Fighting Childhood Obesity
Are we doing enough to fight childhood obesity? It is a social effort and important to the future of a healthy America.
The Fat Nation, America. Obesity is running rampant in the United States and we have to ask ourselves if we are doing enough.
In 2003, the acting Surgeon General of the United States, Richard H. Carmona, M.D.,M.P.H.,F.A.C.S., stood before the United States House of Representatives and addressed the issue of health literacy. In 2003. Five years later, we still have a problem!
We may be unaware of how much discipline it takes to teach children that obesity leads to so many problems…social, physical, and financial. It may be difficult to stand before a class and teach physical awareness of body mass when the teacher is overweight or even obese. The problem belongs to the adults who must teach and exemplify.
Parents do not always understand that caloric intake needs to be balanced with physical activity. Children are receiving larger portions of high-calorie snack foods and playing more video or computer games. Snack food in foil bags are easier to pass out than cutting up some fresh fruit. And, as it has been for 50 years, TV is a great babysitter. Kids today can also turn to video games and computers! Sitting in front of the computer or TV does not burn enough calories to achieve the balance of a healthy lifestyle.
Physical exercise helps burn those extra calories. Exercise builds be bones and increases muscle strength. Kids who learn this balance become healthier adults living a longer, healthier life. Physical activity is considered essential for all humans.
The financial burden place on families with obese children is a growing concern. The rate of childhood diabetes is growing! Diabetes is linked to obesity and physical exercise is being ignored. This cannot help lower the cost of health care. It is a true social concern.
Children who learn the benefits of good nutrition and physical activity will sometimes be the teacher for parents struggling with obesity. Educating our children in the classroom is a social necessity.
Some form of physical education is necessary every school day. Children in kindergarten can learn about nutritious snacks and healthy portions. (To some parents, a bowl of cereal is a serving. Read the label. Most servings equal a cup.) Kids can’t wait until sixth grade to have health classes. Health for the younger grades should be appropriate material about taking care of the body…nutrition and exercise. We cannot wait until that 6 year old gains more unhealthy weight. We have to address the problem now.
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