The childhood obesity has become a burning issue of the contemporary society with vivid example seen in the United States of America and other countries. In spite of the actions taken by the local governments and on the national level, we still have “one-third of American children overweight or obese and national health care spending on obesity nearing $150 billion annually” (National Conference of State Legislatures, 2013). In this respect, the funding is inappropriate, because there are no improvements seen either in the nearest future or within the long-term perspective. The resources available include legislature to be introduced with the expected outcomes of reducing the childhood obesity by 5 per cent and health care savings reaching as much as $29 billion annually (National Conference of State Legislatures, 2013). The recommendations include a list of corresponding legislature enacted in all the states opposed to current application of separate positions enacted in 2011. For instance, the State of Georgia as well as the State of Maine has enacted School Nutrition and Physical Education/Physical Activity options, while Nutrition Education and School Nutrition options are available to schoolchildren in the State of Louisiana (National Conference of State Legislatures, 2013). In other words, most states have only applied one of the six options available, whereas a combination of at least three would be more effective in case of such an elevated level of childhood obesity in all states with no exceptions. Dietary behavior, food environment, and physical activity are listed as the factors influencing the obesity trends in the United States. As suggested in the graphs demonstrating the obesity trends in adult population of the America since 1990 to 2009, the fast increase of the obese people is due to dietary behaviors (consumption of
Dietary behavior, food environment, and physical activity are listed as the factors influencing the obesity trends in the United States. As suggested in the graphs demonstrating the obesity trends in adult population of the America since 1990 to 2009, the fast increase of the obese people is due to dietary behaviors (consumption of sugar sweetened beverages and fats), spread of fast food restaurants becoming an integral part of the American culture and lifestyles, and low rates of physical activity (National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, 2013). At the same time, what adults show their children becomes an integral part of the family culture and enters the national level with no one talking care of the nutrition education and physical activity of children. Do children have to suffer due to inappropriate dietary behaviors of their parents and lack of healthy food in the environment (school cafeteria, home, places for dining)? There enough laws to solve this issue, whereas their implementation is not as active as it would be needed to meet all requirements and make the nation healthier. The existing laws demonstrate willingness of the legal governments to change the health care situation related to childhood obesity, but they should try harder to adjust the existing rules and regulations regarding school policies related to nutrition, education, and physical activities to the expected standards. “Extensive research shows that regular physical activity is important for preventing and treating obesity and other chronic diseases, disabling conditions, and risk factors for chronic disease” (National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, 2013, p. 28). On the one hand, there are sufficient options available to children to get rid of obesity and prevent it. On the other hand, clear guidance and some restriction should be imposed to attain the goals in fight with childhood obesity. The recommended solution for current childhood obesity rates in the United States can be adopted from the findings by Cawley and Liu (2008) who analyzed the “factors associated with state legislative action to address childhood obesity” (p. 162). The current status of the childhood obesity is traced only through the analyses carried out by researchers, but they do not concern the current year. Body Mass Index (BMI) and Student Fitness Screening Legislation enacted by seven states in 2011 enable the school administration and nurses to trace the fitness of children and apply corresponding measures to change their obesity status, if any. In this respect, this can be considered the most accurate and evidence-based information on the current status of the childhood obesity in the United States. The problem is that it should be available in all states with the options for fixing the occurring issues and deviations in children’s weight. Though some barriers to enactment of the anti-obesity
The recommended solution for current childhood obesity rates in the United States can be adopted from the findings by Cawley and Liu (2008) who analyzed the “factors associated with state legislative action to address childhood obesity” (p. 162). The current status of the childhood obesity is traced only through the analyses carried out by researchers, but they do not concern the current year. Body Mass Index (BMI) and Student Fitness Screening Legislation enacted by seven states in 2011 enable the school administration and nurses to trace the fitness of children and apply corresponding measures to change their obesity status, if any. In this respect, this can be considered the most accurate and evidence-based information on the current status of the childhood obesity in the United States. The problem is that it should be available in all states with the options for fixing the occurring issues and deviations in children’s weight. Though some barriers to enactment of the anti-obesity
Do children have to suffer due to inappropriate dietary behaviors of their parents and lack of healthy food in the environment (school cafeteria, home, places for dining)? There enough laws to solve this issue, whereas their implementation is not as active as it would be needed to meet all requirements and make the nation healthier. The existing laws demonstrate willingness of the legal governments to change the health care situation related to childhood obesity, but they should try harder to adjust the existing rules and regulations regarding school policies related to nutrition, education, and physical activities to the expected standards. “Extensive research shows that regular physical activity is important for preventing and treating obesity and other chronic diseases, disabling conditions, and risk factors for chronic disease” (National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, 2013, p. 28). On the one hand, there are sufficient options available to children to get rid of obesity and prevent it. On the other hand, clear guidance and some restriction should be imposed to attain the goals in fight with childhood obesity. The recommended solution for current childhood obesity rates in the United States can be adopted from the findings by Cawley and Liu (2008) who analyzed the “factors associated with state legislative action to address childhood obesity” (p. 162). The current status of the childhood obesity is traced only through the analyses carried out by researchers, but they do not concern the current year. Body Mass Index (BMI) and Student Fitness Screening Legislation enacted by seven states in 2011 enable the school administration and nurses to trace the fitness of children and apply corresponding measures to change their obesity status, if any. In this respect, this can be considered the most accurate and evidence-based information on the current status of the childhood obesity in the United States. The problem is that it should be available in all states with the options for fixing the occurring issues and deviations in children’s weight. Though some barriers to enactment of the anti-obesity
The recommended solution for current childhood obesity rates in the United States can be adopted from the findings by Cawley and Liu (2008) who analyzed the “factors associated with state legislative action to address childhood obesity” (p. 162). The current status of the childhood obesity is traced only through the analyses carried out by researchers, but they do not concern the current year. Body Mass Index (BMI) and Student Fitness Screening Legislation enacted by seven states in 2011 enable the school administration and nurses to trace the fitness of children and apply corresponding measures to change their obesity status, if any. In this respect, this can be considered the most accurate and evidence-based information on the current status of the childhood obesity in the United States. The problem is that it should be available in all states with the options for fixing the occurring issues and deviations in children’s weight. Though some barriers to enactment of the anti-obesity legislation can be found on all levels, the findings by Cawley and Liu (2008) suggest thet “enactment of an anti-obesity law is 20% points more likely in states headed by Democratic governors, and that enactment of a school nutrition law is 19.4% points less likely in states with Republican-controlled legislatures” (p. 166). Nevertheless, the state legislature options have been enacted by 50 states in order to measure, prevent, and solve the problems related to childhood obesity on the national level. Local governments may be easier to impact in terms of immediate decision to be made, but the state legislature is more likely to affect more educational facilities and produce a larger effect on the obese children through schools with regard to nutrition, corresponding education, and physical activity.
The problem is that it should be available in all states with the options for fixing the occurring issues and deviations in children’s weight. Though some barriers to enactment of the anti-obesity legislation can be found on all levels, the findings by Cawley and Liu (2008) suggest thet “enactment of an anti-obesity law is 20% points more likely in states headed by Democratic governors, and that enactment of a school nutrition law is 19.4% points less likely in states with Republican-controlled legislatures” (p. 166). Nevertheless, the state legislature options have been enacted by 50 states in order to measure, prevent, and solve the problems related to childhood obesity on the national level. Local governments may be easier to impact in terms of immediate decision to be made, but the state legislature is more likely to affect more educational facilities and produce a larger effect on the obese children through schools with regard to nutrition, corresponding education, and physical activity.
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