The topic of obesity in America is one that needs to be taken seriously. Almost 13 million people under the age of 20 are overweight according to the US Dept of Health & Human Services. The Surgeon General has suggested different initiatives and program guides on how schools can help. The programs are different ideas of what schools can do to help students be more fit.
I just read a report saying that kids aren’t responding to being told to diet. The way society is pressuring and advertising overweight teens to loose weight isn’t working. I am reminded of when I took a health class at UF and learned D.A.R.E. actually increased drug use among kids. Perhaps there needs to be a new, fresh approach on educating people on obesity, not on making overweight kids diet, but making your entire community responsible.
A program similar to the government’s is one sponsored by the American Heart Association and the Clinton Foundation, named the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. The Alliance for a Healthier Generation seems to be a bit better of a layout. This brings me to my next point, the government needs to outsource obesity education. Schools around the country have begun to cut the physical education departments yet parents and teachers complain about the health of their kids.
That’s why at the Healthy Gainesville Alliance we have programs for schools in which we actually provide on-site health education specialists. Our program addresses finding smarter eating options, physical fitness, and community involvement. The reason why our campaign with school-aged kids will be effective is not only are we telling them what needs to be changed, but thanks to our community involvement from our food providers, we show them where they can eat. The Healthy Alliance doesn’t just tell kids to work out, we show them fun activities and give them new motivation to get out of the house. Our goal is not only to educate kids, but demand socially responsibility from companies within Gainesville.
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Childhood Obesity Causes
11 years ago
2 comments:
Child obesity is one factor that is often overlooked. But the fact of the matter is that it is quite a serious issue. Whether or the diet pills like phentermine can be of use for child obesity is a much debated issue. Though phentermine has been banned there are other weight loss drugs in the market. Most of them are deemed to be unfit to be administered to children. Even drugs like phentremine that can be had without prescription are not advisable to be prescribed for child obesity.
I think that working with my daughter and losing weight and GETTING HEALTHY together, we will succeed. We write about it on our blog, where we not only journal food and exercise, but we talk about the emotional issues of being overweight, and dieting. I'm amazed at some of the things my daughter say.
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