Introduction
Obesity is one of the major health concerns that affect an average Americans and the rate at which it affect children this days is becoming alarming. Attempts to reduce the epidemic of obesity among American children have been faced with different challenges. Claire Suddath (2010) wrote an article in the time magazine. The article focuses on examining the effectiveness of some of the programs that were instituted to manage children with obesity and how the programs are being utilized and the challenges. This is a review on the article to examine the rehabilitation for the kids. Taking a look at the view of the author of the paper, some aspect of the program is good for the children and their parents while some are not.
Weight-Loss Boarding School might be good for some and not good for others. While I’m taking this side for the boarding school is some of the issues that are associated with the effective running of the school. For instance, the tuition for an average student per month was estimated to be about $6500 which may be difficult for a lot of people to pay. In this situation, the number of beneficiary would be limited hence the purpose of the institution would not be able to be achieved fully.
Some of the good things that could be found associated with this form of institution are those that help restrict what the children are being exposed to in terms of eating or drinking and they would also be opportune to participate in some of the exercises that are known to help reduce weight. One thing about this is that the food those children would be eating would be prepared by the academy and this would be made to be those foods that would help the obese students. The good thing about it is those children will be given the opportunity to eat more of fruits and vegetables which will not complicate their present weight.
I strongly support this aspect of the institution simply because when a child is at home, he or she might feel somewhat tried or lazy in participating in some of weight reducing exercises but in such kind of boarding institution, such child would be forced to participate.
I will agree that this institution will work for the children if their mothers are also educated concerning the issue. The main purpose of this is because, a child that might have lost some amount weight can still gain even more again if not properly monitored by the parent. I strongly believe that once a child has lost some amount of weight for instance 25% that was stated by the author of this article, such child can only be helped to continue loosing further weight until he or she would be properly fit regarding weight. I believe that how this child can be helped depend on continuing education of both the child and the parent. This can be achieved by instituting various programs that can really work for the parent and educate those parents on the importance of some and dangers of some.
When those parents are educated regarding that, they would be able to ensure that their children are helped regarding eating healthy foods such as those foods. They can help discourage the eating of fatty foods. Education will also help to reduce the rate at which those obese kids eat fast foods which are the main foods that tend to increase the body calorie.
I think from my own point of view, developing any programs that can actually help both the parents and the children at the same time would be an added advantage in tackling this epidemic. This is because, that programs would help develop the kind of mentality or attitude that would not be easily forgotten by both the parent and the children. They are not being forced to take such attitude up hence once they see the advantages associated with such type of weight reducing programs those that are actually obese would do all to take up such kind of habit.
The key here is that those attitude that are forced onto children might be forgotten or left when nobody is there again to enforce but once they discovered that such attitude is to their benefit and it would reduce their weight, it can easily be adopted for them. This is simply the major reason why diet seems not to be very effective in helping to reduce weight when compared to educating the affected children the various methods of eating healthy.
I will strongly oppose the view of author in another perception simply because of the age of those kids that are being monitored in the institution. This is because some of those kids might still be acting like a kid without knowing what is required on them or what they need to do if they are adults, so in such situations, what they get is not always with them. Looking at the design of the program, the evaluated parts and the question being asked by the title of the paper, I will say that obesity rehabilitation programs instituted for children only work partially. This is because of all those highlighted factors above.
Conclusion
Considering all the aspect of the article, it could be seen that the need of the external funders are very important so for the program and the creator to achieve their purpose of reduction of obesity in America. Once there are external funders supporting the institution, those that can afford the expensive price of the school before will now be able to do so. More design would also be achieved so as to enhance the program and also initiate education for the parents as regards to healthy living.
References
Clair, S. (2010). Does Obesity Rehab for Kids Work?. TIME magazine.
Retrieved May 15, 2011 from http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1966466-3,00.html
