In the last three decades, the prevalence of obesity—or being
significantly overweight—has doubled in children and tripled in
adolescents. This obesity during childhood almost always carries
on to adulthood—indeed, obesity in adults has increased at rates
similar to those in children. Four out of five children between
the ages of 10-13 who are obese remain obese as adults, and this
leads to a variety of health problems, such as heart disease,
hypertension, sleeping/breathing problems, and diabetes. While
research on the possible genetic origins of the disease is
ongoing, it is undeniable that certain factors and behaviors can
predispose children to becoming obese. These factors include
poor eating habits, inadequate physical activity, stress, low
self-esteem, a negative social environment, and depression.
Perhaps the most tangible and quantifiable of these behaviors
are the first two: poor eating habits and inadequate physical
activity. Both of these can be readily influenced in the
classroom setting, and thu