Preview

Obesity in Schools

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1645 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Obesity in Schools
Tim Shackleton
Professor Murphy
English 102 Composition
18 March 2013 Obesity Caused By School Lunch Servings Should Be At Fault Over the past decade in the United States the rate of child obesity has been consistently increasing. A major cause to this increase in obesity is mainly caused by school children’s health over the recent years in relation to what they are eating has raised concerns of different parties when dealing with the situation. The problem that causes debate for this issue is the different views of parties that believe the food being served is perfectly healthy while, the other party believes that the cafeteria food is a problem on the children’s health. The parties that are concerned with the food that is being served in the cafeterias in the U.S. are parents of the children, health physicians doing research on the cafeterias diet which is offered that the school children consume, and other organizations. The other party believes that the food being served in the U.S. school systems is perfectly fine and follows FDA regulations, which is the School Nutrition Association, an organization that provides guidelines and works to make the food in the cafeterias healthy for the children. Although, the School Nutrition Association argues that, their foods being served in different cafeterias in the U.S. serve to follow a strict guideline, different tests and research performed by health physicians show a dramatic difference in the statistical aspect of obesity in schools due to the food distribution these cafeterias serve the children every day. This problem raises lots of concerns with not only the parents of these children, but the National Government as well. The Centers for Disease Control and Preventions, states that, “Obese youth are more likely to have risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure. In a population-based sample of 5- to 17-year-olds, 70% of obese youth had at least one risk

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    Obesity In America

    • 2002 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Obesity in America is not new and in many cases, obesity tends to strike younger aged children. Obesity among young children often starts from unhealthy eating habits. What parents put on their children’s plate is significant and essential to their health. It is important to develop healthy eating habits when a child is young so that those skills can stick with them throughout their lifetime. Unfortunately, obesity in America is out of hand and the problem is only getting worse. There are health issues associated with obesity such as cancer, heart disease, and even diabetes. It is important to stop the problem while people are young so that these health risks are limited and not life threatening. For many years, schools have been trying to…

    • 2002 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    The subject matter selected is should changes be made to the regulations for foods that were served in public schools. This issue is selected because of two reasons, first, and education is the base of progress on each level, whether it is on an individual, social, economic or at national level(s). The second intention is the government has opened public schools to provide education at minimum or no cost to the students. And they also make available free or low-cost meal to them to make sure that they get the least possible calories to have a healthy body and sound mind. The food served is usually not of an excellence…

    • 809 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Childhood obesity is a growing problem in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, around 12.5 million children and teens are obese. There are many things that contribute to this epidemic like poor diet and lack of physical activities to name a few. In this paper I will figure out if there is a correlation between childhood obesity and school cafeteria food.…

    • 1175 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    United States faces the risk that the percentage of obesity among children will increase. The percentage of children and adolescents who suffer from this epidemic is 17% (CDC). One generation ago, the rate was three times less than now. The number of obese children is continuously growing, which may cause a danger to children and the future of the country. The risk of obesity does not only mean the risk of diseases and health problems, but also the risks associated with psychological and social impact. There is no doubt that one of the biggest causes of obesity is the unhealthy dietary choices that many children make nowadays (IOM). The larger the increase in the percentage of obese children and thereby the increase in the risks surrounding them, the greater the need to confront this problem. Companies, institutions, parents, and individuals should play a role in fighting obesity, but the role of government is most important. The government can enact laws regulating the process of junk food advertisement aimed at children that contribute to the problem significantly. Although some jurists and businessmen oppose such regulation by government, there is some evidence that regulating junk foods advertisement aimed at children yield positive results.…

    • 1232 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    One of the leading causes of death in America is obesity. Healthier food options and nutrition start with our youth. Changes to schools breakfast and lunch options can give the students an opportunity to improve nutrition and health. Then maybe we can prevent obesity from continuing to be the cause of death for so many American’s. We want to work within changes to the new breakfast and lunch programs to help children fight obesity. Not every food option has to be something sugary or fried. They always say an apple a day, keeps the doctor away. Obesity is an excess body fat, because of which some cannot move as quickly as others.…

    • 981 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    With the growing concern for obesity in the kids coming up today the government is calling for dramatic changes in school meals, including limiting french fries, sodium and calories and offering students more fruits and vegetables. About a third of children and adolescents — 25 million kids – are obese or overweight. Extra pounds put children at a greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and other health problems (Hellmich, 2012).…

    • 799 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Child obesity became a very serious issue that is taking on the health of the nation 's children. It is everyone responsibility to work on preventing and reducing childhood obesity, from the parents who are suppose to care about their children’s health, to the public health representatives, who should care about a future healthy nation, and everyone in between. Every part of society should create a set of lifestyle changes in order to save our kids from obesity. There are many aspects, which have to be changed or improved, including parent’s nutrition education,…

    • 1212 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    For some children obesity is a upcoming problem in America, because “More than a third of U.S. children are overweight or obese—almost triple the rate in 1963—the newest Guidelines stresses the importance of consuming fewer calories and exercising more often.” (School Lunches: Will new federal nutrition guidelines for school lunches make children healthier?…

    • 610 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    School Lunches

    • 389 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Childhood obesity is a hot-button issue for parents, teachers, and the medical experts with different ideas and solutions on the issue. Some blame it on genetics, others say its a lack of physical activity and poor lifestyle choices. This has often led to the topic of school lunches, should schools only offer healthy options? Yes…

    • 389 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    Obesity in America.

