CX ³ Glossary

BMI – Body Mass Index (BMI) is an indicator of body composition that is calculated with a formula that includes a person’s weight relative to his/her height; age and gender are also included in the formula for children. BMI is used in conjunction with other measures to identify individual weight-related risk by health care providers, and as a stand-alone measure to gauge population rates of overweight/obesity within public health.

Communities of Excellence in Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity Prevention (CX ³) – is a community planning framework that involves assessing communities in relation to a variety of nutrition, physical activity and obesity prevention benchmarks knows as community indicators and assets. These indicators and assets are standards of “excellence.”  By using the CX ³ framework, people will be able to (1) assess their community’s strengths, weaknesses, and gaps to figure out where the community is at and where it wants and needs to go to become a community of excellence, (2) set priorities based on the localized assessment data, (3) implement strategic action plans to create community change, and (4) evaluate progress. 

Community food security – a prevention-oriented concept that supports the development and enhancement of sustainable, community-based strategies to improve access of low-income households to healthful nutritious food supplies, to increase the self-reliance of communities in providing for their own food needs, and to promote comprehensive responses to local food, farm, and nutrition issues.

Community infrastructure – reflects the levels of funding, resources, and social capital in a community needed to achieve and sustain obesity prevention goals.

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) – an arrangement between local farmers and consumers (shareholders) who purchase shares at the beginning of the growing season to buy a portion of the farm’s crop that year. Throughout the season, shareholders receive a weekly box or bag of fresh produce or agricultural product. In California, CSA is hosted by the University of California, Davis.

Direct certification – the new federal requirements to ensure that children from households certified for USDA’s Food Stamps program are automatically registered to receive the National School Lunch Program’s free school meals.

EBT cards – are plastic debit cards used by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Stamp Program to replace paper food stamp coupons and reduce fraud. EBT cards look like bank cards or credit cards and are magnetically imprinted with name, case number and benefit amount. Food stamp benefits are deposited into the card account each month and used to pay for food in food stamp - certified stores, farmers’ markets, mobile vendors, flea markets, and, on a waiver basis, some restaurants.

Farm-to-School program – connects schools with farms and enables schools to buy and feature farm fresh foods. Farm-to-School programs include four key components: local purchasing of fruits and vegetables, school gardens, and experiential learning opportunities through farm tours, visits by farmers and classroom cooking.

Fitnessgram – is a test developed by the Cooper Institute for Aerobics Research and used by California for mandatory fitness testing in grades 5, 7, and 9. The California Department of Education provides reports based on Fitnessgram results annually by school, school district, county and statewide. The test compares scores to researched and developed health standards, rather than to national averages and emphasizes measures of body composition health-related physical fitness instead of the performance of sport-related skills. Fitnessgram is recommended and distributed by the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD).

Food assistance programs – federally funded programs designed to provide nutrition support for children and low-income adults. They include sixteen programs, the best known being the Food Stamp Program, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and child nutrition programs including lunch, breakfast, summer meals, after-school snacks, group and day care meals.

Food-buying cooperatives – customer-owned entities that are often formed to meet a need not being met by a traditional retail store or to provide an alternative source of food in areas poorly served by retail markets.

Food insecurity – is the concept that people or households have limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods or have limited or uncertain ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways. Those who are food insecure may or may not experience hunger.

Food security – is the concept that people have access, at all times, to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members. At a minimum, this includes availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods and assured ability to acquire personally preferred foods in a socially acceptable way.

Food stamp eligibility – is based on household income, expenses, and family size with most eligible families receiving $70 -80 per month. The USDA’s Food & Nutrition (FNS) has created an on line calculator or eligibility screening tool for possible participants to confidentially complete.

Food stamp outreach – The USDA’s Food & Nutrition Service (FNS) has initiated outreach efforts to make more eligible people aware of food stamps and their nutrition benefits. FNS currently has a national media campaign to promote the program, and offers a toll-free food stamp information hotline and a website to allow a quick, confidential food stamp eligibility screening. FNS has also formed the Outreach Coalition in 2003 to work with national service organizations.  FNS plans to create a national community interested in fighting hunger and promoting nutrition through food stamp outreach.

Health department infrastructure – reflects the level of funding, resources, leadership and coordination within the health department to achieve and sustain obesity prevention goals in its jurisdiction.

Healthy foods – are foods that, when consumed in appropriate quantities, provide a person with optimal nutrition. They include fruits and vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts and seeds, non-fat and low fat milk products, and lean meat, poultry, and fish (USDA/DHHS). Eating a variety of healthy foods to meet individual needs, prevent chronic disease, and maintain healthy body functions is recommended by scientific and governmental agencies such as the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the National Academy of Sciences, and the California Daily Food Guide (1990). A recommended range of servings for each food group is relative to age, gender, and activity level, but in general, whole grains, vegetables, and fruits should be consumed in greater amounts for a healthy diet.

