Childhood Obesity
Childhood Obesity
ENG122: English Composition II (ABE1232K)
For many years here in America, children attending schools could be viewed playing on the school playgrounds in some type of activity that required physical strength. These activities were enjoyed by most of these children. There were swings, sliding boards, teeter totters, jungle gyms, merry-go-rounds, and fields for ball sports. In fact, even during after school hours, it was not uncommon to see these areas filled with children. Today, this has drastically changed. There is seldom the view of children playing on the school grounds, coupled with some schools not having the play areas available for the children. Because of this, along with poor diets, our children have been subjected to childhood obesity. As a result, the education system here in America has been one of the primary reasons for this epidemic of childhood obesity.
Childhood obesity (overweight children) has made its place in our children’s lives because of changes in both the home lifestyle and our education system. As a child, when attending public school, most children walked to and from schools in their neighborhood. The rule for busing children to school was based on the distance to and from school; this was determined by mileage, which was two or more miles in distance. Because every child who attended school lived within that distance, walking was the norm and a form of exercise which encouraged a healthy lifestyle. With the changing of the laws with school busing, many children today ride the bus and some children who even live less than a mile away from school. Similarly, the activities that children were engaged in were outside of the home. Children were engaged in physical activities such as jump rope, racing, kick ball, basketball, flag football, volley ball and even stick ball, a game that is played with 2 bases, a stick and a tennis ball. Never-the-less, outdoor activities were the games played
ENG122: English Composition II (ABE1232K)
For many years here in America, children attending schools could be viewed playing on the school playgrounds in some type of activity that required physical strength. These activities were enjoyed by most of these children. There were swings, sliding boards, teeter totters, jungle gyms, merry-go-rounds, and fields for ball sports. In fact, even during after school hours, it was not uncommon to see these areas filled with children. Today, this has drastically changed. There is seldom the view of children playing on the school grounds, coupled with some schools not having the play areas available for the children. Because of this, along with poor diets, our children have been subjected to childhood obesity. As a result, the education system here in America has been one of the primary reasons for this epidemic of childhood obesity.
Childhood obesity (overweight children) has made its place in our children’s lives because of changes in both the home lifestyle and our education system. As a child, when attending public school, most children walked to and from schools in their neighborhood. The rule for busing children to school was based on the distance to and from school; this was determined by mileage, which was two or more miles in distance. Because every child who attended school lived within that distance, walking was the norm and a form of exercise which encouraged a healthy lifestyle. With the changing of the laws with school busing, many children today ride the bus and some children who even live less than a mile away from school. Similarly, the activities that children were engaged in were outside of the home. Children were engaged in physical activities such as jump rope, racing, kick ball, basketball, flag football, volley ball and even stick ball, a game that is played with 2 bases, a stick and a tennis ball. Never-the-less, outdoor activities were the games played
References: Wechsler, Howell, McKenna, Mary L., Lee, Sarah M., Dietz, William L. (2004). Overweight among children and adolescents. Retrieved from: http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/physicalactivity/pdf/roleofschools_obesity.pdf Brown, Pei-San, Sutterby, John A., Thornton, Candra D., (2011). Combating childhood obesity with physical play opportunities. Retrieved from: http://www.ptotoday.com/pto-today-articles/article/67-combating-childhood-obesity-with-physical-play-opportunities PR Newswire, (2010). States severely lacking key physical education mandates that can help address the childhood obesity epidemic. Retrieved from: http://search.proquest.com/abidateline/docview/356873287/138D014A76474A4A318/2?accountid=32521 Green, Gregory, Riley, Clarence, Hargrove, Brenda (2012). Physical activity and childhood obesity: Strategies and Solutions for School and Parents. Retrieved from: http://search.proquest.com/socialsciences/docview/1022298763/138D06FD67C707A277E/3?accountid=32521