The Obesity Epidemic and United States Students

What is the problem?

The 2017 national Youth Risk Behavior Survey indicates that among U.S. high school students:

Obesity

• 14.8% had obesity (students who were > 95th percentile for body mass index, based on sex- and age-specific reference data from the 2000 CDC growth charts).
• 15.6% were overweight (students who were >= 85th percentile but <95th percentile for body mass index, based on sex- and age-specific reference data from the 2000 CDC growth charts).

Unhealthy Dietary Behaviors

• 5.6% did not eat fruit or drink 100% fruit juices during the 7 days before the survey.
• 7.2% did not eat vegetables during the 7 days before the survey. (1)
• 7.1% drank a can, bottle, or glass of soda or pop three or more times per day during the 7 days before the survey. (2)
• 26.7% did not drink milk during the 7 days before the survey.
• 14.1% did not eat breakfast during the 7 days before the survey.

Physical Inactivity

• 15.4% were not physically active for a total of at least 60 minutes on at least 1 day during the 7 days before the survey. (3)
• 48.3% did not go to physical education (PE) classes on 1 or more days in an average week when they were in school.
• 20.7% watched television 3 or more hours per day on an average school day.
• 43% played video or computer games or used a computer for 3 or more hours per day on an average school day. (4)
• 45.7% did not play on at least one sports team counting any teams run by their school or community groups during the 12 months before the survey.

What are the solutions?

• Better health education
• More physical education and physical activity programs
• Healthier school environments
• Better nutrition services

What are the solutions?

The School Health Policies and Practices Study 2014 indicates that among U.S. high schools:

Health Education

• 88% required students to receive instruction on health topics as part of a specific course.
• 86% required students to receive instruction on nutrition and dietary behavior.
• 80% required students to receive instruction on physical activity.

Physical Education (PE) and Physical Activity

• 96% required students to take PE; among these schools 51% did not allow students to be exempted from taking a required PE course for certain reasons. (5)
• 4% required daily PE or its equivalent for students in all grades in the school for the entire year.
• 48% offered opportunities for students to participate in intramural activities or physical activity clubs.

School Environment

• In 12%, students could purchase fruits or vegetables. (6)
• In 58%, students could not purchase soda pop or fruit drinks that are not 100% juice. (6)
• In 73%, students could not purchase chocolate candy. (6)
• 77% did not allow students to purchase foods or beverages high in fat, sodium, or added sugars during school lunch periods.

Nutrition Services

• 87% offered a choice between 2 or more different fruits or types of 100% fruit juice each day for lunch.
• 72% did not sell any fried foods as part of school lunch.
• 84% offered lettuce, vegetable, or bean salads a la carte to students during a typical week.

1. Had sexual intercourse with at least one person, during the 3 months before the survey.
2. Among students who were currently sexually active.
3. Not counting tests done if they donated blood.
4. Used a needle to inject any illegal drug into their body, one or more times during their life.