Proper Nutrition Is Essential For The Long Term Health Of...

Proper nutrition is essential for the long-term health of children. A healthy diet helps protect against all forms of malnutrition that can lead to nutrient deficiencies, obesity, diabetes, and other chronic disease. (1a) Giving a child a supportive and adequate nutritional start has a positive impact on their not only their physical development but also their mental and social development (1). A study completed in 2013 investigated the intake of 5200 5th grade student and tested their academic abilities. This study found that students with a higher intake of vegetables and lower caloric intake of fat were significantly less likely to perform poorly on academic assessments. (11) In 2010, 20.2% of American households with children were†¦show more content†¦(6b) The prevalence of childhood obesity is high in America with approximately 16.9% of 2-19 year olds in the United States being obese during 2011-2012 (7). The percentage of obesity in America has been steadily increasing. From 1980-2008 the prevalence of obesity in the U.S. more than doubled among adults and more than tripled among children (6). Even though children are consuming adequate or excessive food calories, they are not meeting the federal Dietary Guidelines for Americans. (9a) Food insecurity and childhood obesity combined implicate future consequences for children. Overweight and obese children face long and short term complications: chronic inflammation, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, mental health disorders, lower self-esteem, and underachievement in school and even increased mortality (10). National School Meal Feeding Programs Children who eat well, preform better in class and have a greater opportunity to succeed in school. The rise in childhood obesity has brought scrutiny to the types and amounts foods offered and eaten at school and how that is affecting a child’s overall diet intake. ((7A) Hastert, 2009) Children spend more waking