The Problem of Obesity in Our Schools

Childhood obesity is a serious social problem that we face. We are responsible for teaching our children acceptable behaviors to interact with the world as well as to direct their own lives. When we do not teach our children the appropriate skills, they are unable to make healthy, safe choices for themselves. The key to combating this social issues lies in teaching our children at an early age the importance of good eating habits, then following that message up with our actions by showing them what good habits are and practicing them.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), there has been a dramatic increase in obesity in the United States in the past 20 years. “In 2008, only one state (Colorado) had a prevalence of obesity less than 20%. Thirty-two states had a prevalence equal to or greater than 25%; six of these states (Alabama, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia ) had a prevalence of obesity equal to or greater than 30%. ” 1 This alarming trend only proves to emphasize that American are not addressing the issues needed to combat this problem.

Nutrition habits are learned and practiced when we are young. Think back to when you were a kid. There were certain foods that were always around the house for you to snack on. Were these foods fresh vegetables and fruits, or were they cookies and potato chips? Did your family have a lot of pizza and TV dinners or did they have meals that your mother prepared from scratch? At least 25% of American teens are overweight or obese. 2 25%! That is an incredible number of kids.

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Overweight and obesity are also common in groups with low incomes. Women with low incomes are about 50 percent more likely to be obese than women with higher incomes. Among children and teens, overweight in non-Hipic White teens is related to a lower family income. Low-income families also buy more high-calorie, high-fat foods, which may add to the problem. This is because they tend to cost less than more healthful foods such as fruits and vegetables. Instead of eating lean ground beef, they eat the 25% lean because it cost less. Biscuits and gravy are relatively cheap to make if you use the drippings from the hamburger for the basis of the gravy and use lard in the biscuits because it, too, is cheaper than margarine or butter. Physical activity is not as common these days as it was before. For example, almost every summer night as kids we would go outside after supper and play games with the neighborhood kids. We played and ran until our mothers called us in for bed.

Now, however, families have to worry about their children’s safety so they don’t let them go outside alone or the children would prefer to stay in the house and play computer or video games. It is not surprising, then that children and teens are overweight and obese. Perhaps it is the times that we live in that has the greatest influence on us and our children. We need to take the time to recognize this difference from when we were kids and make a concerted effort to help our children learn good eating and exercise habits.

References

1. Who Is At Risk for Overweight and Obesity? ; US Department of Health and Human Resources; retrieved from http://www. nhlbi. nih. gov/health/dci/Diseases/obe/obe_whoisatrisk. html[->0] ; August 3, 2009
2. Let Them Eat Fat: The Heavy Truths About American Obesity; Critser, G. : Crossroads, Readings in Social Problems; Tiemann, K. (Ed); Pearson Custom Publishing, 501 Boylston St. , Suite 90, Boston, MA 02116 [->0] - http://www. nhlbi. nih. gov/health/dci/Diseases/obe/obe_whoisatrisk. html

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