With childhood obesity rates TRIPLING in the last three decades and a study showing 31% of children between the ages of 10 and 17 being overweight in the state of Arizona, the public school district of Flagstaff, Arizona is the first to take steps toward fighting the growing epidemic.
Beginning this fall the district will measure and weigh elementary-school children and send letters to parents whose children are overweight or heading that way.
We have a feeling this might turn into controversy with a bunch of parents getting angry for the school calling their kids fat, but we’re totally behind it.
Letting children become obese is irresponsible and affects the rest of their life!
Obese children can develop serious health problems that were once risks primarily for adults like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, joint problems and more.
In todays fast food and microwave dinner culture, parents aren’t doing everything they can to make sure their children maintain a healthy diet with most households forgetting to even include fresh vegetables in their diet in favor of heavily processed food.
Pediatrician Nina Souders pleaded to the Flagstaff Unified School District board last week:
“These are serious, serious problems going on inside of these children now, and we have to do drastic things to make them better.”
Is your child obese? Click here to find out!
Most federal guidelines consider children overweight if their body mass index is at the 85th percentile or higher for their age, sex and height.
We sincerely applaud the Flagstaff Unified School District for being the first to take the steps necessary to shed light on childhood obesity in their schools and help educate parents to prevent the epidemic from growing!
Good luck with the new program!
[Image via AP Images.]
