Good Health Begins at Home
Submitted by Boys and Schools Blog
One of the big problems with childhood obesity is that it’s not the kind of problem that can be solved with band-aid style approaaches–not on an individial level and certainly not on a macro level either. (”But what kind of problems can be solved with band-aid approaches?” you ask. “Isn’t their lack of deep response what created the use of ‘band-aid’ approach as a negative term?” Good point. But my point here is that there are some problems that can be addressed more easily through school or community approaches and some that require more serious change. This is one of the latter.) The problem is that preventing obesity requires real lifestyle change. Not just from the children, but from their parents and family as well. A good phy-ed program and better nutritional options in school can certainly help, but that’s not going to do much if it’s not embraced at home. (Or worse, actively contradicted.)
So, when we’re talking about childhood obesity, we’re only looking at part of the picture. Unfortunately, when we look at the whole picture, we learn that adult obesity is on the rise as well. A new report from the Trust for America’s Health found that adult obesity rates had risen in 37 states, sometimes for the third time in three years. There were no states where adult obesity rates dropped, and in 28 states, more than 25% of adults are obese. Not to sound like a broken record, but the concern here is a health one–specifically the higher rates of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, etc. that are associated with obesity.
Too often, when we consider the problem of childhood obesity, it’s almost as though we’re viewing it in a detatched way–as though these are abstract theoretical children that can be treated through school and community programs. And I don’t mean to disparage such programs–they’re doing what they can, and they’re certianly in the best position to help. But we need to think a little more about the broader social and cultural situation as well. It seems pretty unlikely that we’re going to be able to reduce childhood obesity when obesity among adults is gorwing.
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