Obesity: How to Change in Students Martin 1

Obesity: How to Change in Students

Erin P Martin
Saginaw Valley State University
Obesity: How to Change in Students Martin 2

Abstract

Obesity is the recent years has expressed the issue about the ongoing problem of obesity

in children and adolescents. The issue is not just affecting the United States, but it is a nation-

wide problem. It includes the effectiveness of the knowledge through school that will start to

affect children in a positive way. Informs the viewer on the long-term effects of maintaining an

unhealth eating problems. Along with the long-term effect of obesity and what it can cause.

Points key main ideas in solving the issue by teaching children at a young age about eating

healthier with real food ingredients. As pointing out other issues, it informs about other main

medical health issues such as social, behavior, mental illnesses and explains the comprehensive

solution of the issue.

Keywords: Obesity, childhood obesity, healthy eating, eating, healthy, weight

Obesity: How to Change in Students Martin 3

Introduction: Most Americans in our society have designed poor alternatives that led to

inappropriate eating habits over the years. Unhealthy eating habits happen when people start to

form unbalanced eating patterns over time. Eating habits typically are carried on like a “family

tradition” which starts in families and onward. Children developing poor eating routines and

diets are at extreme risk. Considering that children been developing corrupt eating behaviors, it

has led to outrageous impacts on the levels in childhood obesity. In addition, the abnormal rates

of obesity in young children dramatically increased from 16.8% to 24.5% in less than a decade

(LiveScience). Obesity is defined as “a medical condition that occurs when a person carries

excess weight or body fat that might affect their health” (Brazier, 2018). The condition lies

within the human body dealing with excess body which negatively affects children’s physical

health. Doctors over the past decades have researched the effects of obesity and calculations of

determining whether or not a child is categorized as overweight, leading doctors to use a method

called Body Mass Index (BMI) which determines how much body fat an individual has. BMI is

adequate for determining obesity for children between the age of two years old and older.

Children simply don’t think about what foods or nutritional value or how many calories they

consume daily. Individuals at any age should be educated on eating healthy and how to obtain

well-balanced dietary habit. In order to change this subject matter, having students maintain the

foundation in a nutrition-based course such as health class or physical education (PE). I propose

that students have further knowledge and care for themselves if they are allowed to directly

participate in the progress of making and serving their own food, instead of being served

preplanned daily lunches.

Analysis: Healthier choices and different ways of eating are difficult and complex to maintain

and understand the knowledge behind it. With that in mind, it all starts from humans acquiring
Obesity: How to Change in Students Martin 4

poor eating patterns constantly in their daily life leading to obesity. Obesity has caused general

main complications not only in adults, but young adolescents as well. Centers for Diseases

Control and Prevention (CDC) stated, nearly one-third of the average adult in America are obese

(Obesity. 2017). Obesity is a severe and dangerous medical disorder that’s not just involving

America. To confirm, it was noted in a TED talk video, that relates how obesity isn’t just

affecting America, it’s a nationwide issue (Oliver, 2010). Noticing how obesity development has

worsened over the previous decades in where it’s a global problem. The previous two decades

that obesity has worsened was from 2000 until now. In fact, one decade equals ten years,

meaning obesity has grown globally for nearly 20 years. If change doesn’t occur obesity will

continue to become even worse along with the causes. Causes of obesity is leading into other

primary medical complications such as certain types of cancers, metabolic syndrome, strokes,

diabetes, heart disease and more. Metabolic syndrome alone deals with key issues like high

blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. A Heart Disease article expresses that,

“Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women” (Heart Disease Facts).

Obesity categorizes by two central groups, lifestyles and behaviors. By way that obesity levels

are striking high in young adolescent from the age 2-19 has made serious concerns of what

obesity is associated with not only poor mental outcomes, but it reduces the quality of life

leading to death at an early age. Since theses health issues are occurring already at young age,

it’s all coming from one main source doctors have been noticing; it’s simply what a human

consumes during their daily life. In other words, obesity is preventable between physical activity

and eating a balanced nutritious diet. Most young adolescents such as students eat inappropriate

dietary foods continuously. The recommended amount of fruits and vegetables consumed by

children is tremendously insignificant. In the meaning a research study states, “children and
Obesity: How to Change in Students Martin 5

adolescents contained less than the recommend amount of fruits and vegetables daily… with

both fruits and vegetables an average of less than ½ cup a day (Lorsen, 2009). Not eating

correctly, causes individuals to have mental problems such as depression. Researchers prove that

by stating, “people who were obese had a 55% increased risk of developing depression over

time, whereas people experiencing depression had a 58% increased risk of becoming obese”

(Mental Health Foundation). Studies completed by countless researchers prove that maintaining

an equal well-proportioned diet including fruits and vegetables can cause an increase in mental

health. Overall being knowledgeable is crucial about an issue, especially when its affecting

humans daily around the global. Hence uncertainty if students can be educated at a young stage

during their life on how to eat healthy. The results from students in what they endured through

the course of time would be greatly impactful.

