Childhood Obesity Prevention

According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, seventeen percent of the nation's children are overweight. While many argue that every individual has the freedom to live and eat as they please, the problem of childhood obesity is causing an array of serious health problems within the youth and is costing the U.S. an estimated $150 billion per year in treatment for obesity related illnesses and conditions. Currently, the impact of prevention efforts seems to be somewhat ineffective, and the only way to fix this is to involve everybody. The US Department of Health and Human Services has provided checklists for parents/guardians, teachers, and the community in order to take steps to provide a healthier future for our nation's youth.