Childhood Obesity In Public Schools

Childhood obesity is not just an issue in United States- it is an growing epidemic. Obesity epidemic in kids has increased by alarming rate just in last few decades. Nearly one in every five child is obese in the United States. If the pattern of obesity continued on most of America’s children will be living with diabetes, heart disease, and dying young due to obesity. The American Heart Association reported this year that childhood obesity is the top health concern among parents in the United States, beating out smoking and drug abuse. My own younger siblings suffer with child obesity. Their craving for fast food and very limited physical activity has made them overweight and currently they suffer from health problems. Is this the future of our young generation? How much contribution should a parent have in their child’s diet? Fast food has taken over American diet and it has lead to poor nutritional diet among American youth. Fast food companies spend billion of dollars every year on commercials, convincing youth to love and eat their product. It’s just not our eating habits that has lead our young generation into obesity, lack of physical workout has also played a major role in obesity epidemic. TV, computer, video games and other technology entertainment has contributed to children getting no exercise. Obesity in children can put them in high risks of developing chronic and serious illness. Unhealthy weight leads to having weaker lungs, poor blood quality, heart

What does childhood obesity means? Obesity can be defined as a condition in which the body carries abnormal or unhealthy amounts of fat tissue, leading the individual to weigh in excess or 20 percent more than his or her ideal weight (Health & Illness).Obesity in America is an ever-growing problem and has boosted America to the number one spot in terms of obese population. It also stands as the most prevalent medical issue in American Children. In the past thirty years, obesity has affected many different age groups of kids. Preschool group, two to five years in age, and the youths between the ages of twelve and nineteen the obesity rate has more than doubled (Childhood Obesity Statistics and Facts 2v007). Childhood obesity has more than tripled in kid’s ages six to eleven years old. Children can become obese due to many different things like parents or schools. Although obesity may linger for a lifetime, there are many ways to overcome childhood obesity and not have to deal with the weight issue. Childhood obesity causes many problems and concerns in many American families, but families need to work together to overcome obesity. One out of three children in the United States falls into the overweight or obese category (Ding). Children face many different problems and issues at a young age because of obesity. Children obesity causes type 2 diabetes, fatty liver because of excessive weight issues, social problems, depression, anxiety, and eating disorders (Ludwig). Childhood

Since 1980 the rates of child obesity have more than tripled which has caused a growing pandemic of childhood obesity in the United States. Out of all the young children and adolescents within the age group of two through nineteen about 12.7 million are obese. That is the equivalent of about 17% of America’s population that is suffering from childhood obesity. Childhood obesity is too prevalent in all American households. Childhood obesity is detrimental on a national scale, since it has been growing at a steady rate in the United States of children not reaching the daily-recommended physical activity, the absence of a balanced diet with overconsumption of eating, and more critically the increase of type 2 diabetes.

Childhood obesity is becoming one of the top public health concerns in the United States. “Over the past three decades, childhood obesity rates have tripled in the U.S., and today, the country has some of the highest obesity rates in the world: one out of six children is obese, and one out of three children is overweight or obese” (World Health Organization, 2015). With the drastic increase in obese children over the last 30 years and the huge healthcare associated costs many programs and incentives have been implemented to fight this epidemic. Although any child can become obese “racial and ethnic inequities persist among children; 22.5 percent of Latino children and 20.2 percent of Black children are obese, compared to 14.1 percent of

Childhood and adolescent obesity is a growing epidemic within the United States, creating significant short and long-term impacts on individual health and placing increased economic burdens on the health care system.1 Over the past 30 years, childhood obesity has more than doubled and adolescent obesity has quadrupled, with more than one third of children being overweight or obese in 2012.2 The negative health impacts of childhood obesity include increased risk factors for cardiovascular disease, pre-diabetes, bone and joint pain, sleep disorders including sleep apnea, hypertension, and social/psychological issues.2,3 Furthermore, studies have shown that childhood BMI levels and triceps skinfold thickness (SF) are associated with adult BMI and adiposity, indicating that addressing childhood obesity is critical to reducing obesity and chronic illness in adults.4,5

