University of Wisconsin - Extension

Creating Health: Girls, the final installment of Wisconsin Public Television's (WPT) ( http://www.wpt.org/ ) two-year commitment to exploring women's health, examines 11- through 14-year-old girl's health issues. The program airs at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 15, with an encore presentation at 10 p.m. on Tuesday, May 22.

"Puberty can be a confusing whirlwind," said Kristina Stadler, coordinating producer on the program. "It's a time when girls' emotions and bodies are changing so quickly they can barely keep up. On top of that, they're bombarded with media images of what their eventual, and unrealistically ideal, body shape and size should be."

Cheryl Schubert hosts the program with five girls chosen as the "ambassadors" for their peers to delve into these subjects. The middle school girls are from Tomah, Edgerton, Janesville and Madison. The group will be flanked by a larger studio audience of girls who

have spent the last three months working with WPT staff on the wonders and frustrations of adolescence.

Professional experts in media literacy, nutrition, counseling and pediatric health join Schubert and the girls for a frank discussion about puberty. Additionally, there will be a box where girls can deposit questions to be addressed during the broadcast.

The give-and-take conversations of girls and adults will be punctuated by three presentations. The "body image" segment features University of Wisconsin-Madison marketing communications Prof. Jacqueline Hitchon who will examine advertising full of rail-thin models with invisible pores and improbable proportions and encourage critical assessments of that "look."

"Body smart" is a videotaped piece of the girls meeting with Dr. Pat Kokotailo and Dr. Ponrat Pakpreo, both of the UW Hospital and Clinics' General Pediatric and Adolescent Clinics. Together, the pediatricians and girls try to demystify some of the confusing physical and emotional changes during adolescence. The girls are seen in a clinical setting, but remain completely at ease - laughing and chatting about some of their first experiences with menstruation, acne and wearing bras.

In a final taped offering, the girls have a raucous time cooking up a tasty and healthy meal. After the segment, girls in the studio discuss diet and exercise with guidance from a Madison dietitian.

Creating Health: Girls is a part of the Creating Health project, a WPT initiative that encourages women to take control of their health and featuring broadcasts; a rich Web site; a Creating Health Planner, a health diary and medical record organizer; a health fair; a photography exhibit celebrating women health pioneers; and community discussion groups.

This initiative aimed at girls adds resources to the Web site,

http://www.wpt.org/creatinghealth">www.wpt.org/creatinghealth, specific to adolescence.

WPT is a service of the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board and the University of Wisconsin-Extension.

Wisconsin Public Television is a place to grow through learning on WHA-TV/Madison, WPNE-TV/Green Bay, WHRM/TV-Wausau, WLEF-TV/Park Falls, WHLA-TV/La Crosse and WHWC-TV/Menomonie-Eau Claire.