In my opinion, the best way to address the alarmingly mounting problem of obesity in the U.S. is to implement a massive, regular education campaign on two fronts: the media represented by television , and the school.
The government should allocate a healthy budget for public health programs to be aired on television. 50% of these programs should target American parents. A survey conducted by the American Obesity Association in 2005 found that parents tend to misjudge the danger of their children becoming obese (American Obesity Association, 2005). The public health television programs should educate parents on two fronts: how to establish a set of conditions that contribute to a healthy lifestyle, and how to establish a set of conditions that are conducive to healthy eating. Advisories on the first front include creating time and occasion for all the family members to engage in frequent physical activities that are liked by all, such as walking or cycling; arranging family holidays that involve physical activities, such as hiking or a ski trip; initiating physically active neighborhood group programs like basketball or hide-and-seek; and involving all family members in physically active household tasks like mowing the lawn or washing the car. Advisories on the second front include providing meals that mainly comprise grains, vegetables, and fruits; making it a practice for all family members to eat together without haste and without encroachment by other activities like watching television; reducing family consumption of fast food – the highest recommended frequency being once a week; providing low-calorie snacks like yogurt and fruit; making it a habit to avoid serving food portions that are too big; and avoiding the practice of using food as the end-result of something (American Obesity Association, 2005).
The other 50% of public health programs on television should target the general public, educating them on various issues and clarifying common misconceptions. An example is ‘portion control.’ American society thrives on ‘bigger and more,’ a fixation that is thoroughly exploited by fast-food companies that provide ‘super-size’ meals, and by restaurants that generously dole out jumbo portions. A second example is ‘quality appreciation.’ Americans sacrifice quality for quantity where food is concerned. The average American diet is deluged with processed foods, unlike healthier European diets that contain only small amounts of processed foods. A third example is dispelling myths such as ‘liver is good for health,’ and ‘salads are very nutritious.’ While the liver does undoubtedly provide minerals, proteins, and vitamins, it is also rich in fat and cholesterol. A typical salad dish served at a restaurant comes with an 800 calorie dressing. The last example is ‘regular exercise.’ It must be frequently inculcated into American minds that there is no alternative to physical exercise that is preferably done daily or at least 3 to 4 times a week. The exercise form can be chosen as per each one’s liking and done with pleasure, not as an obligation.
The second area that is in urgent need of increasing education about obesity is in American schools. The 2005 AOA survey found 78% of parents thought that the amount of physical education in schools should not be lowered or substituted in favor of academic classes, while 35% of them thought that school programs relating to obesity are ‘poor’ or ‘non-existent’ (American Obesity Association, 2005). It is recommended that schools should make behavior-focused nutrition education a part of the school curriculum right from pre-K up to grade 12. The teachers who provide such education should undergo proper and sufficient training (American Obesity Association). The second recommendation is that schools add each pupil’s weight details on his or her report card. This scheme that was first introduced by schools in Boston during 2003 yielded laudable results, significantly increasing parents’ awareness of their children’s weight and fitness – 42% of parents of overweight children said they would start physical activity programs at once for their children, 25% stated they would seek medical advice for their children and 19% promised to make radical changes in their children’s diet (BBC News, 2003).
References
Anon. (2005). Childhood Obesity. American Obesity Association. 2007. Web.
Anon. (2003). U.S. Pupils get Obesity Reports. BBC News. 2007. Web.