Obesity has been regarded as “the biggest public health threat of the 21st century” (BBC News, 2004, n. p. ). This disease is responsible for numerous chronic diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular ailments, and cancer. Obesity was once widely observable in developed countries but, at present, it is also evident in developing countries, especially in urban areas (World Health Organization [WHO], 2008). Being the case, healthcare professionals are thinking of ways to solve obesity and one of which is the participation of teachers, educators, and parents in changing the habits of children that lead to this disease.
Energy balance is an essential factor to maintain a healthy lifestyle. An individual must be able to maintain the stability between energy intake (i. e. , what a person eats) and energy expenditure (i. e. , how much a person exercise). As such, the important factors that must be looked at are the dietary habits and activities of an individual. Wrong choice of food is one issue that is related to obesity. This could be attributed to children’s perception that junk food is “fun, trendy, sexy, and exciting” (BBC News, 2004, n. p. ).
Thus, promoting healthy foods should also follow the kind of marketing strategies that most junk foods have. Healthy foods should look as glamorous in the eyes of children in order for them to consume it. The role of teachers and educators is also highly important in encouraging children to engage in a healthy diet. The teachers and educators should be able to properly impart to their students the importance of eating proper foods, which they can do by giving this topic due emphasis in their curriculum.
However, merely imparting this message is not enough; they should also see to it that the children are following a healthy eating habit. They should also guide their students in the right way of inspecting the nutritional facts of the food they eat. Moreover, the school should also discuss this issue with the parents. The health of their children should also be included in the main agenda of parent-teacher meetings. Educators should conduct trainings on how to choose foods that are healthy for their children and how to prepare healthy foods (citation). Another essential concern is the activity of children.
Nowadays, many children are not physically active because of the presence of computer games which these children tend to prefer over physical activities such as sports. The school can highly contribute to affecting change in the habits of children. Educators should have higher targets for physical activities by enhancing sports activities such as basketball, football, baseball, tennis, and others. Moreover, they could also introduce other programs like dance and aerobics in their curriculum in order to capture the interest of their students and motivate them to engage in physical activities (BBC News, 2004).
Parents also have an important participation in the process. They should see to it that their kids are maintaining a healthy lifestyle while at home. Parents should monitor the food intake of their children. They should also prepare healthy meals at home so that their children would be trained on the right foods to eat. They should also encourage them to do more outdoor activities instead of always sitting in front of the TV or their personal computers. Parents can also motivate their children by planning family outings that involve more physical activities such as camping, hiking, trekking, and others.
Furthermore, the family backyard could also be used by putting recreational facilities like a small basketball court where the children could play. In doing so, children would perceive these activities as fun and exciting. It would also be easier for them to make physical activities a part of their lifestyle because they are doing it both in school and at home (citation? ). The discussions above show that obesity is brought about by the untoward habits of children. This is evident in their lifestyle, specifically in terms of the way they eat and their physical activities.
For this reason, it is highly important for the people around them, especially their parents and teachers, to properly train and motivate the children. It is through correct guidance and motivation that this disease could be solved and prevented. References BBC News. (2004, May 27). Schools urged to fight obesity. Retrieved September 1, 2008, from http://news. bbc. co. uk/1/hi/education/3751305. stm. World Health Organization. (2008). Obesity. Retrieved September 1, 2008, from http://www. who. int/topics/obesity/en/.