Fat and Getting Fatter

The proportion of children in America who are overweight has tripled over the past 20 years. The health problems that are caused among overweight kids include hypertension and type-2 diabetes, formerly known only among the nation's overweight adult population. A group sponsored by the National Institute on Ageing has warned that this may be the first generation ever to have a shorter lifespan than their parents.
There are organizations out there dedicated to addressing the epidemic of overweight, undernourished kids by focusing on changes in schools. They work to improve children's nutrition and increase physical activity, which will in turn improve their learning and help them be more focused in the classroom. One thing I know of that helps this epidemic is that fast food restaurants aren’t allowed to be a certain close distance from the school. This is a great idea because it’s not convenient for kids to get cheap food that they can afford and enjoy, but is extremely bad for their health. Studies show that there is a decrease in exercise among students, and an increase in snacking. Congress in 2004 passed an act directing school districts that get money from the national school-lunch program to create “wellness” policies by the start of the2006-07 school year. The districts were told to set standards for nutrition, physical activity and education about good food, and then make sure that schools actually implement them. After one year of implementing this strategy, there were great results. A lot of schools banned fizzy drinks and junk food, and they increased exercise. However, not all schools are implementing these healthy strategies, or enforcing their guidelines when they should be and realize that this is an important matter.

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