Los Angeles County Department of Public Health report: Redondo Beach Unified School District, Beach Cities Health District partnership contributed to 68% decline in childhood obesity
LiveWell Kids program outcomes validated by county report
Redondo Beach Unified School District (RBUSD), after teaming with Beach Cities Health District (BCHD), has witnessed a dramatic drop in childhood obesity among its students following the implementation of nutrition and exercise programs that started in 2007. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH) has taken notice and is publishing a Community Health Report detailing RBUSD’s success and hoping to inspire other school districts to combat obesity and improve health among their students.
The report, titled “Recent Trends in Childhood Obesity Prevalence in the Redondo Beach Unified School District: A Case Study,” notes data that showed one in five RBUSD elementary school students were obese – higher than the national average – leading BCHD to partner with RBUSD to launch the LiveWell Kids program in Redondo Beach schools in 2007. Within four years, the obesity rate in the school district fell from 20% to 15% and has
continued to drop steadily since, to 6.4% today
. This equates to a 68% drop in obesity from 2007-19 in RBUSD. Meanwhile, the national average has risen from 16% to 18% over the same period.
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"The findings are particularly impressive because they were sustained and observed across all public elementary schools, grade levels and demographic groups. In addition, the findings suggest a reduction in disparities in child obesity prevalence across racial/ethnic groups, a result that has been rarely, if ever, achieved in other locales.” - Paul Simon, MD, MPH, Chief Science Officer for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health
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Since 2007, thousands of trained, parent docents have delivered nutrition and garden lessons to RBUSD elementary students, teaching them the building blocks for healthy eating from a young age. Students have taken lessons learned in the classroom and garden and brought them home to share with their families.
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Eat Local: Meals for Home Delivery
Our errand assistance program now includes affordable and healthy meals for home delivery to vulnerable populations and those safer at home in the Beach Cities.
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Looking for Plant-Slant Options?
Mix up your
#TakeOutTuesday
and
#DineInWednesday
! See which Blue Zones Project Approved restaurants are open for dine in and offering take out, curbside pick-up or delivery.
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Thank you for doing your part to protect our most vulnerable
As more sectors in Los Angeles County reopen and more of us are out and about, we have to be kind and protect ourselves and one another. If you're venturing out, be prepared and stay safe by wearing your cloth face covering, staying at least 6 feet apart from others and avoiding crowds.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
recommends you take these items with you when you venture out:
- A cloth face covering
- Tissues
- Hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, if possible
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What to do if you have been in a crowded setting
If you are out and about in a crowded setting,
where people are congregating who are not using face coverings or distancing, or if you had close contact (within 6 feet for more than 15 minutes) with non-household members who were not wearing face coverings please consider the following:
Remain in your residence, away from others, in self-quarantine for 14 days
If you live with persons who are elderly or have high-risk conditions,
you should:
- Maintain at least a 6 ft. distance and wear a face covering when you are with them at home
- Avoid preparing food for others
- Avoid sharing utensils, bedding and towels
- Increase cleaning and disinfecting of common surfaces
Consider getting tested for COVID-19 if you have been exposed to someone that is positive or likely positive
- If the test result is negative, they should remain at home for 14 days to prevent spreading illness to others
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This is especially important if you live with high-risk individuals such as older adults and those with serious underlying health conditions. These vulnerable individuals are still at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
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Safer at Work and in the Community
Please remember the following sectors are still not allowed to reopen under the Health Officer Order; they
remain closed for now:
- Arcades, Bowling Alleys and Movie Theaters
- Baseball and Soccer Fields
- Basketball and Volleyball Courts
- Festivals and Theme/Amusement Parks (including Water Parks and Splash Pads in these Parks)
- Hot Tubs, Jacuzzis and Spa Pools not on Residential Property
- Live Performance Theaters and Concert Venues
- Lounges and Nightclubs
- Stadiums and Arenas (Closed to the Public)
- Youth Sports Leagues
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Mental Health & Happiness Series
Learn how to boost your well-being through evidence-based practices to build resilience, feel more connected and be happier.