Healthy nutrition standards – maximum and minimum values recommended for specific nutrients in foods and beverages or for nutrition related policies. Healthy nutrition standards reflect current scientific knowledge and nutrition guidelines to prevent chronic disease and maintain body functions. Standards are usually based on recommendations consistent with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), National Academy of Sciences, Healthy People 2010, USDA Dietary Guidelines and other national or state organizations. These are not arbitrary numbers. Rather, they are established by the government entity establishing the policy. Two examples are California ’s S.B. 19, t he Pupil Nutrition, Health, and Achievement Act of 2001, and the North Carolina ' s Recommended Standards for All Foods Available in School . The Pupil Nutrition, Health, and Achievement Act of 2001 has specified that breakfast and lunch can only be sold as full meals, that items sold during breaks must meet certain standards, and that carbonated beverages cannot be sold in elementary schools. T he North Carolina’s Recommended Standards created nutrient and policy related rankings for foods and beverages found in traditional cafeteria meals as well as a la carte items, vending machines drinks and snacks, and foods and beverages served in after school programs and at school functions.

Land use – the occupation or utilization of an area of land for any human activity or any purpose. Cities and counties are required by State law to designate land use in a classification series of appropriate uses, such as housing, business, industry, open space, public buildings and grounds, etc.

Low income neighborhood – when fifty percent or more of the population in a given area is at or below 185% of the Federal Poverty Level. These data are mapped on the Network’s Geographic Information System (GIS) which can be found at http://www.cnngis.org.

Low resource school – a school in which 50% or more of the children qualify for free or reduced-price meals in the National School Lunch Program or that are in families with incomes ≤ 185% of federal poverty.

Mixed-use – is a concept used in land use planning that allows a variety of residential, retail, and services uses within one neighborhood. The design of mixed-use developments supports walking, rather than driving, as the primary mode of transit.

Mobile grocers – grocers who supply fresh fruits and vegetables by mobile vehicles, typically trucks, that can be driven to different locations during the day.

Nutrition information – when this information is used for policy, systems, and environmental change purposes, it should contain the nutrient content of meals, foods and beverages based on the same accurate, standardized methods as those required for packaged foods by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Complete information includes total calories, fat, cholesterol, sugars, fiber, vitamin C, Vitamin A, iron, and calcium, together with meaningful interpretations of these values within the context of a typical consumers’ total energy and dietary needs . If used in a non-labeling context, all the above nutrients are not required, e.g., to point out that foods on a vending machine are low in fat, but the same standards as must be adhered to as for labels. Nutrition information is not required on restaurant menus. Again, if provided, it must be accurate, but the number and types of nutrients to present is not regulated.

Physical activity – is any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that results in energy expenditure and is positively correlated with physical fitness. Physical activity ranges from incidental and leisure activity, to moderate and vigorous exercise. The USDA Dietary Guidelines recommend that everyone e ngage in regular physical activity and reduce sedentary activities to promote health, psychological well-being, and a healthy body weight. Adults at a healthy weight should engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity, above usual activity, most days of the week to reduce the risk of chronic disease. To prevent unhealthy weight gain, 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity most days is recommended while 60 to 90 minutes of daily moderate intensity activity is recommended to sustain weight loss. Some people may need to consult with their health care provider before participating in higher levels of activity.

Physical fitness – a set of attributes that people have or achieve relating to their ability to perform physical activity. The health-related components of physical fitness include: (1) bodily composition, (2) cardiovascular endurance, (3) flexibility, (4) muscular endurance, and (5) muscular strength.

Point-of-sale – advertising/marketing materials that are in and around products offered for sale in retail stores, farmers’ markets, restaurants, and vending machines.

Political will – reflects the levels of leadership, support or opposition among elected and appointed officials and community decision makers for a given issue.

School Health Index – an assessment tool and planning guide for schools, developed by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), to promote physical activity, healthy eating, a tobacco-free lifestyle, and other safety-related behaviors. The School Health Index is designed to enable schools to identify strengths and weaknesses and develop an action plan to improve policies, programs, and services by involving parents, students, and the community.

School wellness policy – each school district participating in the National School Lunch Program or the Child Nutrition Act is required to establish a wellness policy by the start of the 2006-2007 school year as mandated by the federal Child Nutrition and Women, Infants and Children Reauthorization Act of 2004. The policy must include goals for nutrition education and physical activity, and other school based activities to promote student wellness. Nutrition guidelines for all foods available on each campus during the school day must be created by the district to promote student health and prevent childhood obesity.

Sponsorship – an agreement between a company and a property (e.g., school or nonprofit organization) that involves a cash and/or in-kind fee paid to the property for access to the exploitable commercial potential associated with the property. Examples of sponsorships might include corporate or product names associated with events, e.g., Pepsi 5k run, or venues, e.g., Frito gymnasium.

Unhealthy foods – are high calorie, low nutrient foods that, consumed in excess, contribute to the obesity problem and displace healthy foods. They include soft drinks and other sweetened beverages, sweet desserts and highly sugared cereals, chips and other salty snacks, most solid fats, fried foods, and other foods with high amounts of sugar, fat and/or sodium. In 1999-2000, more than 40% of U.S. calories came from sweets, soda, refined grains, salty snacks, and fast food (Block, J., Food Comp Analysis, 2004 - NHANES).

Zoning ordinances – the division of a city or town by laws passed by local governments into districts or zones, which specify the size, type, structure and use of land or buildings in each of the areas.