Preventing Childhood Obesity

Obesity is defined as having excess body fat and with a BMI above the 85th percentile. According to the CDC, the percentage of children and adolescents affected by obesity has more than tripled since the 1970’s. Many factors contribute to childhood obesity including: genetics, metabolism, community and neighborhood design and safety, sleep, eating habits and physical activity (Healthy Schools, 2018). I believe this has happened because children as more parents are working, children are spending more time indoors and not able to get physical activity. Another reason is the ease of access to junk food, including sweets and fast food. Since children are watching more television, they are seeing more commercials for fast food and because parents

Simply saying children should eat less or more balanced meals and exercising more is not enough to combat childhood obesity. More specifically, ideas to help prevent obesity can involve adults, too. Children will be interested to eat the meal if they helped prepare it and cooking together also builds parent/child relationships. Parents can help their children avoid temptations of junk food by not having it in the house as an option. If there are only healthy snacks available when the kids are young, they will be more likely to choose a healthy option when they are older (Preventing Childhood Obesity, 20150. Being an active parent and having regular family time involving physical activity is important such as tag, soccer, swimming or dancing. Children will see their parents as a role model and will tend to imitate their habits. When kids are old enough parents can also explain the importance of leading healthy lifestyle that includes balanced eating and being physically active. Children should also have some form of health education in school to help reinforce the healthy habits at home. Schools can also offer healthy food options in the cafeteria instead of all

Currently, Meals on Wheels helps 2.4 million seniors annually and is available in almost every community in the country. According to Meals on Wheels of America, the senior population will grow from 18% in 2010 to 26% in 2050 due to the increase in lifespan (MOWA, n.d.). For many seniors, this is very important service as they are able to remain in tier homes and not have to be transferred to a nursing home or assisted living facility as they have someone to check on them daily when delivering the meals. Meals on Wheels will actually save money in the long run, since a senior can eat for an entire year for about the same cost as spending one day in the hospital or 10 days in a nursing home. Billions of dollars will be saved from unnecessary Medicaid and Medicare expenses as the seniors be able to stay healthy from receiving these balanced meals (MOWA, n.d.). For Rhode Island, the requirements for receiving meals is the individual must be 60 years of age or older, they must be unable to prepare nutritious meals due to physical or psychological limitations, can not participate in an adult day care or dining program on the days they are to receive meals and the person must be homebound and unable to leave their home independently. (MOWRI, n.d.). The meal is served in 2 parts. The portion that is to be served hot and is in a container that can be