    • 1991 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Childhood obesity is a huge health problem in United States that affects about 12.5 million children and teens in this country alone. Since 1960 scientist have been monitoring obesity problem in United States and between 1980’s and 1990’s they have seen a drastic increase in childhood obesity from about 5% to sky high 15% which is a concerning number for young people. There are many different reasons why young people develop obesity in this country. The major reason why children become overweight is a bad food diet, eating fast food and not exercising enough throughout the day. Today’s lifestyle and technology allows people to buy food quickly at local fast food places, it is quick, convenient and cheap. Most people do not have time to come home after all day at work and cook a fresh and healthy dinner for the family. It is easier to stop at “Kentucky Fried Chicken” for example and buy dinner for entire family for under $25 which is almost impossible to do at home. Access for children to fast food places is easier than ever before, and most beverages that young people drink contain High Fructose Corn Syrup that replaced sugar in the 1970’s but causes young people to gain weight as fast as sugar does. Biggest problem in childhood obesity is definitely the food choices that we make for us and our children but also we cannot forget about the lack of exercise, most people do not get enough exercise so they stay healthy and become over weight. Also school nutrition’s should be friendlier to healthy diets and fruits instead of vending machines. Childhood obesity is a growing problem in America and it seems that it is not going away but in fact it might get bigger in near future if we do not do anything about it. With better food choices, more exercise and help from the government we can overcome this growing epidemic in USA.…

    • 1991 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    According to the CDC, “The percentage of children who are overweight has more than doubled, while rates among adolescents have more than tripled since 1980.” (Wechsler, 2004). Childhood obesity in America is becoming an increasingly severe problem. Conditions such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and depression are becoming more prevalent as a result of obesity. The childhood obesity pandemic in America can be traced to several causes, however, topping the list is public school systems and their inability to provide quality nutritional and physical education for their students. Intense focus on standardized tests has placed less emphasis on the broader view of a healthy mind and body (Story, 2008) Childhood obesity is caused by the following…

    • 1928 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    “Frozen burger patties from California 's Don Lee Farms serve schoolchildren in Fairfax County, Va., and are composed of 26 different ingredients, most of them unpronounceable for the average consumer" (Zhao).We as adults must take note of what is being fed to our children during lunch because the regulations some of these schools have do not regulate some of these unknown substances. Our futures are at stake here, the young kids of today are our future and if we do not take some initiative and help them with this growing epidemic than there is no future to look forward to. Overweight children and adolescents are more likely to be overweight or obese adults and more likely to suffer early heart disease and death. (Gardener) If this problem is not solved when the kids are young, then they are not going to be healthy adults. In the United States, federal statistics estimate that 9 million adolescents (17 percent of the population) are overweight and 80 percent of overweight adolescents grow up to be obese adults. Childhood obesity rates have tripled since 1970. (Gardener) The epidemic of obesity can only be fixed if we educate the public. I also feel that this problem can be resolved by developing a new lunch program. It would be helpful if the federal government helped out. “The reimbursement rate for a reduced-price lunch is $2.17 and 24 cents for a paid meal.…

    • 1528 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Childhood obesity has become a major problem in America. Obesity is a bigger threat in children than it was in the past. Obesity contribute too many of the physical and psychological disorders seem in children. Children are more likely to become overweight adults if they do not practice good eating habits and exercise. Over the past few years, obesity has been increasing at an alarming rate due to technology, unhealthy food choices and lack of physical activity. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past 30 years. “The percentage of children aged 6 to 11 years who were obese in 1980 was 7 percent and by 2012 it had grown to 18 percent. The percentage of adolescents…

    • 263 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Childhood Obesity

    • 1074 Words
    • 5 Pages

    According to the Center for Disease Control (Overweight and Obesity Data and Statistics), obesity in children has more than tripled in the United States in the last 30 years. This equates to one third of all children and adolescence in America being obese. This is an alarming trend as it paints a very morbid picture for the future of the nation. Obese children are more likely to develop cardiovascular disease and diabetes than children who maintain a healthy weight.…

    • 1074 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Obesity, a condition that caused by an excess accumulation of body fat is currently affecting 19% of children 6 to 11 and 17% of children 12 to 19 years of age (Science Daily, 1995-2009). Obesity has no discrimination against age, gender, and cultural backgrounds although, it does affect different ethnicity groups and genders differently. The United States currently has the highest rates of obesity among other countries with rates doubling amongst adults and tripling amongst children since the 1980’s. Obesity in children has become a growing concern in America and without proper measures; will become a trend that will only continue to get worse instead of better.…

    • 3078 Words
    • 13 Pages
    Powerful Essays

Related Topics