Childhood Obesity Best Battled in Schools, Research Finds

[one...two...tree 2,762]

In the struggle against widespread obesity that begins in early childhood, new research indicates that schools may be the best place to start a solution.

Australian researchers examined 55 interventions in previous studies and concluded that school-based programs were key in getting kids to healthy weights, and there was little evidence that these programs would have a negative effect on young students' self-images.

"Obesity prevention programs in general are not harming children," said lead author Elizabeth Waters, chair of child public health at the Melbourne School of Population Health. However, "programs that don't make a commitment to preventing body image issues might hurt children by stigmatizing overweight children or send unhealthy messages about body image," she said.

"We looked for information about harms in our review and, while many studies did not report this information, of those that did, there was no evidence of harm with these programs," Waters said.

The study is published online today (Dec. 6) in the Cochrane Library, a journal that publishes studies compiled by evaluating previous research in the field.

Lessons for weight loss

In developing programs for schools, Waters said that adding lessons on healthy eating, physical activity and body image to the curriculum, along with improving school lunches, making students more active during the day and supporting parents to make similar changes at home would improve children's health.

But while programs in schools may appear successful, there is less evidence, and a need for a greater focus, on children not yet in school, according to the study.

"The strongest evidence of effect is in the 0 to 5 year age group, but the majority of studies were conducted with children 6 to 12 years. So interventions implemented in the early years are effective, and need to be a priority in order to have the greatest impact," Waters said.

While older children benefit from in-school programs, weight-loss efforts may be more effective if they come earlier — in preschools, for example.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=childhood-obesity-best&WT.mc_id=SA_facebook

[Dakine10 5,452]

Lessons for weight loss

In developing programs for schools, Waters said that adding lessons on healthy eating, physical activity and body image to the curriculum, along with improving school lunches, making students more active during the day and supporting parents to make similar changes at home would improve children's health.

For the average school, a good start would be adding something besides hot dogs and cheese pizza to the lunch menu.

[Danno 1,228]

One of the key elements of liberalism is : Only considers "Need" not "if it's the proper role of Gov't".

[one...two...tree 2,762]

One of the key elements of liberalism is : Only considers "Need" not "if it's the proper role of Gov't".

Danno, you're being obtuse. There is no clearly defined "proper" role of government beyond the U.S. Constitution, which is purposely broad and general. I know you Right Wing extremists like to think you all know exactly where to draw the line in the sand, but in order for you to do that requires interpreting the Constitution to explain your narrow view of government's role.

See, a rational pragmatist would say, "Well, since we do have public schools with school lunch programs, then we ought to provide the best educational and nutritional services for our children to ensure their success later on in life." But apparently, extremists can't see the forest for the trees, so you'll focus on sticking with your extremist ideology that you really don't think public school and school lunches should be the role of government.

ETA: And no, public education isn't some liberal left-wing conspiracy. It's been around longer than your indoctrination into RWN'ism.

Edited December 8, 2011 by Mister Fancypants

[^_^ 5,021]

Public schools aren't administered by the federal government, so what's the problem?

[Obama 2012 1,714]

For the average school, a good start would be adding something besides hot dogs and cheese pizza to the lunch menu.

bullshit. We ate all of that ####### if not worse in school and we weren't fat. Why? Because we still had recess, PE, etc...

Kids now days don't get enough physical activity. The meals aren't the problems for these growing kids, it's lack of activity and for many those damn psychological drugs they are shoving down their throats that screws with their metabolism.

[Dakine10 5,452]

bullshit. We ate all of that ####### if not worse in school and we weren't fat. Why? Because we still had recess, PE, etc...

Kids now days don't get enough physical activity. The meals aren't the problems for these growing kids, it's lack of activity and for many those damn psychological drugs they are shoving down their throats that screws with their metabolism.

You seem to miss half the point on everything. It's hypocritical of schools to be preaching nutrition and then offering ####### for lunch. Just like the dad who smokes and tells his kids not to. Then wonders why they never listen.

Anyways, you might not be fat. Don't speak for everyone. It is a huge problem in America.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

bullshit. We ate all of that ####### if not worse in school and we weren't fat. Why? Because we still had recess, PE, etc...

Kids now days don't get enough physical activity. The meals aren't the problems for these growing kids, it's lack of activity and for many those damn psychological drugs they are shoving down their throats that screws with their metabolism.

How old are you, Paul? I was eating cafeteria food in the 70's and 80's, and we didn't have fast food or junk food offered there. It wasn't until I had kids of my own that I found school cafeterias were starting to offer Pizza Hut and Taco Bell. And guess how that happened? Corporate sponsorship through lobbying. What school is going to turn down money from Pepsico when the buildings are sorely in need of repair?

As for PE, guess whose been fighting to get rid of PE and other extra curricular activity from schools?

You know, for a guy who likes to get mad about things, you sure turn a blind eye to a lot of sh!t that might contradict your narrow ideological viewpoint.

[Rattlehead 69]

bullshit. We ate all of that ####### if not worse in school and we weren't fat. Why? Because we still had recess, PE, etc...