Detailed Plan: To start, we need to be looking at the local district community schools. In

particular, I live in a small populated city called Flushing located in Michigan. There are four

elementary schools (Central, Seymour, Elms and Springview) containing 1st to 6th graders, one

middle school containing 7th-8th graders and one high school containing 9th-12th graders. This

plan will contain multiple series of changes in this solution. The main objective to this resolution

would benefit students from elementary and above to learn about nutrition and the values with

the importance of healthy eating and understand why it’s important to your health. Schools in the

community need to acknowledge the lack of education, district board members are providing in

order to seek adjustment in board of education requirements for students. Each school will be

required to hire a full-time certified nutritionist. As well as hire more lunch ladies to help

supervise students preparing lunch. Along with more certified teachers who will teach this area

of education. The schools will be ordered to provide healthier choices that aren’t preplanned
Obesity: How to Change in Students Martin 6

during lunch time. The schools would have to organize each grade level and how the classes will

run meeting the standard requirements. Each year the student will advance in the knowledge of

healthier eating habits. At the end of month, the students will attend an assembly over what they

learned about healthy eating. Students will receive a folder that includes healthy magazines,

coupons or bonus cash offers to help families provide more of a healthy lifestyle outside of

school. With this purpose in mind, it would help the families afford the better eating lifestyle as

well. Magazines would educate parents on how to make healthier dishes by providing recipe

examples. For example, elementary schools would have to arrange a designated time that

informs each class to participate in a home economics. It’s proven in our nation schools are

starting to take action with “Team Nutrition” (Nutrition Education). In middle school and high

school students will have to be required to participate in one hour of a physical education (PE)

class (nutrition, gym, health reproductive, home economics) for each semester. The next position

that will occur is having extracurricular programs after school for students to participate on

certain weekdays. Furthermore every parent in the mail will receive in detail very clear pamphlet

with a permission slip indicating their student may engaged in helping prepare lunch. Each

student will be assigned a specific week in the preparation of lunch each day. The effectiveness

of preparing lunches allows them to fully engage in the activity as well as given the knowledge

with materials to fully comprehend and complete a healthy balanced meal. As a result, students

will be adequate towards helping their parents cook certain meals with the prior knowledge.

Cost-Benefits Plan: To be exact, cost and benefit analysis is crucial for a proposal because it

gives a clear idea about the future values being determined. In this strategy the benefits will

surpass the cost. By hiring the nutritionist, certified teachers and more lunch ladies would

indicate the district to create a new district budget. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) states,
Obesity: How to Change in Students Martin 7

“Between 2014-2024, the projects nearly 1.9 million job openings for teachers of preschool

through postsecondary school” (Vilorio, 2016). Educators should make dedicated time for

creating a flexible daily schedule for students in preparing healthier food choices for lunch,

due to some students being not in class for helping with lunch. Teachers have to make sure

they aren’t missing other valuable information. Each teacher would have to rearrange time

for this additional class course. With understanding of this issue, plenty of effort and

extensive time will cost. The New York Times released an article, “Why Students Hate School

Lunches” which stated, children are dissatisfied ever since Hunger-Free Kids Act, took place

because lunches got even more unhealthier by using not real ingredients (Murphy, 2015).

When educators are preparing real healthier food ingredients that aren’t artificial, kids will

enjoy preparing lunch. Even students will be less resentful towards the change. The results if

students learn how to incorporate healthier food styles which is a permanent advantage

towards the issue. As time passes, they will automatically start choosing and making

healthier eating patterns. Years will show a decreased amount in obesity and other medical

illnesses.

Conclusion: In conclusion, American childhood obesity has been at an alarming high rate and

rapidly increasing over the years. Children continue to eat meals without knowing the

ingredient’s or will overeat resulting in gaining weight quickly. Eat healthy has become less

important leading to physical and mention health issues, but with a proper eating proposal plan,

childhood obesity will decrease. In order for children to understand what they’re eating; they

should preplan their meals. This will result in making better eating choices and upstanding how

many calories are within one serving portion. It’s very important that children learn nutrient and
Obesity: How to Change in Students Martin 8

healthy eating habits to live a healthier life; physical and emotionally. This plan will stress

children to eat more health resulting in a better life.

Obesity: How to Change in Students Martin 9

References

Brazier, Y. (2018, November 2). Obesity: What is it and what causes it? Retrieved November 18,
2019, from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323551.php.

Diet and mental health. (2018, November 7). Retrieved November 14, 2019, from
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/a-to-z/d/diet-and-mental-health.

Heart Disease Facts & Statistics. (2017, November 28). Retrieved November 21, 2019, from
https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.htm.

High-Fat Diet Bad For Mental Health. (n.d.). Obesity and Depression. Retrieved November 14,
2019, from https://www.obesityaction.org/community/article-library/obesity-and-
depression/.

LiveScience. (2015, January 31). US obesity rate reaches new high. Retrieved November 14,
2019, from https://www.foxnews.com/health/us-obesity-rate-reaches-new-high.

Lorson, B. A., Melgar-Quinonez, H. R., & Taylor, C. A. (2009). Correlates of Fruit and
Vegetable Intake in US Children. American Dietetic Association, 109(3), 474–478. doi:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jada.2008.11.022

Murphy, K. (2015, September 26). Why Students Hate School Lunches. Retrieved November 22,
2019, from https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/27/sunday-review/why-students-hate-
school-lunches.html.

Nutrition Education. (2016, April 9). Retrieved November 26, 2019, from
https://www.actionforhealthykids.org/activity/nutrition-education/.

Oliver, Jamie. (2010, February). Teach every child about food. TED.

Vilorio, D. (2016, June 10). Teaching for a living : Career Outlook. Retrieved November 14,
2019, from https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2016/article/education-jobs-teaching-for-
a-living.htm.