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