Introduction
What is the issue/problem?
Obesity and overweight has increased in children and adolescents over the past decade. In the years from 2003 to 2004, over 12.5 million kids from the ages of 2-19 years old were overweight.
What current legislation has been proposed to address this? (Identify bill # and name)
HF2793 Healthy school lunches funding provided.
Who is affected by the issue?
Who is affected the most?
Children at greatest risk are the ones who have both parents that are obese. Obesity varies by race/ethnicity. For example, white children are less likely to be overweight or obese than Black, Latino, or Native American children. In 1998, 21.5 percent of Black children and 21.8 percent of Latino children were overweight, while 12.3 percent of White children were. Childhood Obesity Who loses, and what do they lose?
Those with low socioeconomic statuses have shown to have limited resources to healthy food choices. This can obviously affect their health because the chances of becoming overweight and/or obese from having poor diet choices is significantly higher.
Who gains, and what do they gain?
Those with a high socioeconomic status have shown to have more resources to choosing healthy dietary choices. Because of this, they have a better chance of preventing obesity by nutrition alone. They are more likely to live a healthier life because of those dietary choices.
What are the consequences of the issue?
For the individuals mostly affected?
Obesity can cause many health related problems such as increased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, breathing problems, trouble sleeping, as well as emotional problems. Obesity In Children and Teens For their families?
The parents whose child is obese may spend a lot of money on medical bills, treatments, and rehabilitation programs. It is very common that if someone within the family is obese or overweight, there is a high risk that the rest of the family are overweight as well.
For society?
The epidemic of obesity has an effect on everyone because insurance plans increase, making the population pay for health treatments.
What is the economic impact of the issue?
What are the economic costs of the issue, and who bears these costs?
Overweight and obesity medical expenses accounted for 9.1 percent of total U.S. medical expenditures in 1998. To put this in a numerical value, the expenses were $92.6 billion in 2002. Approximately half of these costs were paid by Medicaid and Medicare. Economic Consequences What are the economic benefits of the issue, and who benefits?
Because obesity and overweight has increased, many fast food restaurants have started to sell more salads and low-fat or fat-free choices. They are usually more expensive so fast food restaurants make good profit selling those products.
What is the social impact of the issue?
What are the social costs of the issue, and who bears these costs?
Overweight children tend to have poorer social skills than normal-weight children have and this may cause overweight children to socially withdraw. Also, obesity has a negative effect on a child’s learning. Childhood Obesity What are the social benefits of the issue, and who benefits?
As I mentioned before, fast food restaurants have benefited, as well as everyone who can afford to buy healthier choices.
What are the barriers?
What are the barriers to addressing this issue?
How can they be overcome?
One way to overcome is to educate parents to make healthier choices for their children and find the healthiest food they can afford to provide. Parents should have time for their children and be active with them. Parents need to learn time management skills so they will have more time to participate in physical activity with their children.
What are the resources?
What resources will we need to address this issue?
Providing research, facts, data, and studies for the parents are great ways to supply resources.
Where and how can they be tapped?
Organizations, universities/colleges, and businesses can all provide real life studies, research, data, and facts.
What is the history of this issue?
What is the history of the issue in the community?
The U.S has been struggling with obesity for over 20 years now. Comparing the 1970's to the 2000's, the prevalence of obesity has increased for children of all ages at least 3 times over to about 20% of our population less than 19 years old. A Bit of History What past efforts were made to address it?
The school system has made some positive steps to reduce obesity among children. School curriculum’s include health and fitness classes, and schools have reduced the amount of junk food that is available as part of the lunch programs. Reduce Childhood Obesity What were the results?
All the efforts and changes have had positive results for reducing childhood obesity.
Allies & Opponents
Who would support this issue?
People who would support this issue would be the families who are obese, health advocates, medical personnel, and the general public. I think everyone would support any approach that is successful to decrease this issue.
Who would oppose this issue?
The people who would oppose this issue would be anyone who doesn't want to spend money for prevention or treatment. This could be parents who directly have to pay for their children, or it could be for those that don't have a relative or family member with the disease but have to pay for prevention and treatment programs.
Your Recommendation
How do you want policy-makers to vote on this proposed policy?
I want everybody to vote yes for this policy!
