Obesity Among High School Students in the United States - Essay Example

Obesity among High School Obesity among High School Introduction There have been concerns over the constantly increasing rate of obesity among high school students in the US. Studies carried in 2013 by the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) indicated that 13.7% of students in high school are obese and a further 16.6% are overweight. This was an increase from the number recorded in 1999 when obesity among high school students stood at 10.6% and the number of overweight students at 114.2%. During the period between 1970 and 2012, the rate of obesity among high school students more than doubled according to statistics provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This paper seeks to discuss the definition and measurement of obesity, the current state of obesity among high school students, the causes, and the possible measures that can be taken to address the issue. Definition and Measurement of Obesity The nature of obesity makes it difficult to clearly define the condition. However, most researchers define obesity as the presence of excessive fat in the body that is characterized by the presence of adipose tissue. Using the above definition, presence of 30% fat in females was considered as obese while for males, presence of 25% fat in the body was considered obese. The Body Mass Index (BMI) is the most common tool used to measure obesity. The BMI is the ratio of an individual’s weight in kilograms to the square of their height in meters. The BMI percentiles are used together with a growth chart to assess levels of obesity among various age groups. Current State Currently, the rate of obesity among high school students stands at 13.7% while the number of overweight students is 16.6% of the total population of high school students in the US. On the boys’ category, the rate of obesity among white American students stands at 16.5%. The rate is slightly higher among Latin American students whose figure stands at 19.0%. However, this rate for African American students with this group’s figure recorded as 14.8%. On the girls’ category, 9.7% of white American students are obese while the figure for Latin American students increases slightly and is recorded at 11.4%. African American students at 16.7% recorded the highest rate of obesity for this category. According to these statistics, African American girls have the highest rate of obesity among high school students white American girls have the lowest rate. Latin American boys have the highest rate among boys. The above statistics indicate that obesity is most prevalent among African American students. White Americans have the smallest rate of obesity. Despite these racial differences, obesity remains a serious issue affecting high school students in the US as indicated by the high overall rate of this condition among this group. According to recent studies, high school students have a higher obesity rate compared to elementary school students and students in higher learning institutions. This has called for more measures to be taken within this group. Causes of Obesity among High School Students Causes of obesity vary among individuals and it is difficult to establish the exact cause of this disorder among high school students. Despite this variance, health practitioners point that both genetic and environment contribute to obesity. Considering the amount of time students spend at school, one would note the school environment and schedule as one of the causes of obesity among high school students. High school students at times find themselves at the center of immense pressure to post positive academic results. This pressure drives them into spending a lot of time in classes and libraries to the extent that physical education is neglected. According t recent studies, only 2% of high schools in the US provide physical education on a daily basis while 22% of high schools lack physical education sessions at all. Studies have also indicated that only 50% of high school students undertake more than one physical education session in a week. This level of physical education is not sufficient to keep high school students healthy. Lunch schedules have also led to increased obesity. Due to busy schedules, students are at times made to take their lunch as late as 2.00 pm. Having gone for more than eight hours without eating, such students are likely to experience extreme hunger which can lead to overeating. In addition to this, such students may prefer junk foods due to lack of enough time to take a decent meal. For students undertaking extra-curricular activities, lunch may be extended to as late as 4.00pm further increasing the chances for such students to overeat or take junk foods. Availability of fast foods in most high schools has also increased access of these types of foods to students. According to a study carried out in 2006, approximately 86% of high schools have vending machines that sell fast foods to students. The study also found out that two out of every three high school students buy their lunch from these vending machines. Although these vending machines provide revenue to high schools, their implications on the health of students cannot be ignored. Some high schools, however, have shifted from fast foods vending machines to those that offer healthy foods such as juice, water and vegetables. Through this type of vending machines, schools are able to generate revenue while ensuring the health of students. Administrative barriers can also be seen as a cause of obesity among high school students. The current education system does not seem to give teachers enough authority and resources to impact on health issues affecting students. On the contrary, the teacher’s role seems to lean more on impacting the student’s academic performance. This is despite the fact that most high school students spend more time at school than at home. It is, therefore, important to integrate education with healthy living. Genetics have also been identified to cause some cases of obesity. According to a study carried out in 2014, some fat contained in junk food can interact with “obesity genes” to trigger obesity. Mutation of genes that control appetite can trigger an increased appetite for high fat foods and this can lead to obesity. In addition to this, monogenic mutation of energy homeostasis genes can lead to increased demand for energy in the body. Consequently, such a person will required to take high amounts of food to offset the high demand of energy in his or her body. However, genetics contribute to only a small number of obesity cases since most people with obesity genes do not become obese. Lack of enough sleep has also been identified as a cause of obesity among high school students. According to a report by the National Sleep Foundation, 7 out of 10 students in the US don’t have adequate sleep. Reduced sleeping hours can lead to a change of metabolic pathways and alteration of hormones such that students experience increased appetite. When students have increased appetite, they tend to take more food than required by their bodies since. Consequently, accumulation of fats in the body increases chances of such students developing obesity. The study, however, noted that the available literature on the relation between inadequate sleep and obesity is inconsistent as it fails to establish. For a group of girls and boys sleeping for 5 hours every night, it was found that the rate of obesity is higher in girls than in boys. This implies that inadequate sleep cannot independently lead to obesity. Inadequate sleep is, therefore, treated as a secondary cause of obesity among high school students. Effects of Obesity Obesity has been identified to cause poorer academic performance among high school students. Research indicates that obese students are more likely to have a low self-esteem that impairs their active participation in class activities. Consequently, this