Teen Obesity in Schools

Obesity is on the rise for every age group, especially in teenagers. If you are 20 percent over your ideal weight, you are obese, and the number of kids and teens in this category is growing, reports the Palo Alto Medical Foundation in California. PAMF adds that according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, 15 percent of people ages 6 to 19 were overweight or obese in 2000, and the number may be greater today.

Social Effects

The social climate can be rough in your teen years, and it is even harder for obese teens. Obese teens are often the targets of bullying and cruelty, which can have a myriad of consequences. In addition to making a teen feel like an outcast, bullying can also put obese teens at risk for mental health issues, cause their self-esteem to plummet even lower and possibly prompt thoughts of suicide, reports TeensHealth from Nemours. Middle and high schools should promote anti-bullying campaigns and include protection and support for obese teens as part of a greater message against discrimination.

Physical Education

With funding cuts and greater demands for academic achievement, many schools are opting to cut back their physical education programs. This means that children, particularly teens, do not get as much regular activity at school as they used to. According to Vanderbilt University, 66 percent of high school students do not have daily physical education classes. Because students are in school six to seven hours a day, the lack of physical education at school contributes to teens' sedentary lifestyles, which can promote obesity.

Food Choices

Teens are faced with even more food choices today than ever before, and unfortunately, many of those choices feature unhealthy ones that can lead to weight gain. Television commercials abound featuring junk foods such as chips, cookies, fried snacks and soda. And even in school, teens may be able to find vending machines full of empty calories. According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, 75 percent of drinks and 85 percent of snacks sold in school vending machines are unhealthy, prompting some high schools to ban vending machines altogether.

Future Health

Obese teens are more likely to become obese adults. This increases their risk for many diseases, including diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Excess weight can also make it difficult for teens to participate in social activities because they are self-conscious or have physical limitations. However, making positive changes in the teen years can establish a better foundation for a healthier adulthood.