The health practitioner will combine attempts to reach this group with administrative policy and in combination; there will be a moderation of the problem at school.
The popular kids at school set the norms of the schools and influence the values within the school. The popular kids are generally not the ones who are obese they may make fun at obese children. An awareness program that allows popular children to observe the impact of their taunts and other unkind comments on their peers may strike within their hearts a desire to become part of the solution rather than the problem. When combined with an administrative approach that encourages more exercise that is physical and coupled with a school climate of support for eating healthy food. This strategy will create changes in the magnitude of this problem.
Childhood obesity is a tremendous problem in the United States and it is becoming larger. Many of the approaches that have been tried to reduce the problem do not include the children in the program at the level of initiating change. It is clear that children have an enormous influence over their peers. They often use that influence to encourage negative behaviors, which may be personally destructive. The future of change calls for children to use their power for the support and encouragement of their peers who are struggling with this challenge.
References
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