While the U.S. is not the most obese country in the world, obesity remains a pressing issue in this country. Though America does not hold the number one spot, North America is ranked at the top of the charts. Mexico and the US trade spots for the number one most obese country in North America. Obesity has not been improved since the 1970s, but rather accepted in the United States. Creeping up among a large population of the country, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that more than one third (36.5%) of Americans are obese. Obesity has been overlooked by families, causing the lifestyle of an individual to affect other family members.
When children have two parents that are obese, they are 10 times more likely to become overweight compared to children of non-obese parents. While heart disease can run in a family, the lifestyle choices that the head of the household makes such as eating habits, daily physical activity and self care can leave a lasting impact on the youth of the household: teens, children, and now even toddlers are experiencing severe obesity more than ever before. Recent studies have shown an increase in obesity among children two to five years old.
“I think several factors have contributed to this epidemic of overweight/obese children: diet, physical activity and parent modeling,” Ann Harris, school nurse at Cody Elementary said. “Children today have more nutrition choices in their diet but they include sweetened beverages, fast foods, larger portions.”
Unnecessary eating is part of the reason kids become obese. “The snack bar in the cafeteria allows kids to get snacks anytime during the day,” Pam Cinadr, PVHS nurse said. “This causes kids to overeat in between meals.”
Pleasant Valley Community School District has implemented the Spartan Safe Snack list several years ago to monitor foods entering the building and provide a safe environment for students with allergies. “Any food item for a class must be approved by the office for a birthday treat, class party, or holiday at the elementary schools,” Cinadr said. The Spartan Safe Snack list now models healthy habits in the classroom as well as keeping students safe. “We are thrilled that many of our parents support these healthy habits and send a fruit, vegetable or cheese stick for a classroom snack instead of a big bag of chips or sweetened cereal,” Harris stated.
“Today’s youth spend more sedentary time in front of screens of computers, video games, or watching TV and less time being physically active,” Harris said. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly one in five children or teens are obese in the US, more than tripling the percentage of youth affected by obesity since the 1970s. From 2004 to 2014, Pleasant Valley measured the Body Mass Index (BMI) for K-8 students and found our rates were similar to the national statistics.
“The PV staff continues to look for ways to educate our students about healthy food choices, decreasing screen time and encouraging physical activity,” Harris said. “But the biggest help comes from our parents when they model healthy behavior.” Parents can do so by involving children in preparing healthy foods, decreasing consumption of sugary food and drinks, increasing fruit and vegetable consumption, and serving appropriate portion sizes. Parents can also monitor the amount of time their child spends sitting in front of a screen and participate in physical activities that show exercise is a lifelong habit.
