Can food education reduce the obesity levels in schools - Dissertation Example

Introduction Childhood obesity has doubled in developed countries over the past twenty of so years. The prevalence and growth of childhood obesity and its attending problems have caused health care professionals to characterize childhood obesity as a “public health disaster waiting to happen,” a “massive tsunami” and “a health time-bomb” (Waters, Seidell and Sweinburn 2010, 3). Although the UK’s childhood obesity levels are not unique, they have reached unprecedented levels and remain a major concern for policy-makers and health officials.

All indications are therefore that the UK as elsewhere, have not yet found a method for reducing or reversing childhood obesity (Great Britain National. This essay "Can food education reduce the obesity levels in schools?" outlines the importance of food education in school in order to prevent the level of obesity among children of shool age. Childhood obesity has doubled in developed countries over the past twenty of so years. The prevalence and growth of childhood obesity and its attending problems have caused health care professionals to characterize childhood obesity as a “public health disaster waiting to happen,” a “massive tsunami” and “a health time-bomb” (Waters, Seidell and Sweinburn 2010, 3).

Although the UK’s childhood obesity levels are not unique, they have reached unprecedented levels and remain a major concern for policy-makers and health officials. All indications are therefore that the UK as elsewhere, have not yet found a method for reducing or reversing childhood obesity (Great Britain National Audit Office 2006, 9). In 2004, obesity was identified by the UK government as a major policy concern and targets were established for reducing childhood obesity by the year 2010.

In 2006, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) publicized guidelines for preventing, identifying, assessing and managing obesity and overweight in both children and adults. The guidelines makes recommendations for the NHS, local authorities (LAs), the public and community partners that can be carried out in schools, the work environment, personally and within community projects (Aiken, Arai and Roberts 2008, 1).