Wellness Plans/Obese Children - Are they school's responsibility?

Question

Childhood Obesity is a prevalent problem with today's kids. Is it the responsibility of the school to institute wellness plans to try to combat the problem? Is it crossing the line to weigh kids at school? Can schools be expected to achieve wellness plan goals when they have to cut gym and recess for mandatory State testing?

This is for a graduate school "magazine" project and selected answers will be used in a project for a "Letters to the Editor" section. If you are a teacher or school administrator, please note your position (no school, name, etc necessary!)

Thanks!


This is for a graduate school "magazine" project and selected answers will be used in a project for a "Letters to the Editor" section. If you are a teacher or school administrator, please note your position (no school, name, etc necessary!)

Thanks!

Answer 1

No I put it right on the parents responsibility. The schools are not the answer to all problems. Besides the fact that they only affect about 1/6 of a child's year. The people that spend the most time around the child should be responsible.

Answer 2

There are many factors that contribute to causing childhood obesity -
Lack of regular exercise, sedentary behavior such as frequency of television viewing, computer usage, and similar habits that take the time that could be better used for physical activity. There is also a high rate of eating high calorie foods (or eating, even if not hungry), while watching TV or doing homework.
While the school might shoulder a small share of the responsbility as a part of the educational process, the overall responsibility rests with parents.
The complexities involved in overweight/obese children, as noted above are usually long-term behaviors which BEGIN in the home.
In reality, the "wellness plan" may well be directed towards PARENTS of overweight/obese chilldren as a start, with the goals to be outlined by both the parents and the teacher.
I see nothing wrong with weighing a child at school.It should already be a part of health concerns anyway. What I would object to is the school nurse or doctor (in cases of an overweight/obese child) verbalizing a child's weight to others so as to bring about embassment or humiliation to the child.

Welness Plan goals do not have to be scheduled to "cut into gym or recess" in order to achieve "mandatory State testing."
"State testing" isn't given every day! A school's curriculum could well be re-structured to include a short period of time everyday (in a health class or gym) for the teacher to address the students about good and healthy food choices as well as nutrition issues and exercise. There would be no need to address obesity directly, especially if an obese child or children are in the class.
We must not, of course, forget the issue of genetics. This is because the greater risk of obesity has been found in children whose parent/s are also obese or overweight. The parents have already put in place, long-term bad eating habits which unfortunately, become an integral part of the child's eating habits as well.Thus the pattern is already in place. In that respect, other "plans" would have to be initiated to combat this problem. These parents, in most cases, would definitely have to become involved.

In the interim, I believe that the schools could place more emphasis on school breakfasts/lunches.The schools must enlist the aid of nutritionsts in planning meals for the students. No more nepotism or favoritism re Board of Education members steering "food contracts" towards friends/family members; no more "pizza" parties; no more McDonald's outings, etc. No more sugar-laden soft drinks; no more sodas.

Answer 3

I was the obese child. Well, I don't know if I was "obese" then, but I certainly am now.

I really wish that there was a way that I could have learned to utilize and appreciate physical activity when I was a child in a way that didn't make me feel inferior or incapable.

When I was growing up, it was all about playing sports in gym class, and running around. Very little variety, and very little actual education. Mostly just running.

I wish I had had a teacher that could have taught me the value of physical activity without making me feel fat.

I wish I had had a teacher that listened to me and took me seriously when I told them I was hurting.

I wish I had had someone that was sensitive to my insecurities, and had been patient with me and taught me that physical activity was about being better than yourself, not being better or even as good as anyone else.

I wish that I had had a gym teacher that gave more options for acheiving physical fitness. Running the mile is not for everyone. Certainly not for me. I am, however good at swimming, dancing, and lifting weights. I didn't discover these things until I was in college.

I wish I had had a gym teacher that took a personal interest in me, and my circumstances, who could give me the tools and mentally and emotionally prepare me for a lifetime of battling obesity.

Is it the schools' responsibility to teach me healthy eating and physical activity habits? No. My mom and I are still working on implementing those things into our life to this day.

But could the school have done better by me? Most definitely.

Answer 4

I think it is the school's responsibility to provide healthy low fat foods for breakfast (if served) and lunch. If diet comes up in a class setting, then teach proper eating. The responsibility ends there. What do the parents think, they can pop out a baby and it's up to the school to teach it everything from there?? The school can't fight what is done in the home and eating habits are formed there by the parents.

Answer 5

I feel Obsity in children is the parents' responsibility.. Yea schools should promote healthy eating and excercise, but it's the parents taking kids to Mcdonalds.... They need to put the kids in afterschool activities, instead of keeping them inside the house playing video games...

Answer 6

Parents are responsible for their children's wellness. Parents have been shirking a lot of responsibility . . .