| Childhood obesity is a growing epidemic that can | | | | with an income below the poverty line were 74% |
| threaten the health and life span of the world. | | | | more likely to be overweight or obese than those |
| Obesity is on the rise due to the lack of activity | | | | from families with a household income at 400% |
| children have since schools are decreasing physical | | | | above the poverty line. Simply put, teachers need to |
| education classes. | | | | address these issues within health education lessons [ |
| Diagnosing obesity in children is different than in | | | | Other concerns with the rise in child hood obesity are |
| adults they use your body mass index (BMI). In | | | | children from families where the parents are always |
| children there are several factors in determining | | | | working and they are left home alone and depending |
| obesity. In children they measure your skin fold | | | | on the neighborhood they live in it is not safe for |
| thickness, height and weight and their BMI. In children | | | | them to play outside. |
| if there BMI is above the 95th percentile they are | | | | Another contributor to the rise in obesity is the food |
| considered obese. Type 2 diabetes is | | | | choices offered to school aged children. School |
| rising...scientist...call this a major public health crisis. | | | | lunches today are not filled with the essential vitamins |
| Newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes in children has | | | | and minerals children need to consume everyday and |
| increased from less than 5% before 1994 to 30% | | | | lunches contain almost two thousand calories in one |
| and 50% in more recent years. | | | | serving. Vending machines are all around school |
| Childhood obesity is not only predisposing kids for | | | | buildings and they are filled with soft drinks other |
| health risks but mental and social complications as | | | | unhealthy foods. In our society children are |
| well. Obese children are at risk for diseases such as | | | | consuming fewer amounts of fruits and vegetables |
| hypertension, type II diabetes, and coronary heart | | | | and reaching for chips and soda. Vending machines |
| disease. Once considered rare conditions in children, | | | | are mainly filled with unhealthy foods so it makes it |
| these diseases are seen with increasing frequency by | | | | easier for kids to keep on getting bigger in size. |
| pediatricians. With this rise of adult diseases in children | | | | School lunch periods are decreasing in time due to |
| it is decreasing the life expectancy of the next | | | | academic requirements which makes it convenient for |
| generation. With the rise of these diseases heath | | | | the child to consume food from the vending machine |
| care costs will increase as well. This is an alarming | | | | then eating a real lunch meal. Some schools have |
| rate because it can cause financial restraints on | | | | banned vending machines from schools or have set |
| families who do not have access to health care. | | | | certain times for when students can use the vending |
| Families with limited access to health care will delay | | | | machine. Preventive measures put in place by physical |
| seeking treatment and will in turn have greater | | | | education teachers and health education teachers are |
| complications. | | | | helping students and parents fight the epidemic of |
| Children and adolescents aged 10-17 from families | | | | childhood obesity. |