Childhood Obesity And Its Effects - 1287 Words

Children who are viewed as obese have a difficult future ahead of them. They are unable to wear the â€Å"cute† clothes other kids wear. Body image is everywhere you look. Obesity is defined as â€Å"Having a body mass index (BMI) above the normal range for age and sex in children† (Moglia, Dill, 2014). Obese children are subject to ridicule from peers, teachers, and sometimes even family. My five year old daughter is now bigger than her peers, weight and height wise. She has already come home from school with tears in her eyes because a classmate called her fat. Her obesity stems from a thyroid condition, but small children do not realize this. All they see is body image. Childhood obesity is becoming more prevalent and needs to be addressed by†¦show more content†¦In recent years, core curriculum changes have forced physical education and recess minutes to be decreased to accommodate mandated changes (Costley, Leggett, 2010). Children need to be encouraged to actively play and decrease sitting time. Decreasing sitting time and actively free playing can be more effective than increasing physical exercise or reducing food intake (Moglia, Dill, 2014). The state of Arkansas recognized obesity as a growing problem and mandated school districts to lengthen the time students spend in physical education classes from 60 minutes of physical education per week to 150 minutes per week (Costley, Leggett, 2010). All children need to be taught about making heathy food choices. Parents, caregivers, school food service personnel, and teachers need to teach healthier food and drink choices at home and school. Core curriculum could incorporate lessons on an eating healthy lifestyle. Meals served at school should be focused on getting kids to eat healthier and should be prepared in a way that is appealing and good tasting to a young child. Family meal times are not now sitting down, having quality time together and eating a meal to promote more healthful food choices. Parents give into a child’s demands for unhealthy food choices that promote overweight and obesity because children are targets for advertising and marketing of unhealthy foods by the media. (Costley, Leggett, 2010). More often, parents and