Daniels promotes INShape Indiana

In the midst of a gubernatorial election campaign and rallies, Gov. Mitch Daniels manages to keep fitness at the top of his priority list.

A self-proclaimed “gym rat,” Daniels asked attendees of INShape Indiana’s 2008 Indiana Health Summit to tell him how the government can further teach and promote healthy lifestyles, especially in schools.

On Oct. 15, the annual INShape summit kicked off in the Indiana Memorial Union’s Whittenberger Auditorium.

“Healthy Schools, Healthy Indiana” focused on further decreasing obesity and tobacco use in Indiana, as well as fostering healthier learning and working environments for our state’s students and school employees.

INShape “has really grown as a grassroots effort,” said Judy Monroe, Indiana State Health Commissioner.

There are currently about 80,000 people receiving e-mails and getting involved through the campaign’s Web site, she said.

Daniels said INShape targets schools because they make it easy to reach people.

“This can be one of the very most productive things we can do if we can find the answers, the things that work,” he said.

In order for INShape to successfully integrate proper health education into schools, it’s necessary to “articulate resources at the federal, state and local levels, as well as to provide some examples of schools who do this well,” said Robert Goodman, dean of the IU School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation.

Getting a healthy start by focusing on tobacco, nutrition and physical activity is where it all begins, Monroe said, noting that making a difference starts with leadership.

Partnerships across various industries are aiding the state in reaching ideal health standards.

In 2007, schools were required to establish coordinated school health programs consisting of parents, students, nutritionists, health care professionals and school administrators, said Suellen Reed, Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction.

“We must all work together with schools to ensure Indiana students are provided with a healthy learning environment,” Reed said. “Healthy students make better learners.”

While the summit focused on creating healthy schools, administrators and teachers cannot solely be expected to bring about huge differences in the lifestyles of their colleagues and students, the summit’s mission stated.

Making single requests to schools are fine, Daniels said, but when looking at the complete list of demands schools have to deal with, it’s “overwhelming and impossible,” he added.

“I’m running around in short pants doing chin-ups on television,” Daniels said, laughing. “Whatever you think might catch somebody’s eye. That might be all I can do, but if we can at least get people to stop and think, we’ll start to see these needles, that are now just barely tilting, move in a bigger and bolder direction.”