COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), in partnership with the University of South Carolina and the BlueCross® BlueShield® of South Carolina Foundation, has released a new SC FitnessGram data report, revealing a steady decline in student health throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
The SC FitnessGram assessment is a comprehensive physical fitness test that evaluates various components of fitness, including aerobic capacity, muscular strength, flexibility, and body composition. The test is administered by school PE teachers in grades 2, 5, 8, and high school in participating schools across South Carolina.
In keeping with the declines in health noted in the study, participation in the study also declined from 64 districts in 2018-19 to just 52 in 2020-21, and of those 52 districts, only 21 districts had high-enough student participation data to be considered responsive. This study reflects data from those districts, which represent 48,154 students, 58% of whom qualify as living in poverty according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
The report shows the percentage of children in the “Healthy Weight Category” decreased from 65% pre-pandemic to 59% post-pandemic, and the percentage of students in the “Healthy Fitness Zone” for cardiorespiratory fitness (i.e., heart and lung function) declined from 60% pre-pandemic to 51% post-pandemic.
There were also several disparities present in the data:
A disproportionate number of Black and Hispanic children scored lower on all testing than their White peers;
Students living in poverty are less likely to achieve the Healthy Fitness Zone; and
The percentage of students in the Healthy Fitness Zone decreases from elementary to middle to high school.
“This stark decline when students are not in the school setting, particularly for marginalized populations, proves that students are much more physically active when attending school in person,” said Dr. Brannon Traxler, DHEC public health director. “These numbers show us just how important the role of public schools is to our children’s overall health, and schools should continue to promote physical activity before, during, and after school. We have a lot of ground to make up.”
Dr. Russ Pate of the USC Arnold School of Public Health and his team at the Children’s Physical Activity Research Group has been analyzing the SC FitnessGram data since its inception in 2014 and producing statewide reports of the data annually.
“These findings add to the growing body of evidence showing that the COVID pandemic harmed children’s health by depriving them of the physical activity that they normally receive in the school setting,” Pate said.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, healthy children are less likely to develop chronic health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease at a young age. The health of children also has a direct impact on academic capabilities. Children who are within a healthy weight range tend to have better memory, attention spans and self-esteem compared to those who are overweight or obese.
Breonna Mealing, SC FitnessGram Coordinator, said the connection of childhood health to the workforce of tomorrow can’t be underestimated.
“Even within the Career and Technical Education offerings for South Carolina students, there are many jobs that require physical fitness such as construction, the military, manufacturing, transportation and corrections,” Mealing said. “While offering these pathways to our students is important, equally as important is ensuring students are physically capable to take on those jobs once they graduate.”
The critical data SC FitnessGram produces each year is used to support programs and policies in public schools that will improve the health of our children. However, schools alone cannot bear all of the burden.
“We are calling on not only schools, but community organizations, parents, community members, and students themselves to play a role in the movement for daily physical activity,” Mealing said. “Not everyone can do everything, but everyone can do something.”
Visit SC FitnessGram at scdhec.gov/fitnessgram for the full data report and summary and to learn more about how you can support the movement to support students’ health from head to heart.
Wholespire announced the recipients of its latest Healthy Eating and Active Living (HEAL) Mini-grant to support local-level projects that increase access to healthy choices. Out of 73 applications, 11 community organizations were chosen to receive up to $6,000 each that will help South Carolinians lead healthier lives and prevent or manage chronic diseases.
All of the awarded applicants indicated on their application that community members were involved in the decision-making process and provided positive feedback about their projects. Studies show that when community members support policy, systems and environmental changes like creating a new walking trail, they will more than likely use that new public resource.
“Because of this particular question on the application, we can confidently say that people in South Carolina want something healthy to do and something healthy to eat,” said Meg Stanley, executive director at Wholespire. “It doesn’t make sense to us to invest money in a project that the people don’t want. This type of information also tells us how well applicants know their community.”
