Norman Public Schools health services coordinator Sharon Howard knows it's important to teach children as early as possible to eat healthy and exercise often.

Howard said Norman Regional Hospital compiled a summary of body mass indexes from elementary student health screenings completed during the 2007-2008 school year. NRH employees visited all 15 NPS elementary schools.

According to the BMI survey, Jackson Elementary ranks the lowest for students at risk or overweight at 25.7 percent, and Wilson Elementary has the highest percentage of students either at risk or overweight at 36.57 percent.

Howard said the district's average is 31 percent, two points less than the national average.

"We fall very close to the national average of 33 percent," she said.

The calculation formula for a child's body mass index is different from the procedure needed to find an adult's BMI, Howard explained.

She said NPS can only do so much to help children develop healthy eating habits and exercise plans.

"The child is only in school a percentage of time," she said. "The family has to make good choices and decisions."

Debbie Richardson of NPS child nutrition said the program does its part to provide children with a well-balanced breakfast and lunch each school day.

"I think what we do best is our offering of fresh salads every day, fresh fruits and vegetables on the Offering Bars, even fresh spinach," Richardson said. "We are constantly searching for nutritious products that students like to eat like our Smart Pizza that contains less fat and has a whole wheat crust. We can offer all the healthy items we as parents would like for them to eat, but if they won't eat it we are wasting our time so we research by making sure the new items are 'kid tested' before we menu them."

Richardson said Smart Pizza has become a popular menu item.

Howard said physical education classes meet state requirements for physical activity and seek to keep children active.

"They receive nutrition and healthy information as part of the curriculum," Howard said.

Roosevelt Elementary physical education teacher Donna Hatfield said her teaching philosophy with elementary students is to encourage physical fitness and follow a healthy lifestyle.

"I wanted to teach them it's OK and fun, and it should be a regular part of life," she said.

Roosevelt ranked second among the lowest percentage of at risk or overweight students, according to the BMI survey.

Hatfield said it's important for children to develop fitness routines and exercise.

"They should be doing that at home and when they are in high school," she said.

Hatfield said each physical education begins with stretches, sit-ups, push-ups and a little bit of running. "We take time out of the lesson to make sure they get that in," she said. "I try not to make it a pressure but a fun thing."

Last year, Roosevelt Elementary PTA purchased a rock climbing wall that promotes staying active and having fun at the same time.

"We use it a lot in stations, and we got more equipment," Hatfield said, adding that the extra equipment will be used to incorporate more activities.

Jefferson Elementary physical education teacher Nan Schuchman said students undergo fitness testing in fall and spring semesters. A walking program takes place Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

"Students are able to walk in the gym for 15 minutes, and our incentive is after they complete 5 miles, they get a toe token and their name is read at the weekly assembly," Schuchman said.

She said Jefferson students visit physical education class every other school day.

"We are always promoting physical activity in class and during recess as well," she said.

Schuchman said she talks about lifelong goals with children and mentions ways for kids to stay healthy and eat nutritious food.

"We provide lists of healthy snacks they can have during break time," she said.

Howard said the State Department of Health has introduced a pilot program known as CATCH to Kennedy Elementary's after school program. The acronym stands for Coordinated Approach to Child Health.

Every Tuesday, students receive a nutrition lesson followed by exercise, she said.

CATCH is a two-year program and the second year just began, Howard said. Once it is evaluated, the course could be taken statewide.

Meghan McCormick 366-3539 mmccormick@normantranscript.com