Fighting an epidemic: The role of schools in reducing childhood obesity

Obesity among children and adolescents is a major public health concern affecting the physical and emotional health of youth while increasing their risk of reduced quality and duration of life. Schools and communities have begun to galvanize to address this epidemic and need quality empirical inform...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Psychology in the schools 2006-03, Vol.43 (3), p.361-376
Main Authors: Pyle, Sara A., Sharkey, Jill, Yetter, Georgette, Felix, Erika, Furlong, Michael J., Poston, W.S. Carlos
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Academic Achievement
Adolescents
At Risk Persons
Biological and medical sciences
Child Health
Children
Comprehensive School Health Education
Definitions
Educational psychology
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Health Promotion
Intervention
Mental Health
Miscellaneous
Nutrition
Obesity
Physical Activities
Psychological Patterns
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Public Health
Public Policy
School Policy
School Psychologists
School Role
Social Influences
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Summary:Obesity among children and adolescents is a major public health concern affecting the physical and emotional health of youth while increasing their risk of reduced quality and duration of life. Schools and communities have begun to galvanize to address this epidemic and need quality empirical information to guide their policy, programming, and intervention efforts. This article reviews the definition of childhood obesity and the physical, psychosocial, and academic consequences of obesity among youth. The roles of schools and school psychologists in intervening against this overwhelming trend are discussed as well as current empirically based programs. Schools are recommended to take a comprehensive, multifaceted approach to school policies and programs to increase nutrition and physical activity. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 43: 361–376, 2006.
ISSN:0033-3085
1520-6807
DOI:10.1002/pits.20146