Preventing Childhood Obesity

A new Government Accountability Office (GAO) literature review of 53 articles on childhood obesity and factors affecting levels of physical activity reinforces the need for schools to have Coordinated School Health Programs (CSHPs) to help decrease obesity among children and youth.

Among the eight components of a CSHP model are Physical Education and Family and Community Involvement. GAO studies show that the program strategy identified by experts as most important to prevent or reduce childhood obesity is "increasing physical activity," and that parental and social support for physical activity is associated with increased physical activity

Access the literature review here. To learn more about CSHPs and how schools can apply this model in the fight against childhood obesity, visit NSBA's School Health Programs.


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