Why Nutrition Needs to Be Focused On at Every Grade Level

As a nation, we are out of shape. There is no getting around it. According to the World Atlas website and other organizations that keep track of obesity, 36.2 percent of the adult population in the United States has a body mass index of 30 percent or more. These people are clinically obese, and the numbers do not even consider the individuals who are “merely” overweight.

To break it down even further, 78 million adults are obese, and 13 million children and growing are obese as well. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that the average adult is 26 pounds heavier today than the average adult was in the 1950s. 

Obese adults go on to raise obese children. And don’t use the excuse that obesity runs in the family. Poor food choices and a sedentary lifestyle run in the family.

Health Issues with Obesity
Obesity comes with severe health issues, and that is not even considering the psychological effects of obesity. If we can help our children avoid these physical and mental health problems, why aren’t we making more effort to do so?

Heart disease, diabetes, stroke, gallbladder disease, sleep apnea, cholesterol problems, and high blood pressure are just a few of the adverse effects of obesity. 

And even though we have been battling a pandemic for a few years now, heart disease is still the number one killer around the globe, and it is not even close. Governments worldwide have preached about the various ways we can do our part to help avoid the coronavirus, but why is not the same effort being made for obesity? A considerable percentage of people who died from Covid were overweight or clinically obese. It is much more difficult to breathe when extra weight pushes down on you. 

Start Early with the Children
There seem to be very few things we can control in life, but our weight should be one of them. It may take some willpower and dedication, but it will improve your quality of life both mentally and physically. 

If children are taught the importance of eating a balanced diet at every grade level, and not just a two-day unit about fruits and vegetables, they will know what to do when they start gaining a little weight here and there. It will become a permanent part of their life. 

For instance, if they want to add more muscle to their frame as they get older, increase their protein intake and do a bit of strength training. 

To eliminate needless calories that carry no significant health value, eliminate soda and drink water and milk instead. Children will notice a huge difference. 

Nowadays, there seems to be a movement in society that we should all love our bodies, regardless of whether we carry around an extra 100 pounds on our frame. This isn’t healthy or wise. If we truly love our children as much as we do, why overlook their physical health. 

We all have one body, so we should want to be in the best physical shape possible. 

Need a Hand Creating a Curriculum-Based Around Nutrition?
Here at iAchieve, we offer professional development that can be just for a select number of people on a teaching staff or the entire teaching staff. We could lend a hand in creating a top-quality curriculum based on nutrition. From there, it would be up to the district to educate the students properly and help them from the obesity battle.

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