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Make a Difference: Key Strategies to Prevent Obesity
Why Schools?
The Impact of Obesity
Obesity is increasing rapidly in the United States, affecting adults and
children and people of all races, ethnicities, and income levels.
Since 1980, the percentage of obese children ages 6 to 11 has
doubled, and the percentage of obese adolescents ages 12 to 19 has
tripled.1 Childhood obesity has both immediate and long-term serious health
impacts.
- In some communities almost half of pediatric diabetes cases are type 2
diabetes, which was once believed to affect only adults.2
- In one large study, 61% of obese 5-to 10-year-olds already had
risk factors for heart disease, and 26% had two or more risk factors for
the disease.3
- Obese children have a greater risk of social and psychological
problems such as discrimination and poor self-esteem.4,5
- Obese children have a 70% chance of becoming obese adults –
facing higher risks for many diseases such as heart disease, diabetes,
stroke, and several types of cancers.5
The direct medical care cost attributed to overweight and obesity diseases are
staggering. In 2002 dollars, U.S. medical expenditures in 1998 may have been
as high as $93 Billion.6 In 2001 dollars, obesity-associated annual hospital costs
among youth were estimated to have more than tripled from $35 million in 1979-1981
to $127 million in 1997-1999.7
Good eating habits and regular physical activity are critical for
maintaining a healthy weight. Unfortunately, less than 25% high school students
ate fruits and vegetables five or more times per day. Only one-third of
high school student met the recommended levels of physical activity.
Why Schools?
Reversing the obesity epidemic requires a long-term, well-coordinated
approach to reach young people where they live, learn, and play. Schools
have a big part to play. Working with other public, voluntary, and private
sector organizations, schools can play a critical role in reshaping social
and physical environments and providing information, tools, and practical
strategies to help students adopt healthy lifestyles.
- More than 95% of young people are enrolled in schools.8
- Students have the opportunity to eat a large portion of their daily
food intake and to be physically active at school.
- Schools are an ideal setting for teaching young people how to adopt
and maintain a healthy, active lifestyle. Promotion of physical activity
and healthy eating have long been a fundamental component of the American
educational experience, so schools are not being asked to assume new
responsibilities.
- Research has shown that well-designed, well-implemented school
programs can effectively promote physical activity and healthy eating.9-12
- Emerging research documents the connections between physical activity,
good nutrition, physical education and nutrition programs, and academic
performance.13-18
Ten Strategies for Schools to Promote Physical Activity and Healthy
Eating
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reviews scientific
evidence to determine which school-based policies and practices are most
likely to improve key health behaviors among young people, including
physical activity and healthy eating. Based on these reviews, CDC has
identified 10 strategies to help schools prevent obesity by promoting
physical activity and healthy eating. CDC and its partners have developed
user-friendly tools that help schools effectively implement each of the
strategies.
Related Resources
See Childhood Obesity for more facts,
resources, and links.
The Role of Schools in Addressing Childhood Obesity [pdf 627K]
outlines 10 evidence-based strategies for schools to implement
in addressing childhood obesity.
See Nutrition: School Health
Guidelines for strategies most likely to be
effective in promoting healthy eating among young people. Information includes
the full text as published in the MMWR and more.
See Physical Activity: School and Community Guidelines for strategies
most likely to be effective in promoting physical activity among young
people. Information includes the full text as published in the MMWR, a
summary of the guidelines, and more.
References
- Ogden CL, Carroll MD, Flegal KM. High Body Mass Index
for Age Among US Children and Adolescents, 2003-2006. JAMA.
2008;299(20):2401-2405
- Fagot-Campagna A, Narayan KMV, Imperatore G. Type 2
diabetes in children. BMJ 2001;322:377-8.
- Freedman DS, Dietz WH, Srinivasan SR, Berenson GS.
The relation of overweight to cardiovascular risk factors among children
and adolescents: the Bogalusa Heart Study. Journal of Pediatrics
1999;103(6):1175-1182.
- Daniels SR, Arnett DK, Eckel RH, et al. Overweight in
Children and Adolescents: Pathophysiology, Consequences, Prevention, and
Treatment. Circulation. 2005;111;1999-2002.
- U.S. Surgeon General.
Overweight and Obesity: Health Consequences. Rockville: MD. 2001.
Web site accessed June 25, 2008.
- Finkelstein EA, Fiebelkorn IC, Wang G. National
Medical Spending Atributable To Overweight and Obesity: How Much, and
Who’s Paying. Health Affairs. 2003;W3;219
- Wang G and Dietz WH. Economic Burden of Obesity in
Youths Aged 6 to 17 years: 1979-1999. Pediatrics. 2002;109;e81.
- U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau.
Historical statistics of the United States, colonial times to 1970.
Current population reports, series P-20, various years, and current
population survey, unpublished data. 2005. Accessed October 16,
2008.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Guidelines for School and Community Programs to Promote Lifelong
Physical Activity Among Young People. MMWR. 1997;46(RR-6): 1-36.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Guidelines for School and Community Programs to Promote Lifelong Healthy
Eating. MMWR. 1996;45(RR-9):1-41.
- Gortmaker SL, Peterson K, Wiecha J, Sobol AM, Dixit
S, Fox MK, Laird N. Reducing Obesity via a School-Based
Interdisciplinary Intervention Among Youth: Planet Health. Archives of
Pediatric and Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1999;153(4):409-418.
- Luepker, R.V., Perry, C.L., McKinlay, S.M., Nader,
P.R., Parcel, G.S., Stone, E.J., Webber, L.S.,Elder, J.P., Feldman, H.A.,
Johnson, C.C., Kelder, S.H., & Wu, M. for the CATCH Collaborative Group.
(1996). Outcomes of a field trial to improve children's dietary patterns
and physical activity: The Child and Adolescent Trial for Cardiovascular
Health (CATCH). JAMA, 275(10), 768-776.
- Carlson, SA, Fulton JE, Lee SM, Maynard M, et al.
Physical education and academic achievement in elementary school: data
from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study. Am J Pub Health 2008;
98(4): 721-727.
- Sallis JF, McKenzie TL, Kolody B, Lewis M, et al.
Effects of health-related PE on academic achievement; Project SPARK. Res
Quart for Exer Sport 1999; 70(2): 127-134.
- Coe DP, Pivarnik JM, Womack CJ, Reeves MJ, Malina RM.
Effect of physical education and activity levels on academic achievement
in children. MSSE 2006; 38(8): 1515-1519.
- Sibley BA, Etnier JL. The relationship between
physical activity and cognition in children: a meta-analysis. Ped Exer
Sci 2003; 15:243-256.
- Kleinman RE, Hall S, Green H, Korzec-Ramirez D,
Patton K, Pagano ME, Murphy JM. Diet, Breakfast, and Academic
Performance in Children. Ann Nutr Metab. 2002;46(Suppl 1):24-30
- Florence MD, Asbridge M, Veugelers PJ. Diet quality
and Academic Performance. J Sch Health. 2008;78:209-215.
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