SASKATCHEWAN SCHOOLS TAKE AIM AT YOUTH OBESITY AND INACTIVITY

High school students in Saskatchewan will soon have an opportunity to learn more about making healthy lifestyle choices as a result of an innovative curriculum launched today by Saskatchewan Learning.

"We're concerned about a number of negative health-related trends in Saskatchewan," Learning Minister Andrew Thomson said. "Like the rest of North America, the incidence of obesity, depression and diabetes are on the rise in our youth population. The dramatic increase in these kinds of illnesses has been traced back to our change of lifestyle. We're not taking good care of ourselves as a whole and our kids are no exception."

The course, called Wellness 10, combines the two disciplines of health education and physical education to promote living a balanced lifestyle. The Wellness Wheel, a visual representation of balancing the physical, psychological, social and spiritual, is based on the concept of the Aboriginal Medicine Wheel. From that, students are encouraged to balance physical activity and fitness, stress management, leisure, healthy eating and relationships into wellness plans they have designed for themselves.

"I'm excited to see Aboriginal philosophy of developing the whole person -- the physical, psychological, social and spiritual -- integrated into current wellness education," Culture, Youth and Recreation Minister Joan Beatty said. "It's important to nurture skills in our young people that will have a positive effect on their growth and development."

In addition to personal wellness, the curriculum focuses on local and global wellness as well. This concept stems from the idea that people can attain and maintain optimal wellness by taking care of themselves and reaching out to others and investing in meaningful causes beyond themselves.

Wellness 10 supports the vision of SchoolPLUS through its emphasis on developing the whole person. The course supports the initiatives of many other government and community organizations dedicated to health and wellbeing.

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For More Information, Contact:

Jacquie Mclean Learning Regina Phone: (306) 787-5609