Edu 501

Question 1: Examine the variables that contribute to childhood obesity and what schools can do to address the problem

Children in the U.S. are getting heavier and heavier. The health and the success of students within the school setting are intertwined . The schools will find it difficult to achieve their primary mission; the education of students, if the students and staff are not fit, physically, mentally and socially. This essay will examine the various issues that contribute to the childhood obesity epidemic, as well as the effects there of. It will also look at what the schools can do to combat the issue, and thus achieve their primary mission; the education of students, successfully.

According to Chinn and Gollnick, the prevalence of childhood obesity has more than tripled over the last 30 years in the U.S. These increased rates of obesity have affected all the levels of schooling from preschool through high school. The prevalence among the age groups of children 6-11 years old has increased from 6.5% to 19% in 2008. The 12 to 19 age group has seen an increase from 55 to 18.1%. Today, 32% of the children within the U.S. are overweight, 17% of these are obese (Chinn and Golnick,2013).

According to Chinn and Gollnick, the cause of overweight problems in both Children as well as adults are multifaceted. Among these contributing factors include; food and marketing, parental influences on eating behavior, dietary intake and a lack of physical activity or exercise (Chinn and Gollnick, 2013). According to Chinn and Gollnick, the youth of America have grown up within a culture where fast food is an integral part of life. In addition to the prevalence of fast-food establishments, many of the schools themselves have included these foods in their offerings for the students (Chinn and Gollnick, 2013).

As stated by Chinn and Gollnick, many of the schools cafeterias as well as vending machines readily dispose chips, cookies and many other unhealthy...