When a child regularly consumes more calories than expended, the result is childhood obesity. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, environmental, behavioral and genetic factors are also associated with childhood obesity. This has become a cause of concern as childhood obesity can lead to both short term and long term health problems. To address this issue of rising childhood obesity, school-based interventions are considered important and effective. Schools all over the nation are trying to improve obesity and health education for children.
Coordinated School Health Program
The Coordinated School Health Program integrates eight basic components of good health for children in schools. These programs combine health education in schools with proper health care services, regular sessions of physical education and nutrition services in the form of nutritious foods in the school cafeteria. Along with this, the school health program also offers counseling, psychological and social services to address eating disorders and emotional eating. The other elements of this program include a healthy school environment, health promotion for staff and involvement of the family and community members. The Coordinated School Health Program is being implemented in schools all over the United States.
Physical Education in Schools
According to the National Association for Sport and Physical Education, children ages 11 to 14 require at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. This regular activity is associated with improved health and low risk of obesity. Though there are no specific legislation related to physical education in schools, the National Association of State Boards of Education recommends 225 minutes of physical education per week.
Innovation in Health Education
Everette James, Pennsylvania State Secretary of Health, feels that schools require innovation in health education as children are already burdened with academic pressures. In the state of Pennsylvania, there have been a lot of innovations, such as the Fitness Quest Circuit which includes free play and workout with weights, Bosu balls and stationary bikes. Some schools in Pennsylvania have also integrated dance games on PlayStation into the gym classes, to make them more interesting.
Challenges
While there is a lot of documentation on what obesity education for middle schools should be like, there is not much in terms of implementation. According to research published in "Advances in Nutrition," the majority of middle school obesity education interventions focused either on behavior change or policy and environment change. The research also suggests that there is a better need to promote behavior change in children by integrating policy change related to health education in schools with increased community involvement and a change in children's family environment.
References
- EverydayChoices.org: Physical Education in Schools - Both Quality and Quantity are Important
- “Advances in Nutrition”; Dietary Education in School-Based Childhood Obesity Prevention Programs; Manoj Sharma; March 2011
- National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion: Make a Difference at Your School
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; The Role of Schools in Preventing Childhood Obesity; Howell Wechsler et al.; December 2004
- PennLive.com; Combating Childhood Obesity: Schools Offer Kids Exercise, Education And Health Assessments; May 2010
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