WHHS makes a habit of healthy living

Living a healthy lifestyle and encouraging proper nutrition in childhood years has become the new priority in the fight against obesity. It’s no different for West Hempstead High School physical education teacher Robert Gerwitz, who participated in a community forum on childhood obesity last week at Stop & Shop in West Hempstead.

“We’re focusing on lifetime skills, skills that average and below-average students can compete in throughout life,” Gerwitz said. “It’s not just about nutrition. It’s about physical activity as well.”

Gerwitz said the high school athletic department focuses primarily on teaching prevention, and that all the physical education classes follow a similar format: warm up, lifetime skills, activity and then education. Students are taught that health and fitness — not diets — must be incorporated into one’s lifestyle.

Childhood obesity has become a widespread issue throughout the country, as it puts children as risk for a whole slew of diseases, including cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol and Type 2 diabetes. According to the Centers for Disease Control, childhood obesity has more than tripled in the last three decades.

“Child Obesity has exploded in our country in recent years,” said Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano, who joined Gerwitz as a panelist at the March 31 forum. “More and more of our children and youth are suffering from poor nutrition which results in obesity, diabetes and other diseases.”

Mangano went on to encourage parents to promote healthy living at home. “Let’s set up our kids to become successful and healthy,” he said.

Arlene Putterman, coordinator of Stop & Shop’s Childhood Obesity Initiative echoed Mangano’s sentiments and urged parents to introduce healthy lifestyle habits for their children from an early age. “Good eating and physical activity are essential,” she said.

West Hempstead High School has taken on itself the responsibility to promote health, creating a Wellness Committee to both enhances the district’s physical education pogrom and improve the district’s food selection.

“Everything’s fresh” Gewirtz said. “More vegetables, trying to cut down on french fries, serving whole wheat and mini bagels.”

The high school bakes its chicken fingers instead of frying them, he noted, and introduced a salad bar and wrap station to further influence good eating habits among students.