According to an article found in Childhood Education there has been a dramatic increase in obesity in children over the past few decades. The article reports that the increase in obesity has occurred over all ethnic, racial, gender and age groups (Hoot & Lynn-Garbe). In addition nearly 10% of children from the ages of 2 to 6 and 15% of children 6 to 19 are overweight (Ogden et al.; Hoot & Lynn-Garbe). Other statistics assert the following

"The number of overweight children in the United States has been on the rise since the early 1960s (table 1). During the 1960s, the National Health Examination Survey (NHES), the precursor to the NHANES series, confirmed that the

8.Teacher, Students and volunteers will be asked to serve as role models for healthy eating practices. They will model this behavior is school cafeterias (Childhood Obesity).

The article further explains that obesity in children is a huge concern for the public and the healthcare system in particular. The article asserts

Indeed, childhood obesity can have both physical and emotional consequences. As a result it remains as one of the most pressing issues confronting today's youth. Now that we understand more about the problem of obesity in children let us discuss the causes of obesity in children

"Rejection by a peer at school may be the first indication to an obese individual that his or her excess weight is a hindrance (Puhl & Brownell, 2001). Several studies conducted in various elementary schools, using pictures of ectomorph- (thin), mesomorph- (normal weight), and endomorph- (obese) shaped children, found that the majority of children had negative views about or preferred not to socialize with the endomorphic children (Cramer & Steinwert, 1998; Irwin et al 2003)."

"Overweight children face higher than normal odds of suffering from both immediate and long-term physical, psychosocial, and emotional consequences (Dietz, 1998; Smith, 1999). They are at greatly increased risk for lifelong health problems, including high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels, Type II diabetes mellitus, and orthopedic complications (e.g., increased stress on weight-bearing joints). Furthermore, overweight children are at a greater risk of becoming overweight adults. The relative risk of becoming overweight as an adult increases with the age of an obese child and with the presence of obesity in at least one parent (Hoot & Lynn-Garbe)."

The article also reports that in many schools students have access to vending machines, school store and a la carte sections of the cafeteria which contain junk food(Hoot & Lynn-Garbe). These foods are present because of corporate sponsorships from companies like Pepsi and Frito Lay. In addition, these foods do not have to meet the same nutrition guidelines as the meals that are served in schools, as a result most of these food s have high amounts of fat, sugar and sodium (Hoot & Lynn-Garbe). Nearly 90% of American schools offer foods or beverages a la carte for lunch (USDA, 2001a; Hoot & Lynn-Garbe). Moreover, 9% of elementary schools have school stores or snack bars, and 15 percent have vending machines (USDA, 2001a; (Hoot & Lynn-Garbe).

Prevention Measures for poor eating habits

According to the Centers of Disease Control obesity is influenced greatly by a lack of physical activity. The lack of physical activity is correlated with high blood preasure, diabetes, asthma and high cholestrorol. In addition a lack of physical activity is connected to heart disease and premature death. The centers for disease control also points out that

6.Schools must also ensure that there are adequate serving areas so that students do not have to wait for long periods of time before being served (Childhood Obesity).

Some common words found in the essay are:
Childhood Obesity, Hoot Lynn-Garbe, Disease Control, Dale Staveren, Health People, Cramer Steinwert, Agriculture USDA, Lack Exercise, Department Education, Salbe Ravussin, childhood obesity, hoot lynn-garbe, physical education, eating habits, physical activity, obesity children, hoot lynn-garbe addition, healthy eating, lack exercise, lynn-garbe addition, overweight children, poor eating habits, eating habits lack, habits lack exercise, physical education programs,
Approximate Word count = 3136
Approximate Pages = 13 (250 words per page double spaced)