Affects of School Lunch Programs on Childhood Obesity
Affects of School Lunch Programs on Childhood Obesity
ENG122: English Composition II
Instructor: Victoria Stamm
October 17, 2011
Ashley University
Affects of School Lunch Programs on Childhood Obesity In today 's society it is so easy to get caught up in the day to day duties of life; people often forget that their eating habits could be the death of them. The children of today are the children of the future, therefore raising them to make healthy eating choices in their childhood could prevent them from becoming part of the 20 percent of children that are obese. Over the past 30 years childhood obesity has more than tripled in the United States. According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, obesity in children is one of the easiest medical conditions to recognize but most difficult to treat. Due to a poor diet and lack of exercise children can run the dangerous risk of heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes which go hand and hand with severely overweight children. Kids who are unhappy with their weight may also be more likely to develop eating disorders. Diagnosing and treating overweight and obesity in children as early as possible may reduce the risk of developing serious medical conditions. In the United States alone, over 300,000 deaths each year can be attributed to this disease (American Academy of Child, 2008). In 2005 a study found that children today may lead shorter lives by two to five years than their parents due to obesity (USA Today, 2011). Overweight children are much more likely to become overweight adults unless they adopt and maintain healthier patterns of eating and exercise both at home and in school. Schools are a major cause of child obesity becoming an epidemic and it is time to take a closer look at how childhood obesity and the school system can be directly related. Removing nutrition in school lunches, lack of education toward
ENG122: English Composition II
Instructor: Victoria Stamm
October 17, 2011
Ashley University
Affects of School Lunch Programs on Childhood Obesity In today 's society it is so easy to get caught up in the day to day duties of life; people often forget that their eating habits could be the death of them. The children of today are the children of the future, therefore raising them to make healthy eating choices in their childhood could prevent them from becoming part of the 20 percent of children that are obese. Over the past 30 years childhood obesity has more than tripled in the United States. According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, obesity in children is one of the easiest medical conditions to recognize but most difficult to treat. Due to a poor diet and lack of exercise children can run the dangerous risk of heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes which go hand and hand with severely overweight children. Kids who are unhappy with their weight may also be more likely to develop eating disorders. Diagnosing and treating overweight and obesity in children as early as possible may reduce the risk of developing serious medical conditions. In the United States alone, over 300,000 deaths each year can be attributed to this disease (American Academy of Child, 2008). In 2005 a study found that children today may lead shorter lives by two to five years than their parents due to obesity (USA Today, 2011). Overweight children are much more likely to become overweight adults unless they adopt and maintain healthier patterns of eating and exercise both at home and in school. Schools are a major cause of child obesity becoming an epidemic and it is time to take a closer look at how childhood obesity and the school system can be directly related. Removing nutrition in school lunches, lack of education toward
References: Childhood: Obesity and School Lunches (2011, February 04).The New York Times. Retrieved October 2, 2011, from http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/08 /health/research/08childhood.html Healthy at school, Sophia Kamveris, Jul 20, 2011 Retrieved on October 4, 2011 from http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=2402194741& sid=2&Fmt=3&clientId=74379&RQT=309&VName=PQD Just Do It? Many Schools Cutting Gym Class, Geraldine Sealey (Sept. 30 2011)ABC News. Retrieved October 8, 2011 Retrieved September 23, 2011, from http://health.usnews.com /usnews/health/healthday/071205/overweight-kids-often-become-obese-unhealthy- adults.htm Obesity in Children And Teens.(2008 May) American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Retrieved September 23, 2011, from http://www.aacap.org/cs/root/facts_for_families /obesity_in_children_and_teens Progress in Preventing Childhood Obesity : How Do We Measure Up?, National Academies Press, Jeffrey P School lunches get healthier, Boston Globe. Jan 23, 2011 Retrived on October6,2011 from http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=2245644731 Retrieved October 1, 2011. from http://www.usatoday.com/yourlife/food/diet- nutrition/2011-01-12-schoollunch13_ST_N.htm Witt, G.A.,& Mossler, R.A.(2010)