Obesity In South Dakota

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The current obesity rate for South Dakota high school students is 14.7%, ranking South Dakota as the 12th highest state out of 43 with high school obesity. Historically, the obesity rate of high school students was lower than 14.7% with 1999-2001 being the lowest at 7.5%, but has been steadily climbing year after year to an astonishing doubled rate. With the trend of adult obesity at 30.4% and still rising, there is no doubt that high school obesity is a direct causation to adult obesity. An abstract published in 2011 from the National Library of Medicine states that obesity is a problem in the United States and South Dakota, with South Dakota’s obesity being higher than the national prevalence. South Dakota’s Department of Health has been …show more content…
According to the American Psychological Association, a study was done that linked obesity with depression, with the two conditions having an impact on one another. Females were found to be at a slightly higher risk than men for having an unhealthy BMI but they were the most vulnerable and most likely to succumb to depression.

In response to the increasing obesity rate, South Dakota’s Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Education (DOE) has cooperated in an effort to promote programs that would lessen the rate of obesity. The Alliance Healthy Schools Program is one such program that gave South Dakota schools access to resources that helps to educate school staffs and students on healthier alternatives through improving policy and nutrition services. However, while eight of South Dakota’s school were recognized for meeting the standards of reducing obesity, none of which are from the high schools.

In an infographic from HealthySD.gov, it seems like adolescents are spending more time at home, watching TV and playing video games for prolonged periods of time. Less than 50% of the students performed any strenuous activities for more than 60 minutes a day. Nutrition was also a factor in which less than 20% ate fruits and vegetables five or more times a
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In the Rapid City Journal, programs were mentioned to have small impacts, but not enough to reverse the rate of obesity. Goals of the obesity programs have been missed several times, which raises the question of what may be the root cause to the obesity epidemic. Some argue that bad eating habits and lack of exercise are learned from home, which supports the data of a stagnant rate. If we take into account the cost of fast food and the convenience of entertainment at home, it makes sense that high school children are more inclined to stay indoors and consume unhealthy snacks.

By including the percentage of childhood obesity sitting around 33%, we can assume that obesity may be a learned lifestyle that occurs before the children reach adolescence. The Department of Health has data of such statistics that supports the notion of being obese as a child will carry on to adolescence, which further carries on to adulthood. Programs aimed at reducing obesity has some impact, enough to know that the rate of the rise has plateaued, but to reverse the rate may require another approach in tackling

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