Childhood Obesity

Childhood Obesity

Running Head: CHILDHOOD OBESITY






Community Issue: Childhood Obesity












Community Issue: Childhood Obesity
For the purpose of this paper we will focus on a community in Virginia. Henry County, VA has a population of roughly 60,000 (My Virginia Genealogy, 2009). Of that population 12% fall below the poverty line (My Virginia Genealogy, 2009). In the past this community was booming with textile and furniture industries. Over the past few years many of these plants have shut down leaving numerous in the community without jobs. Lacking jobs and a descent income it is hard to provide nutritious meals to the children of those families. This is one reason why childhood obesity is so prevalent in this community.
Reducing childhood obesity is a difficult problem because of the influence of so many interrelated factors. Children at the highest risk often face the combination of social, economic, and health inequities. According to Wechsler, McKenna, Lee & Dietz (2004), since 1980 the percentage of children who are overweight has more than doubled. In 2002, 16 percent of 6-19 year olds were overweight. Non-hispanic white adolescents from lower-income families are more likely to be overweight that their counterparts from higher-income families (Wechsler, McKenna, Lee & Dietz, 2004). With the economy in its current state many children do not live in environments that support healthy choices. Many studies focus on what is taught to the child at home but it is also important to focus on what the child is taught at school. For many children the school environment is where they spend the majority of their time every day.
The focus of this paper is on elementary schools, since providing a good foundation of healthy education will play a key part throughout the other school years. When looking at the daily routines and nutritional choices of the elementary schools in Henry County, VA it is easy to see where many changes to benefit students...

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