Do peers affect childhood obesity outcomes? Peer‐effect analysis in public schools

2018 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 216-235
Author(s):  
Jebaraj Asirvatham ◽  
Michael R. Thomsen ◽  
Rodolfo M. Nayga ◽  
Heather L. Rouse
Keyword(s):  
Public Schools ◽  
Childhood Obesity ◽  
Effect Analysis ◽  
Peer Effect

Marshmallow Fluff

2009 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 51-56
Author(s):  
katie liesener
Keyword(s):  
Public Schools ◽  
Childhood Obesity ◽  
Peanut Butter ◽  
The State ◽  
The Political ◽  
Cultural Significance ◽  
State Legislator ◽  
State Senator ◽  
Owned Company ◽  
Sole Product

In 2006, the state of Massachusetts suffered a political debacle over the merits of Marshmallow Fluff, a beloved, locally made marshmallow paste. In an effort to combat childhood obesity, state Senator Jarrett Barrios proposed that Fluff be restricted in public schools. His fellow state legislator, Rep. Kathi-Anne Reinstein, counter-proposed that the Fluffernutter (the fluff and peanut butter sandwich she and other locals grew up with) be named the official state sandwich. In the end, nostalgia trumped nutrition, revealing the cultural significance of this marshmallow treat. To generations of Massachusetts natives, Fluff symbolizes the innocence and irreverence of childhood. Furthermore, Fluff is an all-American icon: invented by an immigrant, it is the sole product of a family-owned company founded by returning WWI veterans. Since the political fallout, Fluff's populist heritage has been celebrated in an annual festival held in Somerville, Mass., birthplace of Fluff.

Addressing the Public Health Epidemic of Childhood Obesity Using Public Schools as Health Education Learning Laboratories

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 12-24
Author(s):  
Darrell Norman Burrell ◽  
Jorja B. Wright ◽  
Clishia Taylor ◽  
Tiffiny Shockley ◽  
April Reaves ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Public Schools ◽  
Childhood Obesity ◽  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Body Fat ◽  
School Food ◽  
Index Reduction ◽  
Keywords And Phrases ◽  
Food Gardens

In our society, childhood obesity has become a pressing health issue. Childhood obesity occurs when children are considerably overweight for their age and height. Body mass index (BMI) is used to measure the percentage of body fat; therefore, the higher the BMI, the more body fat an individual has accompanied by the likelihood that the individual is obese. This research aims to address the factors that cause childhood obesity. A total of 116 journal articles were used for the development of this paper; the articles were analyzed and selected based on the occurrence of the following keywords and phrases: (1) childhood obesity, (2) social cognition theory, (3) telemedicine, and (4) nutrition education. The literature review showed a relationship between childhood obesity and body mass index (reduction, the use of telemedicine, and school food gardens). Using telemedicine video conferencing software and adding food gardens to public school curricula may be a strategy educators and policymakers can use to reduce the rate of childhood obesity.

Edutainment in childhood obesity prevention: a complex topic

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 289-304
Author(s):  
Diana Sintra ◽  
Luísa Agante
Keyword(s):  
Public Schools ◽  
Childhood Obesity ◽  
Obesity Prevention ◽  
Food Choices ◽  
Healthy Food ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Older Children ◽  
Childhood Obesity Prevention ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Experimental Group

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to see if edutainment containing only healthy food can change children’s preferences and food choices toward healthy eating, especially in overweight or obese children, and if the children’s self-regulation, emotional overeating and parents that use food as a reward would influence those changes. This is important because childhood obesity is one of the biggest public health problems of the 21st century. Design/methodology/approach The authors conducted a study in two public schools (total 189 children) with a between-subjects experimental design (control vs experimental group), where children in experimental group watched an episode of Nutri Ventures series without unhealthy foods. Findings The results showed no differences in both children’s preferences and children’s food choices between the control and experimental group, with exception of older children, and contrary to our expectations. Older children in the experimental group chose more unhealthy food than children in the control group. The authors also saw differences in food choices between “emotional overeating” groups, where the children in “high” group tended to choose less healthy food items, especially in the experimental group of children. This leads the authors to believe that isolated edutainment may not be enough to change preferences and food choices; instead it might even have an opposite effect. Originality/value This study aimed to identify if edutainment containing only healthy food could be more effective in childhood obesity prevention but instead it showed how complex the whole topic can be.