is reflected in their grades as they post lower grades compared to their slimmer peers. Girls are more prone to the effect of obesity on academic performance with studies showing that obese girls not only perform poorer, but are also less likely to join college. Low self-esteem resulting from obesity can also affect how students interact with their peers even when out of school. Obesity can also lead to increased risks of developing high blood pressure. Additionally, health professionals have associated the increasing number of type 2 diabetes cases among adolescents with obesity. Although the disease was regarded as an adult disease five years ago, the number of adolescents developing it has led to concerns that obesity could be the cause. Obesity can also lead to high cholesterol in the body leading to increased risk of heart attack. Research has also associated some forms of cancer with obesity. High school students who are obese may also be subjected to social discrimination from their peers. Although a number of factors come into play when students are choosing their friends, obesity tends to portray a negative image of an individual according to studies carried out to establish the psychological implications of obesity. High school students interviewed reported that they would consider physical appearance, obesity included, as one of the factors when choosing friends. Obese students further reported that they felt less confident to air their opinion even when their concerns are genuine for fear that other students will not take them serious enough. From these observations, there is need to protect obese students from discrimination by their peers. Possible Measures Addressing the issue of obesity among high school students requires joint efforts. School administrations, students and parents need to play their respective roles. One of the possible measures that high schools can take is improving healthy food options such that students have a healthier variety of foods to choose from. Low fat foods, juices and water can provide a healthier option for high school students. In addition to this, high schools can allow students to drink water in class as a way of promoting a culture of drinking water rather than sodas. Prices of sodas and junk food can also be increased so as to discourage students from purchasing them. When prices of junk foods are higher relative to those of healthier foods, students are more likely to purchase the healthier foods. Additionally, schools should look into the possibility of limiting the amount of time during which unhealthy foods such as chips are available. For instance, this type of foods can be sold after school hours as students go back home instead of during lunch hours. Vending machines should also be placed at less prominent locations. Increasing opportunities for physical education can also be an important measure. High schools should consider incorporating exercise breaks during class time. In addition to this, participation in these activities should be made compulsory such that all students spend at least a given amount of time undertaking physical education. Encouraging physical activities such as taking part in charity walks can also be an important approach. Schools can also create programs where students take part in co-curricular activities such as gardening and interclass’s sports competitions. Such activities are more likely to be famous with students as they present new experiences and a chance for students to compete. Another way through which high schools can help improve the rate of obesity among their students is by creating a school wellness plan. Through such a plan, students get assessment on their health status in relation to obesity. Students with obesity get advice on how to regain body fitness while those without obesity get advice on how to remain fit. Skill-based instructions on the importance of maintaining a healthy nutrition should also be provided through the wellness plan. Additionally, such a plan provides an opportunity for students to interact with each other and to raise awareness on the issue of obesity. Engaging parents and the community at large provides a more efficient way of dealing with obesity among high school students. While most parents have busy schedules, it is important to educate them on the need to monitor diet habits of their children. Doing so will ensure that efforts being made at school are not derailed when students go home. It is also important that the society changes its attitude toward obesity. According to studies, most people view obesity among adolescents as an acceptable trend and believe that such individuals will change their lifestyle once young adulthood sets in. However, it is important to note that some adolescents experience the effects of obesity even before graduating from high school. Partnership with community groups such as food suppliers can also result to better opportunities for setting and maintaining a healthy school environment. Suppliers can be advised to increase their supply of healthy foods while cutting on junk foods. There is also need to promote healthy eating and discouraging unhealthy dieting. While most high school students are more concerned with their weight, obesity does not always mean that an individual is overweight. Additionally, there are individuals who might be overweight but not obese. Differentiating the two can help high school students to understand that unhealthy weight loss can be risky. Students, especially girls, feel more obliged to lose weight and to remain slim. However, unhealthy dieting deprives the body critical nutrients necessary for body growth and tissue repair. A change of the current education system can also help to create more time for physical education. Currently, students have inadequate time to take part in physical activities such as games more so considering that there is increased pressure for them to post positive academic results. In addition to this, the government should seek to not only increase resources allocated for extra-curricular activities, but also made it mandatory requirement for students to pass their physical education tests before graduating from high school. Recent studies have indicated that most students complete their physical education during their freshman or sophomore. By making it a mandatory requirement, the government will increase the number of students taking part in physical education and reduce Conclusion Obesity is a serious issue among high school students as evidenced by the high number of obese students. Although genetics play a role in determining the body mass index of an individual, the environment has been identified as the leading cause of obesity in high schools. Lack of enough physical exercises caused by the need to spend more time in classes has combined with other factors such as easy access of junk foods to contribute to the high rate of obesity. The effects have been increased risk of developing diseases such as high blood pressure and cancer, poor academic performance and social discrimination of obese students by their peers. There are, however, measures that could be taken to address the situation among them being improving the variety of healthy foods available to high school students. Additionally, the government should seek to make physical education compulsory for all high school students. High schools should equally work closely with immediate communities to promote healthy eating. It is only, through collaborative measures that the objective of reducing obesity rates among high school students will be achieved. References Lowry, R. et al. (2012). Association of Sleep Duration with Obesity among US High School Students. Journal of Obesity, 2012.n.p ODonohue, W. T., Benuto, L. T., & Tolle, L. W. (2013). Handbook of adolescent health psychology. New York, NY: Springer. Webb, F. S., & Whitney, E. N. (2006). 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