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ERIC Number: EJ1098455
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2006
Pages: 29
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-1938-9809
EISSN: N/A
Stay Smart: Lost Weight--Childhood Obesity and Health Education
Kosa-Postl, Linda
Forum on Public Policy Online, v2006 n1 Fall 2006
Prevention is the key strategy for controlling the current epidemic levels of childhood obesity. Current statistics show that obesity has more than doubled for preschool children aged 2-5 years and adolescents aged 12-19 years, and it has more than tripled for children aged 6-11 years. It is generally recognized that nutrition education for the general population needs to be improved. What else is apparent is that citizens are the responsible ones for curing and preventing obesity. Lifestyle behaviors, weight loss programs, and strategies to curb malnutrition have offered little impact on the growing increase of the obesity epidemic. Studies provide strong evidence that nutrition programs in public schools have increased intelligence level and cognitive ability. Countless articles have been written identifying malnutrition exhibition of behavior disorders and aggressive behavior leading to at risk adolescents. Environmental conditions--social, economic, and political--have lead to a lack of effective and coordinated preventive public policies. While the government has set standards for graduation requirements in elementary/secondary education, the identical approach to develop obligatory health interventions could be a powerful weapon against obesity. Herein lays the essence of a clear definition and recommendation of a policy that serves the purpose of curtailing the epidemic of obesity and constructing future learning capabilities of youth. The major findings of the report encompass a creative concept in which the government specifically monitors the health of each child in a public school system to assure participants are meeting the criteria for a healthy lifestyle.
Oxford Round Table. 406 West Florida Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801. Tel: 217-344-0237; Fax: 217-344-6963; e-mail: editor@forumonpublicpolicy.com; Web site: http://www.forumonpublicpolicy.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A