Childhood Obesity

Childhood Obesity

Childhood Obesity

Introduction

Childhood obesity is a significant public health concern that affects millions of children across the United States. Beyond the physical health implications, children with obesity often face weight bias and stigma, leading to emotional distress, social isolation, and academic challenges. School nurses are uniquely positioned to address these issues, serving as advocates and educators within the school community. 

Some groups of children are more affected than others. Many factors can contribute to excess weight gain including behavior, genetics and taking certain medications. But societal and community factors also matter including access to healthy affordable foods and beverages, safe and convenient places for physical activity, and a supportive school environment. School nurses can lead in the development of local school health policies and district/community policies that support wellness, healthy nutrition, increased physical activity, and healthy lifestyle behaviors for all students.

NASN Resources

Chronic Health Condition Management

Improving Care Coordination for Students with Chronic Health Conditions | Toolkit


The links below have been identified by NASN as Internet resources that might be of interest to you. NASN does not intend to make any representations about the content on the linked web sites, nor does NASN intend to endorse any products associated or featured on any of those web sites.

National Guidelines

American Academy of Pediatrics

Clinical Practice Guideline for the Evaluation and Treatment of Children and Adolescents With Obesity 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Child and Teen BMI Calculator  

Healthy Youth

Healthy School Archive

Local School Wellness Policy

Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) Archive

Additional Resources

Obesity Action Coalition

Stop Weight Bias
A national campaign committed to raising awareness and putting a stop to weight bias and the negative impact on children and adolescents.

Thrive Together  
Program dedicated to empowering youth and families on their journeys with weight and health providing resources, guidance and support to address common challenges such as weight management, body image, healthy eating, physical activity, mental health, and more. 

Active Schools
Formerly Let’s Move!, this initiative empowers you to amplify your impact among students and throughout your school by focusing on five key areas: physical education; physical activity during school; physical activity before and after school; staff involvement; and family and community engagement.

American Heart Association

Voices for Healthy Kids: making each day healthier for all children! 
This initiative works to ensure that the places where children live, learn, and play make it easy and enjoyable for them to eat healthy foods and be active.

High Blood Pressure in Children 
The American Heart Association recommends that all children have yearly blood pressure measurements.

Kids In-School Health and Wellness Program | Fuel Up 
This in-school nutrition and physical activity program founded by National Dairy Council® and the National Football League is based on a mutual commitment to the health of the next generation.

Supportive Obesity Care | Rudd Center University of Connecticut
Website with topics ranging from pathophysiology of obesity to how to have supportive conversations with individuals about weight, offering practical knowledge and strategies that are applicable in everyday clinical practice. Equipping healthcare professionals with knowledge and tools to provide more respectful, supportive and compassionate care to individuals of all body sizes.

The Weight of the Nation
This multipronged project includes a series of four documentary films, a three-part HBO Family series, 14 bonus short films, a social media campaign, a companion book, and a nationwide community-based outreach campaign.

Together Counts
This program was started by The Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation. The program has resources for your school in English and Spanish and tools for home school educators.

U.S. Department of Agriculture

MyPlate  

Local School Wellness Policies

We Can! | NHLBI, NIH
Ways to Enhance Children's Activity & Nutrition (We Can!) is a national movement designed to give parents, caregivers, and entire communities a way to help children 8 to 13 years old stay at a healthy weight.

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Page last updated March 2025.