Childhood Obesity is a condition where a child is overweight for his or her age and height. When unhealthy, fatty or sugary foods are consumed along with deficient amounts of exercise, obesity is usually the outcome. The main causes of obesity are lack of exercise and poor nutrition. Obesity may also occur when a child goes through dramatic events, like a family member passing away. National surveys show that 32% of Texas children are obese or overweight. According to research on the past 30 years, “obesity has doubled and tripled”. In 1980, the obesity rate of 6-11 year olds was 6.5%, in 2008 it had tripled to 19.6%. For toddlers and preschoolers aged 2-5, the obesity levels have risen from 5% to 12.4% in the same amount

Childhood obesity is more than a major issue in the United States: it is an epidemic. The number of overweight and obese children in America has increased at an alarming rate over the past years. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and tripled in adolescents in the past 30 years [1]. American Heart Association stated, “Today one in three American kids and teens are overweight or obese; nearly triple the rate in 1963” [5]. Unfortunately, this affects our children physically, mentally, and long-term.

The obesity epidemic in America is ever increasing. It has spread across various age groups, areas and economic statuses. Obesity is the condition of being grossly fat or overweight. The spreading of the obesity problem has caused, “rates [to have] doubled in adults and tripled in children in recent decades” Dr. Frieden said (Hughes). This problem can be greatly reduced if schools took action in providing a healthy environment for students. In particular, Valencia High School can encourage healthy eating on campus by banning the selling of junk foods on campus and providing appetizing, healthy foods for the students to eat.

My narrowed topic is that parents need to play a bigger role in helping reduce childhood obesity. Children cannot combat obesity by themselves.

"Every public school child in America deserves a healthful and delicious lunch that is prepared with fresh ingredients."(Alice Waters, Katrina Heron,10). Alice Walters, and Katrina Heron wrote that very true statement in an article that emphasized the fact that food should be improved in Schools. Everyone in class agrees with their point and believe that school food should be improved. By improved we mean that it should be healthier, than the unhealthy food we get served every single day and the lunch program should emphasize on healthy eating. Many and I have came to the conclusion that the food that Liberty students get served everyday is really bad in the sense that it is very unhealthy and that their should be an improvement in the

When picturing an elementary school, teachers standing in front of their students lecturing is probably the image that comes to mind. Or maybe it is children outside running and playing for recess or physical education. Does the question come to mind about whether or not those children have eaten breakfast? How about when will they be served lunch? Or even, when will be their next meal? When they arrive home after school, will they have a nutritious snack or evening meal? What about how they got to school? Did they walk, ride their bike, or get a ride? We all question things we do not know. On the other hand, we can be confident students could eat breakfast and lunch if the school provided the opportunity.

Obese, the word that is now the defining description of a whole generation living in the United States and in other parts of the world. The growing problem of childhood obesity is slowly rising to the surface in various ways. Whether it be by the new network of My Plate or the new program of bringing the farm to the kitchen. Both of which are now being implemented in schools K-12.. Michelle Obama is the one at the head of the impactful programs. She has greatly in forced the nutritional changes to school lunches. Whether the changes are actually an improvement, who is to blame for the obesity increase, or whether it be a matter of sell focus and dollar amount is the key to stopping or making people fully aware of childhood obesity.

It is a widely recognized fact that childhood obesity, which is defined as a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to the 95th percentile in children, is a continually growing epidemic in this country. There are several factors causing obesity, with poor diet and physical inactivity being two of the major contributors. The policy problem that will be addressed is the lack of access to healthy food in certain areas of the community. Addressing this problem will improve the health status of a specific population (obese children). Addressing it may also help resolve one of the contemporary issues in this community.

Obese, the word that is now the defining description of a whole generation living in the United States and in other parts of the world. The growing problem of childhood obesity is slowly rising to the surface in various ways. Whether it be by the new network of MyPlate or the new program of bringing the farm to the kitchen. Both of which are now being implemented in schools K-12.. Michelle Obama is the one at the head of the impactful programs. She has greatly in forced the nutritional changes to school lunches. Whether the changes are actually an improvement, who is to blame for the obesity increase, or whether it be a matter of sell focus and dollar amount is the key to stopping or making people fully aware of childhood obesity.

Childhood obesity is a rapidly growing problem around the world, especially in North America today. The rates at which children and adolescents have become overweight have increased dramatically since the 1970’s leading to a call for action to try and reverse this growing trend (Birch & Ventura, 2009). This topic must be addressed as today childhood obesity affects approximately one in every five children and adolescents across the United States.