Research Study Proposal- Part 1: Problem Statement
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2015), Obesity in school-age children has increased over the past thirty years to the amount of doubling in some and even quadrupling in others. CDC statistics showed in 2012, at least one-third of the school children were large or obese. Childhood obesity continues to be a growing problem in the United States. School lunches play a significant role in the obesity issues facing children today. The school menus of today contain too many calories from simple carbohydrates and fat. Starchy vegetables instead of green leafy vegetables are served along with food containing sodium levels higher than needed for one’s daily intake. Childhood obesity can lead to health issues if action is not taken rapidly. This paper will provide a brief summary of the issues of childhood obesity and focus on the role the school lunch meals play on this growing crisis.
Obesity is defined by the CDC (2015) as an individual that has extra body fat in relationship to one’s height. An easier way to understand obesity is the individual is taking in more calories than is being used. The health effects of childhood obesity have both short-term or immediate and long-term health effects. Health issues obtained later in life are believed to be linked to childhood obesity. Obese children have a greater chance of growing up to become adults with health issues such as heart disease, hypertension, high cholesterol and strokes. Additionally, these individuals are predisposed to diabetes type 2 and many forms of cancer. Prevention of obesity in children diabetes is the best solution to the problem.
“The U.S. Surgeon General has identified the obesity epidemic as one of the greatest health problems facing the nation today” (National Association of State Boards of Education, 2004, para 2). In 2010, the “Let’s Move” campaign was implemented encouraging children to get up and move around, or exercise and school lunches were to become healthier. Michelle Obama was quoted in an article called, First Lady Michelle Obama: Quotes on Child Obesity and Health “... Over the past five years, we have truly changed the culture around healthy eating and living in this country” (Holecko, 2015, para 4).Childhood obesity remains an epidemic health issue; the school lunches remain an issue to be researched.
Reference
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), (2015). Childhood obesity facts. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/obesity/facts.htm
Holecko, C., (2015). First Lady Michelle Obama: Quotes on Child Obesity and Health
. Retrieved from http://familyfitness.about.com/ od/childhoodobesity /a/michelle_obama_ obesity.htm
National Association of State Boards of Education, (2004). The role of schools in preventing childhood obesity. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/physicalactivity/ pdf/roleofschools_obesity.pdf
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
One of the leading causes of death in America is obesity. Healthier food options and nutrition start with our youth. Changes to schools breakfast and lunch options can give the students an opportunity to improve nutrition and health. Then maybe we can prevent obesity from continuing to be the cause of death for so many American’s. We want to work within changes to the new breakfast and lunch programs to help children fight obesity. Not every food option has to be something sugary or fried. They always say an apple a day, keeps the doctor away. Obesity is an excess body fat, because of which some cannot move as quickly as others.…
- 981 Words
- 4 Pages
Better Essays -
Some people go on to say that school meals represent a significant cause for the increasing obesity in the U.S. Their charge is sustained by Whitmore Schanzenbach’s report showing that ”school lunch eaters do experience higher obesity rates than brown baggers” (2005).…
- 1250 Words
- 5 Pages
Good Essays -
Greg Last, a local doctor, shared the following story about obesity, “I’ve been a physician for nearly forty years but it wasn’t until just recent years I’ve seen staggering amounts of patients with chronic illnesses related to an inactive and overfed lifestyle,” (Last). Here, in America obesity rates are on what seems to be an unstoppable incline. Recent statistics show that from 1980 to 2000 obesity rates more than doubled. It was then described as reaching epidemic proportions not much later by a prominent U.S. surgeon. “Americans now consume 2,700 calories a day, about 500 calories more than 40 years ago. In 2010, we still ranked as the world’s fattest developed nation, with an obesity rate more than double that of many European nations” (Ambinder 4). Karen Ravn said, “Now more than ever, we as parents and a nation must do something about the growth of obesity in our children. We must do more than just talk, we must be concerned enough to act.” Many Americans suffer long-term, negative effects because of obesity. Some may assume that the source of an obese nation is merely a struggle with proper nutrition and dieting. They are sadly misinformed. The causes of this illness that is sweeping the nation have been traced back to a lack of an education in nutrition, the vast number of unhealthy food options introduced to Americans on a daily basis, and an overall air of laziness and distaste for any form of physical activity. Because no one’s lives are stress free, many find it hard to stay ahead of the looming obesity monster just waiting for its chance to pounce. “Though certain factors may not be able to be controlled, that doesn’t mean that one should give up a well-deserved chance to celebrate life in a healthy, positive way…” (Ravn). As it was stated many do not realize or choose to take advantage of the power that they have over their lives. They believe that change is not possible or even probable. If this very outlook were to change all of America…
- 1620 Words
- 7 Pages
Better Essays -
For some children obesity is a upcoming problem in America, because “More than a third of U.S. children are overweight or obese—almost triple the rate in 1963—the newest Guidelines stresses the importance of consuming fewer calories and exercising more often.” (School Lunches: Will new federal nutrition guidelines for school lunches make children healthier?…
- 610 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
The rising rate of obesity has reached epidemic proportions and is now one of the most serious…
- 1321 Words
- 6 Pages
Powerful Essays -
The students are more likely to suffer from food related health issues, such as hypertension, diabetes and other chronic diseases. In addition, The Action for Health Kids suggests that “children who are overweight may be at risk higher absenteeism, which can be linked to lower academic achievement” (Livestrong p.4). It is important that the students get a healthy meal in order for them to have full energy and succeed in school. The schools are responsible for their stability; therefore, providing them with a fresh and healthy lunch should not be a tough…
