Childhood Obesity in Texas

Paper Summary:

The paper relates that childhood obesity in the state of Texas is higher than the national average. The paper discusses how the state responded with an initiative that is inclusive of schools, communities, parents, businesses, and insurance coverage providers. The program has been named CATCH or a "Coordinated Approach to Child Health". The paper provides a cost analysis that shows how it is clearly more expensive to ignore this problem than to enact and implement the proposed program. The paper discusses how the components that are in place throughout the schools, community and businesses are all essential in the creation of a strategic alliance toward the reduction and prevention of childhood obesity in Texas.

Outline:
Executive Summary
Objective
Introduction
Policy Issue and Description
Statement of the Problem
Precedent/History of the Policy/Issue
. Background (Social, Economic, Ethical, Political, Legal)
. Stakeholders
Cost Benefit Issues
Policy Focus and Requirements
Summary and Conclusions

From the Paper:

"The state of Texas states that the overweight and obesity rates for Texas fourth-graders are approximately double the national average for that age group and furthermore than childhood obesity has more than doubled in the past 20 years. The obesity rates for Latino/Hispanic and African-American children in Texas are among the highest in the nation. Being overweight not only increases the risk of developing high blood pressure but also increases the chance of developing type 2 diabetes, kidney problems and certain types of cancer. In answer to the problem of childhood obesity in the state of Texas, the Texas Department of Health, the American Heart Association's Texas Chapter and the Center of Health Promotion and Prevention Research at the University Texas Health Science Center at Houston implemented CATCH - or 'A Coordinated Approach to Child Health'."

Sample of Sources Used:

• The State of Health Care: A Few Indicators and Current Issues - Policy Brief (2005) Health Policy Forum. 18 Mar. 2005. Online available at: http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:AnztNPi0UboJ:www.texashealthinstitute.org/pdf_files/SOHC.pdf+Texas+Bill+73+Obesity+and+Overweight+Council+Wellness&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=14&gl=us.
• SB 73 Legislative Session 80(R) 1766 MSE-D. Texas Legislature History
• Active Hours Afterschool: Childhood Obesity & the Role of Afterschool Programs as a Solution (nd) Online available at: http:www.afterschoolallieance.org/active_hours/Obesity?Afterschool_Solution.pdf.
• The State of Health Care: A Few Indicators and Current Issues Policy Brief (2005) Health Policy Forum. 18 Mar 2005. online available at: http://www.texashealthinstitute.org/pdf_files/SOHC.pdf.
• The Healthy States Initiative: A Partnership to Promote Public Health. State Official's Guide to Wellness. (2006) Online available at: http://www.healthystates.csg.org/NR/rdonlyres/D48FC4CD-1F7A-4CB6-A5B5-8DBF4ED500CC/0/WellnessSOG2006.pdf..

More papers on Childhood Obesity in Texas:

• Essay # 89626 : "Childhood Obesity in Toronto"
• Essay # 45942 : "Pulling the Plug on School Vending Machines"
• Research Paper # 57160 : "Childhood Obesity in the US: Focus on the Latino Population"

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