Perceptions of School Nurses Regarding Obesity in School-Age Children

2005 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 86-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pamela Moyers ◽  
Linda Bugle ◽  
Elaine Jackson
Keyword(s):  
Public Schools ◽  
Childhood Obesity ◽  
Parental Support ◽  
School Setting ◽  
Active Role ◽  
School Nurses ◽  
School Age Children ◽  
School Age ◽  
Congressional District ◽  
Perceptions Of School

Obesity is epidemic in the nation’s school-age population with African American and Hispanic children and adolescents specifically at risk. School nurses at elementary and middle public schools in the Missouri 8th Congressional District were surveyed regarding their perceptions of childhood obesity. School nurses supported preventive interventions and were knowledgeable of the risks of childhood obesity but were less accepting of treatment and counseling for obese children in the school setting. One third of the school nurses did not recommend treatment for weight loss, and half of the nurses provided overweight children with counseling and referral only when parents asked for help. Perceptions of school nurses regarding childhood obesity identified in this study included the following: (a) counseling for obesity is difficult, (b) parental support is lacking, and (c) competence in providing counseling is low. These perceptions are barriers to school nurses taking a more active role in the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity.

Addressing the Public Health Epidemic of Childhood Obesity Using Public Schools as Health Education Learning Laboratories

2021 ◽  
pp. 230-243
Author(s):  
Darrell Norman Burrell ◽  
Jorja B. Wright ◽  
Clishia Taylor ◽  
Tiffiny Shockley ◽  
April Reaves ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Public Schools ◽  
Childhood Obesity ◽  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Body Fat ◽  
School Food ◽  
Index Reduction ◽  
Food Gardens ◽  
The Individual

In our society, childhood obesity has become a pressing health issue. Childhood obesity occurs when children are considerably overweight for their age and height. Body mass index (BMI) is used to measure the percentage of body fat; therefore, the higher the BMI, the more body fat an individual has accompanied by the likelihood that the individual is obese. This research aims to address the factors that cause childhood obesity. A total of 116 journal articles were used for the development of this paper; the articles were analyzed and selected based on the occurrence of the following keywords and phrases: (1) childhood obesity, (2) social cognition theory, (3) telemedicine, and (4) nutrition education. The literature review showed a relationship between childhood obesity and body mass index (reduction, the use of telemedicine, and school food gardens). Using telemedicine video conferencing software and adding food gardens to public school curricula may be a strategy educators and policymakers can use to reduce the rate of childhood obesity.

Comparison of Rural Childhood BMI Percentiles: Prevalence and Trends in a Midwest County, 2008–2016

2019 ◽  
pp. 105984051986876
Author(s):  
Janet Reilly ◽  
Le Zhu ◽  
Megan J. Olson Hunt ◽  
Rebecca Hovarter ◽  
M. Brigid Flood
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Public Schools ◽  
Childhood Obesity ◽  
Community Readiness ◽  
Healthy Weight ◽  
Number Of Children ◽  
Public Health Challenge ◽  
Over Time ◽  
Rural Childhood

The number of children who are obese and overweight continues as a public health challenge despite decades of research. The purpose of this article is to describe trends in body mass index (BMI) percentile data collected from 11- to 14-year-old school children in 2008–2009 and 2015–2016 in rural Wisconsin. The BMI percentiles from 1,347 students were compared using time, gender, age, and school (public vs. parochial) as predictors. The trend over time indicated a decrease in students of healthy weight and an increase in those overweight or obese. Also noted was a significantly higher proportion of children who were overweight or obese in parochial compared to public schools. Discussed are the observed trends, community-wide initiatives implemented, as well as how schools can employ a more comprehensive approach to childhood obesity that first ensures community readiness and involves school, home, and community.

The Impact of Public Schools on Childhood Obesity

JAMA ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 288 (17) ◽  
pp. 2180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Colin Carter
Keyword(s):  
Public Schools ◽  
Childhood Obesity ◽  
The Impact
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