Advocacy Project: Stopping Childhood Obesity in Schools

The project I chose for my advocacy project was aimed at controlling childhood obesity, more specifically the proposed bill STOP obesity in schools act of 2009. A figure such as 10% of children worldwide are either overweight or obese.

Childhood obesity is a condition where excess body fat negatively affects a child's health or wellbeing. Obesity can affect a number of systems in the child's body, including the endocrine, gastroentestinal, muscloskeletal, psychosocial systems. On a long term time line it can lead to such life threatening diseases as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, sleep problems, cancer, and many other disorders.  Some early detectable effects are in the psychosocial system and can be such things as poor self-esteem, anxiety, and depression.

There are many causes associated with childhood obesity. One main reason being the diet the child consumes. There have been reports of school lunch food not following the Mypyramid suggestions and serving food high in fats. Also, the current generation of children has consumed higher levels of soft drinks and fast food than ever seen before. Another cause for childhood obesity is living a sedentary lifestyle. Countless studies have found large numbers of children not participating in enough physical activity. Schools have started to adopt more in depth physical education programs in response. People have protested that it is video games and TV that is leading children to these sedentary lifestyles. These are the two largest factors leading towards development of childhood obesity.

Questions
1. What % of children worldwide are either obese or overweight?

2. True or False? Childhood obesity is a condition where excess body fat negatively affects a child's health or wellbeing.

3. What are some early effects in the psychosocial system of childhood obesity?

4. The current generation of children has consumed higher levels of ______ and _________ than ever before.

5. True or False? Diet and Genetics are the two largest factors leading towards childhood obesity.