of nutritional deficiencies occur during adolescence.¹

Colorado Specifics
Colorado high school students report average fruit and vegetable consumption compared to teens in other reporting states. Since 2003, the number of high school students reporting an optimal consumption level of fruits and vegetables has slightly decreased. More boys report eating recommended amounts than do girls and white teens are more likely to eat recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables than are Hispanic teens.

Promising Initiatives
In Colorado
Over the last three years, The Keystone Center in Colorado and the National Consortium for Specialized Secondary Schools of Mathematics, Science and Technology (NCSSSMST) have conducted three successful Keystone Center Youth Policy Summit programs. Each year, 40 high school students from 10 NCSSSMST schools across the nation are invited to Colorado to participate in the Youth Policy Summit. In 2006, in preparation for the summit, students conducted an independent research project focused on childhood and adolescent nutrition. At the Summit, students meet to share their results with food, nutrition and medical experts from prominent nonprofits, corporations and government agencies. A final report produced by the students includes recommendations for school administrators and state policymakers. This unique approach challenged teen participants to think about the best ways of delivering effective health messages to their peers.²

Elsewhere
CANfit, the California Adolescent Nutrition and Fitness Program, has spent more than a decade working to improve the health and nutrition of low-income, ethnic youth who have been most affected by the obesity epidemic. CANfit works to empower and engage local communities by providing culturally appropriate programs that highlight nutrition and physical activity. The program incorporates aspects of dance, hip-hop and music to deliver health messages. CANfit also consults with other youth organizations to enhance their ability to provide nutritious choices and information to the adolescents participating in their programs. CANfit advocates for policy change and encourages unique nutrition programs through grant funding.³

High school students who ate five or more daily servings of fruits and vegetables in past seven days by sex and race in Colorado⁶

Text

1. University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, “Adolescent Nutrition”
   
2. Keystone Center Youth Policy Summit Student Agreement
   
3. California Adolescent Nutrition and Fitness Program
   

Charts

4. Source: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 2001 – 2005
   
5. Source: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 2005
   
6. Source: National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Healthy Youth, 2005, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention