 Obesity defined  Often difficult to define childhood obesity › Based on percentile norms  Above 95 th percentile is obese  More than 16% children ages 6-19 are overweight or obese –over 9 million children  Most prevalent in Hispanic and African- American populations

 Negative physical effects › Leads to lifelong obesity › Diabetes (2-in-5 for girls; 1-in-3 for boys) › Heart Disease—leading cause of death in adults (61% have risk factor) › Joint disease › Irregular menstrual cycle › Stroke › Gall stones › Gout › Sleep apnea › Cancer › Body tissue damage and structural deformities

 Negative psychological effects › Feelings of inadequacy › Low self esteem › Embarrassment › Behavior and Learning Problems  Affects jobs and relationships

 Diet  Genetics › Overweight parent  Inactivity  Psychological Factors  Socioeconomic Factors  “No Child Left Behind”

 <7, maintenance instead of weight loss  >7, weight loss is recommended  For extreme cases ONLY: › Medications  Sibutramine (Meridia)—ages 16+  Orlistat (Xenical)—ages 12+ › Weight loss surgery  PREVENTION! › Involves parents, teachers and the community.

 Breastfeeding  Dinner table etiquette › “You must finish your veggies if you want dessert” › “You have to finish your plate before you may leave the table”  Schedule yearly checkups  Lead by example › Parents should play with their kids › Control portions

 Elementary school recess › Provided regardless of grade level › At least 30 minutes a day › Multiple sessions  Extracurricular Physical Activity  Active Classrooms › GEAR Program (Getting Energized and Recharged)

 South Carolina schools, 2003 › Student Health and Fitness Act of 2005  PE and PA regulation  School nurses  Nutrition standards for food served  Shape up Sommerville › Funded by CDC › Targets 1 st through 3 rd graders (46% overweight or obese) › Resulted in reduction of weight gain  Buffalo Bend Elementary School › Fun Club

 As future Health & Physical Education teachers, we must ensure that our students are participating in a sufficient amount of Physical Activity and also ensure that they are informed about the importance of healthy eating habits.  We have a social responsibility to effect a positive change in the health of children.  Look for ways to become involved and promote good health in the next generation.

Mayo Clinic Staff, (2008, March 28). Childhood Obesity. Retrieved November 9, 2008, from MayoClinic.com Web site: Nye, Susan B. (2008).Fun club: a physical activity program for elementary schools. The Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance. 79, 36-38, 44. Kahan, David (2008).Recess, extracurricular activities, and active classrooms: means for increasing elementary school students' physical activity. The Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance. 79, Ginn, Jennifer (2007, November). Combating childhood obesity. Trends in America, Retrieved November 7, 2008, from Brown, Pei-San, John A. Sutterby, and Candra D. Thornton Combating childhood obesitywith physical play opportunities. Retrieved November 9, 2008, Web site: childhood-obesity-with-physical-play-opportunitieshttp:// childhood-obesity-with-physical-play-opportunities (2008, October 15). Obesity. Retrieved November 9, 2008, from The Regents of the University of California Web site: evention.html