What Causes Childhood Obesity? – Part 44

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As many of my regular viewers to this web blog know, there are many factors contributing to childhood obesity. I post daily here about it, whether news print articles, opinions, feedback, or just personal opinion.

Recently, I wrote an article for Yahoo! (click here) about childhood obesity. I started searching for sources for this article, and received over 100 responses to the question, “What do you think caused the rise in childhood obesity?” Responses came from professional and Olympic athletes, fitness experts, health experts, nutritionist, and parents.

I was unable to use everyone’s feedback, but thought it would be great to post some of their responses on my blog in a new web series, “What Causes Childhood Obesity.” I hope that you enjoy the opinions here from various individuals. Please remember, my including their posts does not necessarily mean I agree or endorse their opinion, rather, a place to share other people’s thoughts.

Keeping Kids Fit
Opinion: Francesca Zavacky

Today’s technology-centric world, combined with an over-scheduled and mostly sedentary lifestyle is teaching our youth that the new normal is eating fast food on the run, and foregoing an active lifestyle for video games and seat time for academics is more valued. Today’s school-aged youth rarely receive a comprehensive health education where they learn prevention and healthy practices in the school setting, and physical education is being eliminated as a daily subject. How will our children learn to keep their bodies in peak condition for the rigors of today’s busy lifestyles if they do not have the opportunity to learn those skills throughout their education careers?

Health education and physical education must be deemed core academic subjects at the federal level, so that every state in the US is required to provide a comprehensive health and physical education to every child in the US, maximizing their potential to be healthy across the lifespan.

Francesca Zavacky, M.Ed., Senior Program Manager, Project Director, NASPE/CDC Cooperative Agreement Project