Schools Should Be More Involved with Childhood Obesity - Coursework Example

of lecturer: presentation: Introduction Obesity in kids is a whereby there occur excess fats in the body, negatively affecting the normal body functions of the child’s body. There is an increasing occurrence of childhood obesity mainly due to the changing lifestyles and eating habits. Overweight children usually experience emotional problems and other health problems such as diseases of the heart, sleeplessness, and others such as diabetes (Kathleen Zelman 2009). It has become a matter of concern since it is endangering the lives of children at a relatively minor age. More over, it is likely that overweight children eventually develop in to obese adults, who are faced with numerous problems associated with excess weight such as high blood pressure, heart diseases, respiratory problems and many such complications. In order to save the children from problems of obesity, it is important for schools to be more involved with childhood obesity. This essay is a critical discussion of the methods through which schools can assist kids to loose weight. Physical education has been highlighted as one of the significant technique for facilitating weight loss. Other methods such as controlled lunch programs and classes that teach proper nutrition and body health have been discussed. Physical Education Physical education is significant in helping the children in schools to become physically active which helps them to burn excess calories in the body. It helps in increasing the amount of energy used thereby helping in weight loss. The benefits associated with physical education are wide ranging. These are mainly health benefits such as improvement of the blood pressure as well as the fat deposits. It is usually beneficial to children especially when it creates enthusiasm through activities such as playing (ERIC Digest 1990). Competitive sporting activities are also significant in reducing weight but they are not the only way towards achievement of weight loss in kids. They may even discourage some kids from participating due to the embarrassment caused by loosing in competitions. Teachers of physical education can be useful in developing physical education plans that kids can not. Weight loss is achieved when the kids participate in physical activities progressively with the teacher’s guidance. The more the enthusiastic they are the higher the achievements in terms of weight loss. The most significant role that schools play is providing an avenue for guided physical activities. This is due to the fact that parents may not have enough time for taking their kids on weight loss exercises due to limited time (American Obesity Association 2002). They may not posses the desired knowledge that is important in determining how to approach the issue of physical education. Teachers who have expertise in physical education assist kids in gaining information, developing positive attitudes towards sports and techniques that are important in keeping them physically active. The standards that the government has set for physical education are important for the kids since they have been recommended through expertise in this field. These can mainly be achieved through the curricula for physical education. The techniques that the children acquire ensure that they do not engage in dangerous physical exercises that can jeopardize their health. These are important especially in activities that involve vigorous exercises such as jumping, weight lifting and others that might cause muscle clumps or injury. Teachers train the kids on safe approaches towards physical exercises (Jennifer Lee 2009). Diet Programs Diet management is significant in ensuring that the body is not exposed to acquire excess fats from foods containing high calorific content. Schools provide important dieting program through provision of low fat foods for lunch. They need to provide balanced diets for the kids without necessarily encouraging them to reduce their food intake since it may be emotionally traumatic and may affect growth. They should help the kids to maintain the recommended eating habits but uphold consumption of low fat diets. They should ensure that kids are discouraged from taking too much soft drink which is known to contribute to obesity. It was established through research that “daily consumption of soft drink in kids increases obesity preference by 1.6 units” (Graves et al 1988 p. 247). Schools should also discourage kids from consuming fast foods which are known to significantly contribute to obesity. They should discourage the establishment of fast food kiosks near schools, which are usually tempting to the kids. The sweetness of fast foods makes it difficult for the kids to resist purchasing them. They should discourage provision of sweetened milk which contributes to uncontrolled consumption, resulting to weight gain. Instead, kids should be encouraged to take whole milk that is safe for healthy weight. They need to promote provision of healthy foods such as fruits during lunch meals, water, and other drinks that are recommended by nutritionists. On the other hand, food should not be offered as a token for good performance to kids. They should not also be denied food as a form of reprisal. This is because once denied food; they end up consuming more than recommended the moment they get a chance to feed. Promotions for a drink that is not healthy for the kids in terms of weight gain should be prevented from schools (Jennifer Lee 2009). In parties involving kids, schools should ensure that healthy foods are provided. Schools should provide meals that are cooked in other methods other than frying. In order to avoid unnecessary fat intake. These meals should also be purchased by informed persons in order to avoid buying foods containing large quantities of saturated fats (National Quality Measures Clearinghouse 2009). Lowering sugars in all meals offered to the kids and ensuring that whole grain foods are served is important in schools. They should ensure that the kids take a balanced diet in break fast and lunch meals. With reduced amounts of