Child Obesity
Child Obesity
Child obesity in the United States today is growing to percentages that go off the charts, and the numbers are only getting worse. These numbers have more than doubled in the past 30 years alone. Three ways to reduce these problems are: first, schools will make significant changes in the food and meals offered; next, schools will proceed too having and encouraging more physical activities; last parents/legal guardians will become more aware of the influences they have on a child’s overall health by attending regular classes within their respected school districts. The school districts and parents/legal guardians will be required to help students and children adopt and maintain healthy eating habits, perform physical activity, and present a positive influence for children.
As of 2010, studies have proven more then one-third of children are overweight or obese. Overweight and obese, although similar, are in fact very different from one another. For example, being classified as ‘overweight’ can be measured from a height and stomach measurement, which is then converted to a body fat percentage. Whereas being obese, the individual’s height and stomach measurements are irrelevant due to the overwhelming excess body fat percentage. In relation, both of these terms are defined as the result of ‘calorie imbalance’. Calorie imbalance is defined as having too many calories consumed that the average body can handle.
A child is in a school environment for the majority of their young lives; therefore, the snacks and meals being served should be healthy. Encouraging a student to eat healthy every morning results in better attentiveness throughout class and is the exact point that should consistently be addressed to children. This can be one step forward in the right direction, but school districts take two steps back when they serve foods that contradict the original message of being healthy. A study was performed in a school district in Philadelphia with
Child obesity in the United States today is growing to percentages that go off the charts, and the numbers are only getting worse. These numbers have more than doubled in the past 30 years alone. Three ways to reduce these problems are: first, schools will make significant changes in the food and meals offered; next, schools will proceed too having and encouraging more physical activities; last parents/legal guardians will become more aware of the influences they have on a child’s overall health by attending regular classes within their respected school districts. The school districts and parents/legal guardians will be required to help students and children adopt and maintain healthy eating habits, perform physical activity, and present a positive influence for children.
As of 2010, studies have proven more then one-third of children are overweight or obese. Overweight and obese, although similar, are in fact very different from one another. For example, being classified as ‘overweight’ can be measured from a height and stomach measurement, which is then converted to a body fat percentage. Whereas being obese, the individual’s height and stomach measurements are irrelevant due to the overwhelming excess body fat percentage. In relation, both of these terms are defined as the result of ‘calorie imbalance’. Calorie imbalance is defined as having too many calories consumed that the average body can handle.
A child is in a school environment for the majority of their young lives; therefore, the snacks and meals being served should be healthy. Encouraging a student to eat healthy every morning results in better attentiveness throughout class and is the exact point that should consistently be addressed to children. This can be one step forward in the right direction, but school districts take two steps back when they serve foods that contradict the original message of being healthy. A study was performed in a school district in Philadelphia with