The following community organizations were awarded a 2023 HEAL Mini-grant:
Knights Hill Historic Preservation Board, Inc. (Kershaw County): The Seniors Walking Trail at Knights Hill Park in Camden
United Way of Kershaw County (Kershaw County): Vandal-resistant water bottle refill station at KC West Park in Lugoff
SC School for the Deaf and Blind (Spartanburg County): Natural Playground for all students, especially those with sensory differences
Greens and Things Farmers Market (Greenville County): Mobile market that accepts SNAP and serves the Shemwood community in Greenville, SC
St. James Health and Wellness (Georgetown County): Walk into Health Walking Track to serve patients and the Sampit community
Greenwood County First Steps (Greenwood County): Storywalk trail to promote outdoor family engagement, literacy and physical activity and activity kits to help children develop motor skills
Truth Ministries (Marion County): Create a community garden to fight food insecurity for low-income families and individuals in Gresham, Marion and surrounding communities
Blacksburg High School (Cherokee County): Expand the Growing Together student-led garden project in Blacksburg
JBC Cares (Richland County): Improve a community walking trail in Hopkins
Fairfield County Parks and Recreation (Fairfield County): Enhance Willie Lee Robinson Park by adding a swing set for children to play in Blair
United Way of Chesterfield County (Chesterfield County): Provide the towns of Ruby and Jefferson with a Born Learning Trail
The HEAL Mini-Grant initiative is made possible by a grant from the BlueCross® BlueShield® of South Carolina Foundation. BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.
Policy, systems and environment (PSE) change differs greatly from programs. PSE change is sustainable throughout time, while programs are temporary. The two approaches can work hand-in-hand, but PSE change seeks to go beyond programming and into the systems that create the structures in which we live, learn, work, pray and play. Join us and the University of South Carolina Arnold School of Public Health experts as we discuss PSE change and provide real-life examples across South Carolina. This webinar is for anyone working to increase access to healthy choices, especially healthy eating and active living.
Over the course of the past few years, corporate wellness strategies have been on the rise, and for good reason. When executed properly, they can not only improve the overall health of your workforce, they can also increase productivity and positively affect your organization’s bottom line. But what makes a wellness program effective, and what are companies doing to respond to the events of the last few years? Read on to learn more.
The Benefits of an Effective Corporate Wellness Strategy
Creating a plan to encourage healthy eating and active living among your employees will benefit not only them but your organization as a whole. Below are some of the major reasons why you may want to consider developing a corporate wellness strategy of your own.
Decrease in Absenteeism
Corporate wellness strategies can help create a more physically and mentally healthy workforce. A healthier workforce is far less likely to miss time on the job, meaning you can all but cross absenteeism off your list of things to worry about as the leader of your organization.
Combat Chronic Disease
A good corporate wellness strategy is a form of chronic disease prevention. With the proper resources, education, and support system in place, your staff can learn to take on healthier habits and avoid serious health issues.
Save Money on Healthcare Costs
A generally healthy staff is most likely going to require much fewer and less expensive medical costs than an unhealthy one. That means that investing in a corporate wellness program can ultimately save your organization money on healthcare and related expenses.
Creating an Effective Health Strategy in a Post-Pandemic World
Just like pretty much everything else over the course of the past year, corporate health strategies have been completely altered by the COVID-19 pandemic. With remote work becoming far more prevalent and mental health issues on the rise, organizations are going to need to adjust their wellness programs to reflect these changes and a number of others. Below are some of the major focal points of post-pandemic corporate health strategies.
● Increased telemedicine and video resources ● Greater access to mental health benefits ● Adjustment to the work-from-home model ● Increased support for those with chronic conditions ● Greater use of public health data
Although vaccines are being distributed and the world is slowly returning to normal, certain changes resulting from COVID-19 may be permanent. It’s imperative to acknowledge these changes in order to create an effective corporate wellness program.
Reaching Beyond the Workplace
Companies have an opportunity to positively affect community health with their wellness programs, too. By creating a workplace that values health, you can serve as a healthy eating and active-living model for other companies and to your community as a whole.
Your company could also take it one step further than that and partner with community organizations in order to engage in public health advocacy. Using your platform to do things like combat hunger in the state, take a stand against food insecurity and health disparities, and promote a healthy lifestyle can boost your community and your company’s reputation.
Ready to incorporate HEAL into your workplace? Contact us today and we can help outline your next steps and provide you with resources to get started.
