It is not a mystery that childhood obesity has become a crisis within the United States. With increased screen time, unhealthy foods and high levels of stress, America’s children are becoming increasingly at risk of obesity from a younger and younger age. Indeed, this public health crisis has evolved and compounded into many more issues. From mental health to student test scores, childhood obesity is now posing a serious threat to America’s future; however, it is a crisis that could have simple solutions if the government is ready to act quickly.
Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that, in the period between 1971 and 1974, the rate of obesity among American children aged 2–19 ranged from 4% to 6.1%. However, in the period between 2017 and 2020, the prevalence of obesity surged to a terrifying 19.7%, meaning that there are a staggering 14.7 million children suffering from obesity. The price of this obesity epidemic is equally as disastrous. A study by the National Institute for Health Care Management found that childhood obesity is linked to behavioral issues for girls ranging from anxiety and loneliness to arguing and fighting. Childhood obesity also brings about significantly lower test scores for children in kindergarten, a gap that continues to persist into grade school. The study described that, for obese boys, “the effect on math scores is statistically equivalent to watching two extra hours of TV per day.” The crisis does not stop there; there are a slew of health problems associated with being obese or overweight ranging from diabetes to heart disease. Studies also show that half of overweight schoolchildren go on to become overweight adults. That leads to $93 billion being spent on treatment for obesity, not including indirect costs which could bring the total to nearly $149 billion.
However, this public health catastrophe could have relatively simple solutions. While conditions vary from student to student, it has been shown that physical activity can help combat childhood obesity. Yet, despite most states mandating physical education for students in grade school, it is nowhere near the level necessary. Medical professionals recommend that elementary students spend 30 minutes per day on PE while middle school and high school students require 45 minutes per day to stay fit. However, only six states have legislation mandating the recommended amount of PE for elementary students. For middle school students, only three states meet the recommended amount, and for high schoolers, only two states do. It has been estimated that only 30% of high school students attend daily PE classes, with that rate dropping to only 21% for 12th graders.
In our drive for better test scores and more academic achievements, America has let the health of our students slip through our grasp. We now live in a country where one in five school-aged children is obese. How can we possibly hope for America’s children to outcompete those of other nations when they suffer under the long shadow of such a dangerous public health crisis? Please call on your state and local officials to pass common-sense legislation to mandate physical education in schools and help America’s students take another step into a healthier future.
