The rising obesity rate amongst school aged children and the need for better quality foods, not less expensive easy-access meals, raises an important question: “Should changes be made to the regulations for foods that are served in public schools or should responsibilities lie exclusively on educating parents about making better food choices for their children?” Parents and the community have a responsibility to help prevent childhood obesity by empowering children with the knowledge and tools they need to succeed in the fight.
The World Health Organization presented key facts and figures on childhood obesity to include a few of the following:
• “The number of overweight or obese infants and young children (aged 0 to 5 years) increased from 31 million globally in 1990 to 44 million in 2012. In the WHO African Region alone the number of overweight or obese children increased from 4 to 10 million over the same period.
• The vast majority of overweight or obese children live in developing countries, where the rate of increase has been more than 30% higher than that of developed countries.
• If current trends continue the number of overweight or obese infants and young children globally will increase to 70 million by 2025”. (World Health Organization, 2014).
While these statistics are staggering there are numerous things not only parents but communities, doctors, farmers, schools, local and state organizations and corporations can do to assist with the fight against childhood obesity especially in developing countries. Without the help of not only the government but parents and society as a whole these children will grow up to become obese adults who will eventually put an overwhelming strain on the healthcare industry.
The fight against childhood obesity begins at home. Many parents believe and put their trust in the fact that school lunches can potentially