Saturday, June 27
11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Reaffirm Purpose
Navigate transitions and focus on meaning
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Happiness Chat
Support your well-being with casual discussions focused on connection and resilience.
Tuesdays
12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
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Mindfulness Drop-In
Take 30 minutes to downshift and practice mindfulness techniques the first Wednesday of each month.
Wednesday, July 1
4 – 4:30 p.m.
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Blue Zones Project Social Hour
Enjoy good company and practice a few Power 9 Principles of Longevity, including Down Shift and Right Tribe.
Tuesday, July 14
4 – 5 p.m.
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Families Connected Parent Chat
Open to all parents. A free parent support group led by a licensed professional from the Thelma McMillen Center for Alcohol and Drug Treatment at Torrance Memorial Medical Center held in partnership with South Bay Families Connected.
Mondays
10 – 11 a.m.
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Free Fitness from Home
Free Fitness is back for another summer of fun, but this year from home! Get ready for virtual zumba and yoga on Mondays in July and August.
Registration opening soon!
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Get unlimited access to all
Center for Health & Fitness
live virtual exercise classes for $22 during June.
Small Group Training is also available virtually for $12 per class.
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Summer Wellness Challenge: Empathy
Over the past month, as protests have taken place across the nation in response to George Floyd's death, important discussions have been raised about racism, bias and social justice.
It is normal to worry that children will be exposed to these conversations on social media and in the news. Parents can use recent events as an opportunity to have honest conversations about racism to set a foundation for your child to gain insight and awareness.
Take time as a family to have a discussion around similarities and differences to help stand up against racism. Be a learner and listener – you don’t need to be an expert on racism to discuss it.
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Healthy Living Campus
BCHD has refined the Master Plan for its proposed Healthy Living Campus in Redondo Beach and presented the updated concept to the BCHD Board of Directors June 17.
The pared-down project features many changes based on community input, including fewer units, reduced square footage, re-positioned buildings and less construction time.
The Environmental Impact Report (EIR) process will continue — originally started in June 2019 — with the more compact Healthy Living Campus Master plan as the basis of the project description, which will inform the public and project decision-makers about significant environmental effects and identify possible ways to minimize or avoid those effects.
We are currently in the midst of the EIR process, so no decisions regarding the proposed campus have been made. The concept phase is complete and we are now heading into the environmental analysis. The Draft EIR is expected to be released late 2020.
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COVID-19 Testing at BCHD Campus
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Appointments for COVID-19 testing at Los Angeles County and Los Angeles City sites have been filling up quickly.
The county is strongly encouraging residents who have insurance to first contact their primary care provider for testing.
If you are unable to receive testing through your provider, please continue to check the site for availability at Los Angeles County or Los Angeles City sites, or make an appointment at a state-operated or community testing site such as CVS by visiting
covid19.lacounty.gov/testing
. Tests are free of charge and are by
appointment only.
Testing is available to all residents at Los Angeles City sites. Testing at all Los Angeles County sites including the BCHD site is available for
symptomatic persons
and
asymptomatic persons who have a chronic condition or are an essential worker.
We recognize the importance of COVID-19 tests during these unprecedented times and apologize for any inconvenience.
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Testing is prioritized for:
- Symptomatic persons with fever, cough, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell
- Persons who are over age 65
- Persons with a chronic medical condition
- Essential workers which includes janitorial, security, airport, government, health care, food, grocery and more
- Persons who have been close contacts of people who are positive for COVID-19
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Donate to the Beach Cities COVID-19 Fund
Donations will provide assistance to Beach Cities residents who are income qualified with essentials like groceries and household and cleaning supplies.
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We Can All Be Health Leaders
In addition to physical distancing and wearing cloth face coverings when we are around others,
we all still need to take the same precautions that we were taking earlier on in the pandemic
- wash your hands frequently, avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands and self-isolate if you are sick. These actions combined are the best defense against COVID-19.
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Need help with errands or health information and referrals?
If you or someone you know in the Beach Cities needs help, please call our Assistance, Information & Referral line at
310-374-3426, ext. 256
, seven days a week, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. or visit us online at
bchd.org/resources.
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Cases per 100,000 in the South Bay:
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For more information about COVID-19, visit:
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