What Teachers Should Know About 1 in 3 U.S. kids and teens are considered overweight or obese. Genetics, lifestyle habits, or a combination of both may be involved. Students who are obese are at risk for developing: type 2 diabetes high blood pressure bone and joint problems breathing problems sleep problems depression menstrual irregularities Students who are obese may: tire easily or avoid activities that require exertion have breathing problems miss class time due to doctor visits feel self-conscious or embarrassed about their appearance have issues with anxiety, depression, or low self-esteem need to take medicine or eat special diets Keep in mind that students who are overweight or obese are often teased by classmates and targeted by bullies. What Teachers Can Do Be supportive of students who are overweight. Focus on strengths and help build self-esteem by encouraging their interests. Be a role model for healthy behaviors, especially related to nutrition and exercise. Consider integrating lessons on nutrition and exercise into your lesson plans. Make healthy eating and physical activity a classroom affair. If you allow snacks in your classroom, make sure they're nutritious. Avoid giving treats to students as rewards for good behavior. Encourage students to be active during recess and gym class, and don't take away recess as punishment. Encourage students to eat more fruit and vegetables, limit screen time, and be physically active every day. Physically active kids and teens also are more likely to be academically motivated, focused, and successful in school. Back to Articles Related Articles Managing Your Weight Has your doctor told you to lose weight? Get ideas on food, fitness, and staying motivated. We've also got weight management tools and recipes designed just for teens. Read More Weight and Diabetes Weight can influence diabetes, and diabetes can influence weight. Managing weight can really make a difference in a person's diabetes management plan. Read More Nutrition & Fitness Center Visit our nutrition and fitness center for teens to get information and advice on food, exercise, and sports. Read More Overweight and Obesity Preventing kids from becoming overweight means making choices in the way your family eats and exercises, and how you spend time together. Read More The Deal With Diets With all the focus on dieting, how do you figure out what's healthy and what isn't? Read this article to get the basics on dieting. Read More How Can I Get Motivated to Exercise? Find out what the experts have to say. Read More Should I Go on a Diet? Find out what the experts have to say. Read More When Being Overweight Is a Health Problem A couple of pounds of extra body fat are not a health risk for most people. But when people are severely overweight, it can cause health problems. Read More Dealing With Feelings When You're Overweight If a person is struggling with extra weight, it can add to the emotional ups and downs of being a teen. Get some tips on coping here. Read More Motivating Preschoolers to Be Active A preschooler's desire to move, move, move makes this a great time to encourage fitness habits that can last a lifetime. Read More Motivating School-Age Kids to Be Active Being active is a key component of good health for all school-age kids. So how do you get kids motivated to be active, especially those who aren't gifted athletes? Read More Keeping Portions Under Control Waistlines have been expanding over the last few decades. Part of the problem is what we eat, but another is quantity. Are our plates simply piled too high? Read More Figuring Out Food Labels Find out how to make healthy food choices for your family by reading food labels. Read More Motivating Kids to Be Active Parents can help instill a love of activity and help kids make it a part of their everyday routine. Read More What Being Overweight Means Being overweight has become a serious problem for many kids and adults. Find out what it means to be overweight in this article just for kids. Read More Nutrition & Fitness Center You know the importance of exercising and eating nutritious foods, but do you know how to raise a healthy and active child? Get practical advice and tips. Read More Fats Some fats are good for kids and an important part of a healthy diet. Here's what parents should know. Read More Cholesterol Most parents probably don't think about what cholesterol means for their kids. But high cholesterol is a risk factor for heart disease, which has its roots in childhood. Read More Nutrition & Fitness Center Want to know more about eating right and being active? This is the place! Read More Your Child's Weight "What's the right weight for my child?" is one of the most common questions parents have. It seems like a simple one, but it's not always easy to answer. Read More Kids and Exercise Besides enjoying the health benefits of regular exercise, kids who are physically fit are better able to handle physical and emotional challenges. Read More Staying at a Healthy Weight Here are some practical, everyday tips on making exercise and healthy eating work for you instead of feeling like it's the other way around. Read More Why Exercise Is Wise Exercise can help keep a kid's body fit and healthy. Learn more about what exercise can do for you in this article for kids. Read More Easy Exercises for Teens Finding it hard to fit in fitness? Try these simple exercises for teens. Read More Body Mass Index (BMI) Doctors use body mass index (BMI) measurements to assess a child's physical growth in relation to other kids the same age. Here's how to calculate BMI and understand what the numbers mean. Read More Healthy Eating Good nutrition and a balanced diet help kids grow up healthy. Here's how to improve nutrition and encourage smart eating habits. Read More Why Exercise Is Wise Getting the right amount of exercise can rev up your energy levels and even help you to feel better emotionally. Find out why. Read More About Overweight and Obesity We use the words "oveweight" and "obese" a lot, but they actually have medical meanings. Find out how doctors diagnose these conditions and what they mean for a person's health. Read More What Is a BMI Report Card? Find out what the experts have to say. Read More Fitness for Kids Who Don't Like Sports Some kids aren't natural athletes and they may say they just don't like sports. What then? Read More Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995-2021 KidsHealth®. All rights reserved. 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