| Copyright (c) 2007 Gurion Blattman | | | | American Medical Association, 1999. p 1579). |
| Obesity can be a problem as early as kindergarten | | | | Children from lower income families are at a greater |
| for some children. Children who suffer from obesity | | | | disadvantage because the majority of this population |
| will most likely endure a lifelong struggle with physical | | | | resides in neighborhoods with intimidating playgrounds. |
| and emotional consequences. | | | | Concerned with street safety, children are often |
| Physical effects of obesity in children include difficulty | | | | kept inside by parents and they tend to spend more |
| keeping up with physical activities, problems sleeping, | | | | time in front of the television or playing video games. |
| and trouble with breathing. Not only are obese | | | | Playgrounds in lower income neighborhoods tend to |
| children more often affected by asthma, they also | | | | be filthy, with broken bottles, trash and graffiti |
| have problems with sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is being | | | | covering the park. Although the playground has |
| recognized with more frequency as the incidence of | | | | basketball courts, swings and jungle gyms, they are |
| pediatric obesity rises. Clinically significant effects on | | | | generally not child friendly. The parks are usually |
| learning and memory function have been documented | | | | populated with young adults hanging out, intimidating |
| in children with obstructive sleep apnea as a | | | | the younger children. This is not a safe environment |
| consequence of obesity. (Must, Aviva, Ph.D., ET AL, | | | | for children to play in and not one in which children |
| 2003 "Effects of Obesity on Morbidity in Children and | | | | could safely play unsupervised. |
| Adolescents" Nutrition in Clinical Care, p. 8). | | | | Schools are contributing to childhood obesity by failing |
| Childhood obesity clearly impacts the health of the | | | | to make physical education an important part of the |
| growing child. Furthermore, it is considered an | | | | curriculum. Children don't get enough exercise at |
| important disease because of its link to long-term | | | | school. Time allotted for gym is inadequate and |
| health problems including type II diabetes, | | | | infrequent. Teachers can try to compensate by |
| hypertension, some forms of cancer, lack of energy | | | | providing their classes with additional outside play |
| and asthma. The incidence of type II diabetes in | | | | time. The physical education program is extremely |
| children is expected to grow in parallel with the rise in | | | | vital and deserving of more attention. |
| obesity. Onset diabetes in childhood is a predictor of | | | | Implementation of after school programs that |
| early onset of diabetes complications including | | | | emphasize physical activities such as kickball and |
| cardiovascular disease, kidney failure and amputations | | | | basketball should be a priority. There is a need for an |
| (Must, p. 131). Approximately 60% of overweight five | | | | after school athletic program at the elementary level |
| to ten year old children experience at least one | | | | to augment the physical education program and |
| associated biochemical or clinical cardiovascular risk | | | | provide a safe, healthy environment for lower income |
| factor, such as hyperlipidemia, elevated blood | | | | children as well. This would be a benefit for children |
| pressure, or increased insulin levels, and 25% have | | | | as well as parents, and an important factor in |
| two or more (Koplan, JP, Deitz WH., "Calorie | | | | reducing obesity in children. |
| Imbalance and Public Health Policy" The Journal of the | | | | |