Schools Strategies in Combating Obesity - Coursework Example

Schools Strategies in Combating Obesity 3rd March Obesity is an issue that is quite common in modern society, especially in schools, where children spend most of their time learning and engaging in other activities. Due to this, there have been concerns on how schools can take responsibility for the obesity of children in their schools and deal with it or even do away with it all the same. As a result, this essay looks at the ways in which schools can take responsibility and deal with obesity for the last time. In order to solve obesity in schools there is one item involved in the lives of all the obese children or students to which the school should pay attention. This is in order to eliminate the challenge or presence of obesity at such a young age, while the children or students are not able to take care of themselves or even be responsible for themselves. With this in mind, paying attention to the physical activity is an important aspect in eliminating obesity as every school going child stands a chance to engage in physical activities, the same way he or she has a chance to be obese due to negligence of the school. Negligence may not be directly associated with the children’s health, but it is nonetheless related in that then school has an opportunity to engage all children in physical activity for health purposes or even for recreational purposes against which no one would be. This is a clear path that obesity can be eliminated, as there are complications that arise form obesity that can be alleviated by applying physical activity to the life of an individual. As such, there is a direct relationship between physical activity and obesity in an individual since studies show weight gain is associated with low physical activity (Wareham, 2007). As a result, it is important to incorporate different aspects of physical activity in the school curriculum, if at all obesity is to be eliminated in schools and all school affiliated programs, as well as activities. In addition, physical activity serves many other functions besides just lowering the body mass or increase in weight. This is in relation to having a healthy body, where the rate of metabolism matches the intake of high caloric nutrition in that by having children engage in physical activity, they burn more of the calories they take in. With this in mind, there is no fat deposited in the body, as there is no disparity of energy consumption in comparison to energy outlay (Davidson, 2007). This allows the children or students to live healthy lies without having to worry about the much food they take in, as there is always one form or another of exercise that they can participate in to ensure that there is a balance to input and output of energy. It is therefore, the responsibility of the school to ensure that students take part in school physical activities by incorporating them into the curriculum. This is to see to it that children are not left out in health as they go about their nutritive processes in terms of consuming high caloric foods without ways to return their bodies to the base in terms of how they spend their energy and by how much they spend. Physical activity appears to be the one way that schools can take responsibility for their children’s obesity and combat it in that by having these programs in place, advice is given. The above issue is dealt with in that there are certain activities in which nutritional advice is given to ensure that children do not violate the terms and rules associated with these activities thus the need to regulate their diets. Physical activity in schools is the height of responsibility in any given school as by issuing instruction on how much weight a participant in a certain game or sport is supposed to be reduces obesity. A good example of such a measure of combating obesity through nutritional advice is wrestling, where participants engage in activities based on their weight. This creates a strong sense of awareness for students in schools to mind their weight, and even regulates it so that one does not become overweight or even underweight, which acts as a means to kill two birds with one stone. Through nutritional advice in physical activities, especially games and sports, the school takes responsibility to see to it that children watch their diet and ensure that there is no energy surplus to be converted to fat, and in turn lead to obesity. This nutritional advice goes as far as provision of meals in the school, where children are offered means of a balanced nature based on their energy needs (Jefferies, n.d.). Diets in school do not just constitute fast foods that are easy to make and serve, but instead, should look after the energy needs of the children based on their different activities. For example, a child playing American football requires more energy supply than one who does athletics, thus meals should be given on this basis to see that children do not drown themselves in junk food and food with little or no nutritional value. This goes as far as disciplining the children when they go home so that they know better than to fill their bodies with wrong foods that will negatively impact their health (Moran, 2012). This can be seen in that case of athletes who take part in ballet and other weight sensitive activities in that they do not perceive school as an inhibition for their desires, but rather as helpful party that wants them to take responsibility of their own health. By schools taking charge of their students, children learn the importance of looking after themselves in the long run, thus eliminating obesity altogether with little effort on both sides; school and children. In conclusion, there are many ways in which schools can take responsibility for their children’s health in relation to obesity, but one that counts most is the issue of physical activity as it looks after and bears a lot of other measures under it. This can be seen with the application of physical recreational activities, physical activities for fun, feeding programs that look at nutritional value and needs, as well as nutritional advice. This shows how schools can deal with obesity after taking charge of their responsibilities towards the well-being of the children. References Davidson, F. (2007). Childhood Obesity Prevention and Physical Activity in Schools. Health Education, Vol. 107 Iss: 4, pp.377 - 395 Jefferies, S. (n.d.). Solving ten Obesity Crisis Part II: Simple Plan. pelinks4u.org. Retrieved from http://www.pelinks4u.org/articles/editorial0309.htm Moran, B. (2012). Solving the Childhood Obesity Puzzle, One Piece at a Time. BU Today. Retrieved from http://www.bu.edu/today/2012/solving-the-childhood-obesity-puzzle-one-piece-at-a-time/ Wareham. N. (2007). Physical Activity and Obesity Prevention. Obesity Reviews. Retrieved from http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/foresight/docs/obesity/109-114.pdf Read More