Why should educators be concerned about student health issues and obesity? Is that not the responsibility of parents?
We all need to be concerned about the health of our students because it will eventually impact our entire society. #1: Obese children and youth are stigmatized and subject to negative stereotyping and discrimination by their peers (Schwartz and Puhl, 2003: Strauss and Pollack, 2003). This sort of treatment is hypothesized to produce adverse emotional consequences such as low self-esteem, negative body image, and depressive symptoms (Struass et. all., 1985). #2: Overweight children and youth with decreased levels of self-esteem reported increased rates of loneliness, sadness, and nervousness (Strauss, 2001). #3: The health effects associated with overweight are: asthma, diabetes (type II), hypertension, orthopedic complications (bowing and overgrowth of leg bones, hip pain, decreased movement), sleep apnea, and adverse psychosocial effects. #4: Children with health issues are absent more often than those who are healthy. #5: Children who are overweight by age 11 are more likely to be ov