Kids now days don't get enough physical activity. The meals aren't the problems for these growing kids, it's lack of activity and for many those damn psychological drugs they are shoving down their throats that screws with their metabolism.

I agree with your point, but Dakine also makes a good one - oil-soaked cheese pizza and tater tots aren't helping things.

[slim 1,530]

bullshit. We ate all of that ####### if not worse in school and we weren't fat. Why? Because we still had recess, PE, etc...

Kids now days don't get enough physical activity. The meals aren't the problems for these growing kids, it's lack of activity and for many those damn psychological drugs they are shoving down their throats that screws with their metabolism.

What makes kids fat is Play Station parents. "Honey, just go play your PS2." What our parents used to say is, "Get your lazy @$$ outside and mow the grass."

Kids today don't know how to ride a bike, throw a baseball, climb a tree, jump fences. "I don't like playing football because it hurts my thumbs." Your thumbs? "Yeah, when I hit the square button and R2 at the same time it makes my thumb stretch out." TOO LAZY TO PLAY VIDEO GAMES!!!!

That's what's wrong with kids today.

How old are you, Paul? I was eating cafeteria food in the 70's and 80's, and we didn't have fast food or junk food offered there. It wasn't until I had kids of my own that I found school cafeterias were starting to offer Pizza Hut and Taco Bell. And guess how that happened? Corporate sponsorship through lobbying. What school is going to turn down money from Pepsico when the buildings are sorely in need of repair?

As for PE, guess whose been fighting to get rid of PE and other extra curricular activity from schools?

You know, for a guy who likes to get mad about things, you sure turn a blind eye to a lot of sh!t that might contradict your narrow ideological viewpoint.

Who cares what they're offered to eat. There's always a healthy option and nothing that says they can't bring a healthy lunch to school (unless it has peanuts, or soy, or gluten, or msg, or whatever.) Parents are what sets a kids diets. Not school.

Back in the day PE used to feature such exciting games as dodgeball, running the mile, climbing the rope, etc. Now, there are PE programs where the kids aren't allowed to run because they might hurt themselves.

I agree with your point, but Dakine also makes a good one - oil-soaked cheese pizza and tater tots aren't helping things.

Oil-soaked cheese pizza is a vegetable. (Congress said so.) Tater tots are potatoes. Both are perfectly fine for you IF you get off your lazy @$$ and do some exercise.

This whole issue is typical lefty BS. "We have to 'help' people because they're not capable of helping themselves."

[Ontarkie 14,274]

Who cares what they're offered to eat. There's always a healthy option and nothing that says they can't bring a healthy lunch to school (unless it has peanuts, or soy, or gluten, or msg, or whatever.) Parents are what sets a kids diets. Not school.

I wanted to reply to this in particular. My kids always has lunches that I made at home and never a school lunch. Back home the schools did not provide lunches for the kids in any of the school in town. Now the High schools you could buy a lunch in the cafeteria but it is not a lunch program. Anyways when we moved here I sent all 4 of my kids with a lunch from home. My youngest was in grade 6, he had his lunch in his locker and asked to go get it at lunch time. The teacher allowed it the first time the next day he asked again to get his lunch. He was yelled at cause he had to leave the lunch room. They are not allowed to leave the lunch room, he was not allowed to leave his class to grab his lunch before he got to the lunch room and he was not allowed to bring his lunch to the class he had just before lunch. The ####### they wanted to feed the kids at the school was just that ####### I would not want anyone to that on a daily basis. So I would disagree some that parents can send lunches that are healthier to school for their kids, when the school refuses to allow the kids to bring in their own food. This was one of the many reasons I home school my kids. I'm sure this is not the case of every school.

I agree with the rest though get recess back in school and allow the kids to get outside and play.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

For the average school, a good start would be adding something besides hot dogs and cheese pizza to the lunch menu.

Cheese pizza is a vegetable - well, here in the USofA it is. So, there needs to be more cheese pizza. Three servings a day.

[slim 1,530]

he was not allowed to leave his class to grab his lunch before he got to the lunch room and he was not allowed to bring his lunch to the class he had just before lunch.

Sounds to me like it's time for parent intervention. (Or a kid trying to pull a fast one on his parents. "But mom, I HAVE TO eat pizza. They won't let me eat the stuff you packed."

Home school seems to be the way to go. Better hurry up though. Pretty soon the government won't let you do that anymore either because you're not up to standards.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

You gotta love the shortsightedness of those who say, "Who cares what the kids are served at schools?" Obesity and all the related illnesses that come from it are significant contributing factors into our rising health care costs. An ounce of prevention... oh, never mind. Some people can't see beyond their nose.

[sandinista! 1,816]

A brick wall the drs I work for run into a lot is insurance resistance. Pediatricians are not nutritionists. But good luck trying to get our fat patients' insurance plans to pay for any kind of nutritional evaluation when their pediatrician refers them there to develop weight loss plans and such. So the parents don't take them (one area hospital's Healthy and Fit program runs over $1300) and by the time we see the kid next year for their checkup they're even fatter.