During the past 20 years the incidence of overweight among 6 to 11 year olds has increased from 7% to almost 18.8% while the incidence among teenagers has risen from 5% to 17.1%. and, until recently, there has been no regulation of the foods offered in schools which have been left to offer whatever they have wished to through school cafeterias, vending machines and snack bars.
A report however entitled 'Nutrition Standards for Foods in Schools: Leading the Way to Healthier Youth' has now been published by The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and The Institute of Medicine detailing nutritional standards that schools must adopt.
The report begins by dividing food into Tier 1 foods (foods containing at least one serving of fruit, vegetables and/or whole grain foods or non-fat or low-fat dairy products) and Tier 2 foods (foods which are not specified as Tier 1 foods but which are nonetheless considered to be acceptable in nutritional terms in limited quantities). The report then goes on to detail what schools can and cannot do. For example:
1. Foods and beverages offered at school ought to be restricted to Tier 1 foods.
2. Snack items ought not to contain in excess of 200 calories per serving.
3. Foods and beverages ought to be free from caffeine. This standard will not however apply to foods that contain natural caffeine-related substances as long as they are found in only trace amounts.
4. Beverages that contain non-nutritive sweeteners ought only to be available to high school children and ought only to be permitted after the end of the school day.
5. Foods, snacks and beverages ought not to have more than 35% of their calories provided by total sugars. This standard will not however apply to 100% fruit or fruit juices that have no added sugar, 100% vegetable or vegetable juice which has no added sugar and to unflavored non-fat and low-fat milk or yogurt.
6. Snack items ought not to contain in excess of 200 milligrams of salt.
7. Foods and beverages ought not to be used as a form of either reward or punishment.
8. Sports beverages ought only to be offered to students who are participating in high-intensity sports programs where this activity lasts for at least one hour.
9. Foods, snacks and beverages ought not to have more than 35% of their calories provided by fat. In addition, no more than 10% of their calories ought to come from saturated fats and they ought to contain no trans fats.
10. Plain, potable water (that is to say water that is not carbonated, fortified or flavored) ought to be available to students throughout the day free of charge.
These of course are merely some of the provision of the report by way of illustration, but demonstrate that at long last we are beginning to do something to halt the rise in obesity among our children at school.
Childhood Obesity In Schools
Childhood obesity poses a serious threat to children and adolescents, and unfortunately, it can happen to any child. Being overweight as a child can lead to many problems socially and health-wise. Obesity can cause serious health problems such as heart disease or diabetes. Children who are obese from a young age may also develop poor habits that can affect their health and self-esteem for a lifetime.
One way you can fight back against childhood obesity is to start your own children's fitness business. Children's fitness is one of the key elements to preventing obesity in children. With a children's fitness business, you can use tools and proven strategies to help your own children and well as others to overcome the battle at a young age.
Types of Children's Fitness Businesses
There are many types of businesses related to children's fitness. Some involve very young children, such as preschool fitness (or preschool P.E.), which helps children develop healthy fitness habits at a very young age. Other businesses focus on older children or teens. A children's fitness business may include offering preschool fitness DVDs with exercise illustrations and fun music to spark activity. Other business opportunities may include toys or age-appropriate exercise equipment, books, or sports.
With your children's fitness business, you can provide whole exercise programs for preschools, daycare centers, churches, and other organizations to help combat childhood obesity. You can even provide helpful resources to other parents individually, all while earning a lucrative income.
Benefits for Preschoolers
Preschool exercises are designed to help kids in this age group to be active doing fun activities. Preschoolers (ages 2 to 5) tend to have a short attention span, so the activities are designed to keep their attention. It's so fun, they don't think of it as "exercise." Preschool exercise also helps kids develop good exercise habits early on in life. You can offer materials, books, music CDs, or DVDs illustrating how to warm-up, stretch, do aerobics to strengthen their hearts and lungs, strengthen their muscles, cool down, and stretch. Some programs combine exercise, dance, gymnastics, and tips about healthy eating throughout the classes.
You might also want to conduct preschool exercise classes yourself as part of your children's fitness business. It's a wonderful opportunity to be a positive influence on kids in your community while earning revenue.
Look for Franchise Opportunities
The easiest way to start your own children's fitness business is to seek franchise opportunities in this field. With a franchise, you'll pay start-up costs to receive all the materials needed for your business, either one time or for an ongoing basis. You won't have to start from scratch, making up your own exercises, DVDs, music CDs, and so forth. A franchise will save much time and allow you to get started with your business right away.
A children's fitness business will give you the tools and guidance needed to help your own child or someone else's lead a more active, healthier life. Use online resources today to discover how you can join the fight against childhood obesity with your own business!
Both Donald Saunders & Chris Robertson are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Axl Rose The Prettiest Star The world also currently awaits the release of Chinese Democracy, the bandrsquos first original album since the two Illusion albums, which had been constantly postponed since the late 1990rsquos