The Kids Just Aint Eatin’ Right

Obesity remains a public health epidemic the United States is facing.1-3 Children and adolescents in the United States have not escaped from the obesity epidemic. The prevalence of overweight has doubled for US children aged 6-11 years-and tripled for American teenagers over the past 2 decades. Approximately 17% of children and adolescents between the ages of 2 and 19 years are considered overweight and 34% are at risk for becoming overweight.  Childhood obesity is associated with many health risks. It is the leading cause of pediatric hypertension and associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus, orthopedic complications, increased risk of coronary heart disease, and increased stress on weight-bearing joints.6-10 Hospital cost for diseases/conditions related to childhood obesity has increased dramatically in the past 20 years. Wang and Dietz analyzed the economic burden of obesity in youths 6-17 years of age and found that obesity-related annual hospital costs (based on 2002 constant dollar value) increased more than 3-fold over the 2 decades between 1979-1981 and 1997-1999 from $35 million to $127 million.  This portion of the article above was taken from; School-Based Obesity Interventions: A Literature Review  by Fadia T Shaya, David Flores, Confidence M Gbarayor,and Jingshu Wang  from The Journal of School Health. Kent: April 2008 Vol. 78, Iss. 4; pg. 189, 8 pgs.  

In today’s society we note the need for better nutrition programs, to assist in the challenge that has given birth to adolescent obesity.  With progress seemingly far out of sight, there are a few programs out there that can help.  The school systems around the country are working to solve some of the problems that are help the obesity situation along.  By improving the nutritional value of the foods that are being served within the school cafeterias across the country, we can improve the quality of health for our children.  One program that stood out in my mind had no particular name, but it was a school in Alaska (Robert Service High School) that actually served small Subway sandwiches in it nutrition curriculum.  The program is a simple but smart approach to the growing childhood obesity epidemic in the country today.  In order to improve a more health conscious group, the school had decided if fast foods were intervening in the nutritional care of the students, then why not make it Subway.  This presents a healthier choice then most other fast foods.  Setting up a program as such can prove to be very good for the student and this can also teach them how to make the right choice when making food decisions.  It would be wise to offer the sandwich choice over the Sloppy Joe, hamburger with fries, or hotdog with the works choices often given in most schools.  Even the snack machines have a bad habit of selling less than nutritional valuable items, i.e.; Hoo Hoo Cakes, Bear Claws, and other items saturated with an abundance of fats and sugars .  By educating the student at a young age on how nutrition effects each and everyone us we reduce the risks associated with childhood obesity.  By adding health conscious snacks to the snack machines, we are helping the students make smart decisions and by serving the Subway sandwiches we open up a new door to the nutrition of the student, helping them to learn to make the right choices when eating.

References:

by Fadia T Shaya, David Flores, Confidence M Gbarayor,and Jingshu Wang 

Yaussi, S.C.

American Association of Pediatrics