Government want to stop rising obesity levels
Solution pick: Introduce healthy eating and exercise lessons in schools
Source 1 (Thuy)
- “When we talk about malnutrition, we are no longer just talking about underweight children,”
- Malnutrition is no longer only about children not getting enough food. It now also includes
children eating unhealthy foods that cause obesity. Obesity has become a serious nutrition
problem among children, not just underweight.
- “Obesity is a growing concern that can impact the health and development of children.”
- It can affect their health, growth, and development. The quote shows why governments should
take action early to prevent obesity before it causes long-term problems. This also shows that
obesity can harm children physically and mentally.
- “Ultra-processed food is increasingly replacing fruits, vegetables and protein…”
- Many children are eating more unhealthy processed foods instead of nutritious foods needed
for good health. Ultra-processed foods are often high in sugar, fat, and salt, which can increase
obesity rates.
Source 2 (Thuy)
- This source is not very relevant because it mainly discusses the increase in childhood obesity and its
causes, rather than explaining how healthy eating and exercise lessons in schools could reduce
obesity levels. It provides background information about the issue, but it does not directly support the
proposed government solution.
Source 3 (Bong)
- The advertisement by Coca-Cola shows people enjoying sugary drinks
- This can influence children to develop unhealthy eating habits.
- This supports the solution
- Schools need to teach healthy eating so students can understand and avoid unhealthy food choices.
Source 4 (Kitty)
- Maya said that “Many people develop unhealthy eating habits from a young age because they are not
taught enough about nutrition and exercise”
- Affects the most people by developing a long term solution that impacts many people
- Maya said that “Governments should introduce healthy eating and exercise lessons in schools so
children can learn how to make better lifestyle choices.”
- Schools can help students make healthier lifestyle choices and reduce future obesity levels.
- Maya said that “Schools could also encourage more physical activity and provide healthier meals.”
- Schools can directly improve students’ health through exercise and healthier food options.
- Maya said that “A balanced approach involving education, healthier environments, and some regulation
would be most effective.”
- Education is an important part of an effective solution to obesity because it supports healthier
lifestyles over time.
Source 5 (Do)
- Childhood obesity affects roughly 17% of children and adolescents in the United States (provide an
insight into the current situation of obesity’s impacts on children in the US) => proving that the solution
can have a massive positive impact in the process of reducing obesity among children, which will
prevent 17% of children in the US from getting obesity-related diseases
Source 6 (Bong)
- The World Health Organization said that “Drinking sugary drinks is also linked to weight gain and
obesity in children and adults.”
- This shows a direct cause of obesity, supporting government action to reduce unhealthy habits.
- The WHO said that “people who regularly consume sugar-sweetened beverages face an increased risk
of… type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer.”
- This highlights serious health risks, showing why governments should act early through education in
schools.
- The WHO said that health includes “nutrition, physical exercise…”
- This supports the idea that governments should introduce healthy eating and exercise lessons in
schools to prevent obesity.
Source 7 (Bong)
- The source said that “many individuals do not even know when they are being sold things”
- This shows that children may choose unhealthy food without understanding why.
Source 8 (Kitty)
- No clear mention towards education
- The chart shows that obesity creates high healthcare costs in many countries
- Supports the idea that governments should take action to reduce obesity levels
Source 9 (Do)
The source is relevant to the government solution: “Introduce healthy eating and exercise lessons in schools”,
because SNaX is a school-based obesity-prevention program that teaches healthy eating and encourages
healthy behaviors through education and school activities.
Evidence showing relevance:
● The source states that SNaX is a “5-week middle-school-based obesity-prevention intervention”
combining:
○ peer-led education
○ encouragement to eat healthy school cafeteria foods
○ school-wide environmental changes
○ multimedia activities
This directly matches the idea of introducing healthy eating and exercise lessons in schools.
● The program produced measurable positive outcomes:
○ “significant increases in the proportion of students served fruit and lunch”
○ “a significant decrease in the proportion of students buying snacks”
This evidence suggests students made healthier food choices, which can help reduce obesity rates.
● The source also says:
○ “SNaX demonstrated the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of a middle-school-based obesity-
prevention intervention.”
This supports the idea that governments could realistically implement similar school programs because they
are effective and relatively affordable.
Conclusion:
Relevant. The source supports the government policy because it provides evidence that school-based healthy
eating and exercise education can improve students’ eating habits and help prevent obesity.
Source 10 (Melody)
Multiple positive consequences: “With good eating habits and an active lifestyle, you will not only reduce the
risk of becoming overweight or obese, you will also improve your quality of life, as you will feel better in every
way and enjoy better health.”
Source 11 (Melody)
Source 12 (Kitty)
- “Schools offer many opportunities to develop strategies to prevent obesity by creating environments in
which children eat healthfully and engage regularly in physical activity.”
- Schools can help reduce obesity by teaching healthy eating and encouraging exercise.
- The source says that “physical activity can be added to the school curriculum” and provides “physical,
emotional, and social benefits.”
- Exercise lessons in schools can improve students’ overall health and help prevent obesity.
- The source recommends “stronger policies” to provide “healthier meals to students at schools” and
“increase the frequency, intensity, and duration of physical activity at school.”
- Schools should promote healthier eating and more exercise to reduce obesity levels.
- A school program in Singapore educated students on “nutrition, calorie control, and physical exercise,”
and reduced obesity rates among schoolchildren “from 14% to 9.8% by 2002.”
- School based health education and exercise programs can successfully lower obesity rates.
Source 13 (Thuy)
- “all prevention-focused reviews included a school-based component.”
- It shows that school-based programs were used in obesity prevention interventions. It suggests
that schools are an important place to teach children healthy eating and physical activity habits,
supporting the solution of introducing healthy eating and exercise lessons in schools.
- “Parents substantially influence children’s diet and physical activity behaviors, which consequently
impact childhood obesity risk.”
- This means children’s eating and exercise habits strongly affect their risk of obesity. Because of
this, schools can help by teaching students healthier habits and encouraging physical activity.
Summarised table
Reasons Evidences selected
Affect the most people - Source 4: “Governments should introduce
healthy eating and exercise lessons in
schools…” → impacts all students nationwide
- Source 5: 17% of children in the US are
affected by obesity → large-scale issue
- Source 12: School programs reduced obesity
rates (Singapore: 14% → 9.8%)
Multiple positive consequences - Source 10: Healthy eating + active lifestyle
improves quality of life and overall health
- Source 6: Reduces risks of type 2 diabetes, heart
disease, stroke, cancer
- Source 12: Physical activity provides physical,
emotional, and social benefits
It would have the least amount of resistance - Source 4: Education helps students make better
lifestyle choices (non-forceful approach)
- Source 13: School-based programs are commonly
used in prevention
- Source 9: SNaX program shows students respond
positively to school-based interventions
It is the most economically efficient - Source 9: SNaX program is “feasible and cost-
effective”
- Source 8: Obesity leads to high healthcare
costs → prevention saves money
- Source 12: School programs successfully reduce
obesity rates