School-based Youth Obesity Programs
Poster Number
21
Session Title
Poster Session 1
College
College of Education
Department
Physical Education, Sport & Human Performance
Abstract
Obesity is one of America’s highest and most common diseases. As of 2018, it has affected about 14.4 million children and adolescents across the US. Obesity is a major concern due to the risk of developing other chronic diseases. According to the CDC, ages 12-18 hold the highest percentage of obesity in youth. In one of the studies that researched the effects school obesity-based programs have on students ages 6 and 7, they have found that with a program that focused on teaching and allowing the students to partake in healthy, daily lifestyle changes that included increased time in aerobic physical activity and nutritional diet, children were less likely to become overweight. Their results averaged a BMI z score of 0.23 which is significantly lower than the 1.04 obesity mark. For their aerobic exercise program, they need to be active at least 5 days a week with a 40-60% level of intensity which gradually increases over time, starting with 30 minutes every day then increasing to an hour, and exercises that include walking, jogging, cycling or swimming. Through my research I have found successful programs are those that acknowledge every part of the student’s daily life, not only at school but at home as well. If more programs focus on providing education and training to the instructors as well as well implementing activities that interest the children and families, then the programs will be more successful.
Start Date
15-4-2022 12:00 PM
School-based Youth Obesity Programs
Obesity is one of America’s highest and most common diseases. As of 2018, it has affected about 14.4 million children and adolescents across the US. Obesity is a major concern due to the risk of developing other chronic diseases. According to the CDC, ages 12-18 hold the highest percentage of obesity in youth. In one of the studies that researched the effects school obesity-based programs have on students ages 6 and 7, they have found that with a program that focused on teaching and allowing the students to partake in healthy, daily lifestyle changes that included increased time in aerobic physical activity and nutritional diet, children were less likely to become overweight. Their results averaged a BMI z score of 0.23 which is significantly lower than the 1.04 obesity mark. For their aerobic exercise program, they need to be active at least 5 days a week with a 40-60% level of intensity which gradually increases over time, starting with 30 minutes every day then increasing to an hour, and exercises that include walking, jogging, cycling or swimming. Through my research I have found successful programs are those that acknowledge every part of the student’s daily life, not only at school but at home as well. If more programs focus on providing education and training to the instructors as well as well implementing activities that interest the children and families, then the programs will be more successful.