- 840 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
In the United States, obesity has become one of the most prevalent and prominent issues. Currently, various organizations had classified obesity as a major public health concern, affecting a large number of the American populace. As such, it has been considered a national epidemic. Estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as the National Institutes of Health suggest that two-thirds of adults are considered overweight/obese while one-third of adults are considered obese. In addition, obesity has been shown to have numerous effects on one's health as well as a significant effect the economy. In the U.S., $190.2 billion is spent on obesity-related illnesses (Cawley, 2012), annually. This number will continue to rise in later years, as well as the number of Americans with obesity.…
- 222 Words
- 1 Page
Good Essays -
Obesity is a serious problem in America. It is a much bigger problem than people perceive. In fact, over a third of the nation’s population is obese. Being obese and being overweight is not the same thing, although they are often perceived as being the same. Being overweight means that a person weighs too much in comparison with their height; however, obesity is observed by the amount of body fat a person has (Winters 44). Americans perceive being obese the same way they perceive being overweight; they see both as simply being a cosmetic problem that can be fixed with the right nutrition and diet (Hughes 72). This may be true for people that are overweight; however obesity is a very serious health problem whose solution must be further studied. In fact, the rate of obesity has raised so much over the past decades, it is considered to be one of America’s biggest health problems (Wang 1572). For one to solve the health problem of obesity, he or she must not assume that the solution of obesity for everyone is diet and exercise, but they must look further into obesity in race and age to determine the real factors.…
- 2261 Words
- 10 Pages
Powerful Essays -
America now, compared to many years ago, has had a significant increase in obesity. “Overall, 38 percent of U.S. adults are obese and 17 percent of teenagers are” (Fox, 2016, para. 3). Obesity is when an individual’s body mass index (BMI),…
- 1736 Words
- 7 Pages
Better Essays -
Obesity in America is on the rise now, with 72-million people contributing to this new “epidemic.” People need to start taking care of their bodies or they could possibly lose their lives to the leading cause of death in America—heart disease. Believe it or not, this epidemic isn’t just effecting the human population. Twenty-five percent of cats and dogs are now heavier than they should be. With excess weight usually comes many kinds of physiological, behavioral, social, environmental and economic problems. Childhood obesity rates have nearly tripled since the 1980’s, and current research shows that almost one-third of children over two years of age are already overweight or obese ("Obesity In America: What 's Driving The Epidemic."). To put a stop to this epidemic, we need a solution that goes far beyond simply eating less. This obesity epidemic is responsible for more than one hundred sixty-thousand additional deaths each year in America now. Currently, 72% of men and 63% of women are overweight (White).…
- 2237 Words
- 9 Pages
Better Essays -
Our nation is having an epidemic of poor nutrition in children that range from malnutrition and allergies to obesity. Despite the fact that there have been changes made to the nutrition requirements, by adding more fruits and vegetables, the majority of other foods served lack in good nutrition. There are too many processed high fat sugary foods in the lunch menus. Schools need to change the quality of school lunches, using less sugar and no additives. Even though it takes less time and staff using pre-packaged food in school lunches, over processing reduces nutrient’s, the chemicals and byproducts…
- 704 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Obesity has been a worldwide health problem for years, and it’s a problem that many people face today. Being obese as a child contributes to being obese as an adult as well. Childhood obesity makes adults vulnerable to extreme health diseases such as Type 2 Diabetes. Childhood obesity and can cause many health risks as an adults.…
- 628 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Abstract: Over the past several decades, obesity has grown into a major global epidemic. In the United States (US), more than two-thirds of adults are now overweight and one-third is obese. In this article, we provide an overview of the state…
- 4568 Words
- 19 Pages
Powerful Essays -
After reading and evaluating six articles written by experts on obesity, the data seems to imply that better educating people about how their behavioral lifestyle choices effect their future and current health is the best solution. The six journal articles evaluated and analyzed include: David Freedman’s article, “How to Fix the Obesity Epidemic,” published in Scientific American in 2011. Green Gregory’s article, “Physical Activity and Childhood Obesity: Strategies and Solutions for Schools and Parents,” published in Education in 2012. Micheal Wietings article, “Cause and Effect of Childhood Obestiy: Solutions for a National Epidemic,” published in The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association in 2008. George Blackburn’s article, “ Science Based Solutions to Obesity: What are the Roles of Academia, Government, Industry, and Healthcare,” published in 2005 in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. As well as, “Obesity Solutions: Report of a meeting,” published in Nutrition Reviews in 1997. Kate Dailey’s article “ Can Laws fix the Obesity Crisis,” published in Newsweek in 2010…
- 2500 Words
- 8 Pages
Powerful Essays -
“According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) over the past 30 years, the prevalence of overweight and obesity has increased progressively for both adults and children. Between 1976–1980 and 2003–2004, the prevalence of obesity among adults aged 20–74 years increased from 15.0% to 32.9%. Among young people, overweight and obesity prevalence has increased from 5.0% to 13.9% for ages 2–5 years, 6.5% to 18.8% for 6–11 years, and 5.0% to 17.4% for 12–19 years.” (CDC, 2006) In 2005, only four (4) states had obesity prevalence rates less than 20 percent, while 17 states had prevalence rates equal to or greater than 25 percent, with Louisiana, Mississippi, and West Virginia having prevalence equal to or greater than 30 percent. (CDC, 2006)…
- 1352 Words
- 39 Pages
Better Essays