Main description:

Headteachers, school leaders, and the educational community are currently being inundated with information from multiple sources about the "child obesity epidemic," along with demands that schools provide healthier meals, snacks, and more time for physical activity during the school day. What school leaders have not had until now, however, is a clear and authoritative overview of the subject that can help them navigate their way through the often contradictory recommendations and controversies confronting them. This clear-sighted guide for headteachers and advisors, written by an educator and a physician specializing in child obesity, now provides that overview, along with a targeted discussion of the "Do's," "Don'ts," and "Can'ts" that school leaders need to keep in mind when creating and implementing new school policies for student (and staff) wellness, nutrition, fitness, and health.

Contents:

Preface Acknowledgments About the Authors 1. Childhood Obesity, Schools, and Society 2. The Principal's Role as an Agent of Change 3. The Barriers We Face 4. School Principal Action Plans 5. A Wellness Plan for You and Your School Resources A. Grades 3-5 Eating Survey B. Grades 6-12 Eating Survey C. Research Insights: Obesity in Children D. Research Insights: Topics Related to Obesity in Children References Index