Childhood Obesity & Schools
Childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past 30 years and is limiting many children’s ability to live healthy and productive lives and excel in school.
Growing research is showing a link between childhood obesity and decreased academic achievement. This health condition can generate social and psychological problems such as low self-esteem. In addition, it can harm children’s health. Immediate health effects brought on by this condition include high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Long-term health effects include heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and several types of cancer.
This webpage provides several resources to better position school leaders and schools to understand and address issues surrounding childhood obesity. The links to the right of this page provide access to various childhood obesity data, healthy eating and physical activity resources, success stories, as well as policy and practice and other relevant resources.