sodium. They should also encourage parents to desist carrying fast foods for their children in schools. This is usually enhanced through promoting the practice of parents having meals at the school kiosks together with their children. Education on Proper Nutrition and Body Health In order to achieve the desired weight loss in kids, it is important to supplement physical exercises with health education and proper nutrition to the kids. This ensures that the kids understand what is good for them and the healthy foods that they should take. It makes it possible for them to refrain from eating foods that may cause obesity. More over, they need to be taught the dangers associated with obesity and poor eating habits. With such knowledge, the kids can inform their parents on the healthy foods that they need to be provided with. More over, the standards that the government has set in regard to health education need to be followed in order to ensure that kids acquire relevant education concerning their health. With this information, the risk of growing in to obese adults is lowered (Diet Divas 2004). The kids develop a positive perception concerning a healthy living style. Schools also provide avenues for parent training in order to help them in making informed choices of the foods that they offer their children. This is because even with all the efforts that teachers put in providing balanced diets, physical education and exercises, parents may hamper successful reduction of weight loss amongst the kids if they lack information regarding the choice of meals. Information should be passed to parents especially during parent meetings and visiting days. Schools can also develop brochures highlighting healthy eating habits in children (vBulletin 2009). Such material is useful since parents acquire knowledge on the dangers associated with overweight in kids, and ways of preventing such situations from happening. They also acquire important skills for managing their children’s physical exercises. In order to equip teachers with the necessary skills for managing physical education and exercises, the school management should support teachers to take specialized education in health matters. It is important that they make informed decisions while educating the children on health issues. They become capable of mobilizing communities to participate in programs that promote healthy practices in children such as recreational as well as competitive sports. They should promote lasting physical exercises for the kids, which should not be dropped even after school. Schools are supposed to monitor the effectiveness of the physical activities and education in helping the kids to lose weight (Carlos Osorio 2009). They should assist the children to change their behavior and become more responsible for their health. This responsibility usually helps even after the children grow up to adulthood. They should be taught on various strategies that they can set to ensure that healthy weight is maintained. These strategies include regular weight checks, and keeping records that can be used to evaluate the fluctuations in weight. This should be accompanied with record keeping in terms of the regular food intake. Through such procedures, a nutritional expert is capable of providing advice in regard to the eating and exercising habits. Controlling weight does not mean starving the children. The records can assist in identifying the deficits that children have in their feeding habits (Jim Dryden 2007). Education aimed at generating behavioral change is necessary in order to help the kids to reduce the frequency of feeding, the desire to take sweet foods, that are usually of high calorific content, and other behaviors that have negative effects on health. The parents too change their behavior in terms of what they prefer for their kid’s meals. This helps in promoting the endeavors of schools to promote a healthy population of children. Kids develop the capability of solving their own problems with the assistance of teachers. Health education should be continuous in schools in order to update the students with new and upcoming problems in matters concerning nutrition and provide solutions for such cases (Krisha McCoy 2009). Conclusion Schools are significant institutions in promoting the health of kids. They provide an opportunity for the kids to learn how to manage their weight. This helps them to avoid the dangers that are associated with obesity, such as problems with blood pressure, respiratory problems and many other health problems that are associated with overweight. Physical education, diet programs and health and nutrition education are important in maintaining good health in kids, through helping them to maintain a healthy body weight as they grow. Bibliography 1. American Obesity Association. Childhood Obesity, 2002, viewed on 4th May 2009 at, 2. Carlos Osorio. Weight loss camps help kids lose weight, gain skills, 2009, viewed on 4th May 2009 at, 3. Diet Divas. Diet Plans, 2004, viewed on 4th May 2009 at, 4. ERIC Digest. Defining Obesity in Children and Adolescents, American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, One Dupont Circle, NW. 1990, viewed on 4th May 2009 at, 5. Graves, T., Meyers, A. W., & Clark, L. An evaluation of parental problem-solving training in the behavioral treatment of childhood obesity. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1988, 56(2), 246-250. 6. Jennifer Lee. Child Obesity is linked to Chemicals in Plastics, 2009, viewed on 5th May 2009 at, 7. Jim Dryden. Children need help to lose weight and keep it off, researchers find, WUSTL News & Information, 2007, viewed on 4th May 2009 at, 8. Kathleen Zelman. Weight Control That Works, 2009, viewed on 5th May 2009 at, 9. Krisha McCoy. Behavioral Management Plans Help Kids Lose Weight, 2009, viewed on 4th May 2009 at, 10. National Quality Measures Clearinghouse. Active healthy living: prevention of childhood obesity through increased physical activity, 2009, viewed on 5th May 2009 at, 11. vBulletin. Communities to teach kids to eat healthy- Regional Childhood Obesity Programs, 2009, viewed on 4th May 2009 at, Read More