Schools and childhood obesity

Over the last several years there have been numerous reports blaiming schools for the childhood obesity problem. Unhealthy school lunches, vending machines, infrequent gym class, and birthday snacks have all been blamed.

Even Bill Clinton has gotten into the act by forming a partnership between the William J. Clinton Foundation and the American Heart Association to “increase physical activity and improve nutrition in schools across the nation; provide standards for schools to improve the food served in cafeterias and vending machines and improve opportunities for enhanced physical activity both in school and after school.”

In addition, States and schools are taking action to address the “childhood obesity epidemic” on their own by reporting student’s BMI to their parents and banning treats at birthday parties.

Personally, this never made much sense to me. From my experience with two children it seemed like they eat better and get more physical activity in school than I did back in the 50s and 60s when there was no “childhood obesity epidemic.”

The school lunches I had would certainly not be considered “healthy” by today’s standards and, although I had gym class, I don’t remember ever getting any real exercise. Instead, I remember standing around a lot waiting for other kids to do some skill drill.

Anyway, The American Journal of Public Health just published a study (April 2007) that suggests I’m right — and that schools are doing a pretty good job with nutrition and physical activity.

The study “stressed that schools provide structured eating patterns, limited access to excessively caloric foods and beverages, and a fundamental education of the benefits of a balanced diet, as well as encouraging sufficient exercise.

In fact, the researchers found that children are more prone to weight gain during holidays when they do not have this order in their daily regimen.

Bottom line, schools aren’t the cause of the increased incidence of overweight and obesity among our nation’s youth.

Allen Oelschlaeger
Author of The Straight Scoop About Childhood Obesity