Childhood Obesity Position Paper

I. Introduction
A. This argument defends the parents, reduces the thought of all of the responsibility belonging to the parents, and highlights other responsible parties, namely the responsibility of the school system and their implementation of school lunch programs and vending machines.

II. While parental control is needed in aiding in the childhood obesity problem, this is not the only issue.

A. Reports suggested that parental restriction of child eating was associated with increased food intake by children.” (Faith, M. et.al, 2004)

B. While parental control is needed, restricting diets can create an increase in eating habits, thus more body weight.

C. The change in eating habits regulated by parents may not be consistent with those habits performed in other locations.

III. While parents have a responsibility to teach their children good, healthy eating and feeding them as such, children spend more of their eating time at schools or daycare facilities that follow the same guidelines and offer the same habits.

A. Most children that attend public schools are recipients of free or reduced lunches. In the United States, fiscal year 2009, more than 31.3 million children received their lunches through the National School Lunch Program; more than 219 billion lunches have been served since 1946. (http://www.fns.usda.gov, retrieved August 8, 2012)

B. Although several states are required to monitor school lunch programs, many school districts believe that their current economic state encourages them to find ways to generate revenue for things needed in the other school programs. This may include selling junk foods in vending machines and serving pre-packed lunch items.

C. The increase in selling items has contributed to the childhood obesity problem.

IV. Childhood obesity is not just a parental problem, a parental responsibility, but it is an issue for Americans, for civilians, and for the world.

A. “Peers play a decisive role for psycho-social development in children as young as preschool age. Peer relationship problems – ranging from definitions such as having problems to make friends, not being socially accepted, or victimization and bullying – can lead to depression, and socially isolated children are less physically active. Depression and physical inactivity are considered as risk factors for obesity. ” (Boneberger, et.al., p. 1, 2009)

B. Many schools have incorporated programs that aid in childhood obesity efforts, but they are fighting the problem from within by removing some of the physical programs and allowing the need for revenue to dictate the lunch and fund-raising programs.

C. Understanding the schools role in preventing childhood obesity and holding them accountable.

V. Conclusion
A. This argument had defended the parents, reduced the thought of all of the responsibility belonging to the parents, and highlighted other responsible parties, namely the responsibility of the school system and their implementation of school lunch programs and vending machines.

B. Research findings have netted that schools are held to a standard and are required to report school improvements to federal and state governments; however, they are also allowed to sell other items, for the purpose of generating revenue that may include some unhealthy food choices. Ideally, school is a place for holistic learning which includes eating healthy and exercise. This research simply wanted to identify the shortfalls and demand more accountability.

References

Boneberger, A., von Kries, R., Milde-Busch, A., Bolte, G., Rochat, M.K., and Rückinger, S.; GME Study Group. (2009). Association between peer relationship problems and childhood overweight/obesity. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Faith, M.S., Berkowits, R. I., Stallings, V. A., Kerns, J. Storey, M., and Stunkard, A. J. (2004). Pediatrics. Parental Feeding Attitudes and Styles and Child Body Mass Index: Prospective Analysis of a Gene-Environment Interaction. Vol. 114 No. 4 October 1, 2004 pp. e429 -e436doi: 10.1542/peds.2003-1075-L). Retrieved August 8, 2012.