Childhood Obesity in Usa

Childhood Obesity

Derrick Veal

PED 212 Foundations of Movement & Motor Activities

Instructor: Roxie Baker

July 23, 2012

Childhood Obesity

Childhood obesity is on the rise in the United States. There is such a wide array of blame on this issue. Child obesity is condition characterized by the child having too much fat in the body to an extent of his or her health being in danger. Due to the lack of understanding and education the parents need to equip themselves with necessary skills, in order to maintain their children's will being so that the unhealthy risk can be avoided. Obese children are at a risk of getting very adverse health effects, some of which are fatal. I'm going to gaze into some issues that pertain to obesity in children's lives.

Being obese during childhood can increase the risk of developing high cholesterol, diabetes, hypertension, orthopedic problems, respiratory ailment, and depression. A considerable amount of children's leisure time is devoted to watching television, playing video game, and using the computer. "Now though, with the childhood obesity epidemic, there has also been a big increase in the number of children with Type 2 diabetes, which used to be thought of as adult onset diabetes." (Iannelli, 2006) "Your child's ethnic background can also be a risk factor for diabetes, when is more common in American Indian, African-American, Hispanic American, and Asians/Pacific Islander children." (Iannelli, 2006)

If the mother or father has diabetes, it can also be a risk for children developing Type 2 diabetes. Children with diabetes Type 1 have increase urination, increase drinking, and weight loss is some symptoms." Type 2 diabetes is more subtle in children, who are usually overweight and either have mild or no polyuria or polydipsia." (Iannelli, 2006) Another sign or symptom of Type 2 diabetes is acanthosis nigricans, a black, velvety discoloration to a child neck and skin folds." (Iannelli, 2006)

Teaching Methods

Teachers and schools can provide commanding leadership to help reverse the worldwide epidemic of childhood obesity while the endeavor to progress children's academic success. Childhood obesity has risen sharply in a single generation. Pre-school obesity rate has double and school-age has quadrupled. Multiple influences lead to childhood obesity including genetic, cultural, and environmental factors.

"The following strategies are suggestions for parents and school personnel to work together to promote the health and well-being of our nation's children." (Hoffman, 2004)

* Be a good role model. Show your students how important it is for you and them to make healthy food choices.

* Be an advocate of healthy eating in school.

* Incorporate a family involvement component when working with young children, because young children rely on caregivers to purchase and provide healthful foods.

* Incorporate nutrition education lessons into the curriculum.

* Inform families about what their children are learning regarding healthy eating in school.

* Offer concrete, culturally appropriate suggestion for parents to help their children make helpful choices.

* Avoid using candy as a reward.

* Discourage junk food and candy in school.

* Expose students to healthful food during nutrition education lessons.

* Supplement nutrition education lessons with class trips to the fruit and vegetable section of a local grocery store or a farm.

* Help students set realistic, well-defined, measurable goals for themselves regarding healthy eating and physical activity.

* Establish a class-wide motivational system to encourage students to eat a healthful breakfast every day.

"31% of the physical education instructors perceive increased and support from parents regarding students' physical activity, and 27% perceive increased interest/support from parents regarding students' physical education." (RRG, 2009) "Technology enhances a physical education program in many ways."(RRG, 2009)

* Enhance communication with parents

* Provides data for assessment and grading

* Enhance instruction

* Enhance communication with school/district administrators about students performances/achievement

* Enables teacher to determine the amount of physical education class time that students spend in moderate to vigorous physical activity

* Free time for teacher to provide students w/ individualized feedback

Budget Constraints

Budget constraints are frequently cited as reason for cut back on health and physical education, especially in low-income areas. "School budget is the most-cited source for program funding (for 64%), following by school district budget (38%), PTA/PTO (34%), and grant programs (28%)." (RRG, 2009) "Most have seen budgets for physical education programs remain the same or shrink in recent years: 45% say that their budgets have remained about the same since; and 36% say that budgets have decreased." (RRG, 2009)

"From California to Iowa, from Colorado to Massachusetts, cash-strapped schools are getting their physical education programs, letting go of teachers, reducing the minutes of instruction or, in some cases, eliminating physical education altogether." (Fox News, 2005) "Schools point the finger at Bush administration's "No Child Left Behind Act", which mandates that schools meet strict testing required to meet those standards, administrators say, leave little left over for non-core programs." (Fox News, 2005) With obesity on the rates educator fear children's health will be left behind. The federal government has increased education funding but come 10% come from Washington. The biggest of funding come from state and local government for education programs.

Although physical education is not tested in the standardized test, it has become a low