Question

When speaking to a parents' group, the nurse cites a study that found that 11% of children between 6 and 19 were overweight or obese. The nurse explained the goal of Healthy People 2010 is to reduce this to:

a. 10%.
b. 8%.
c. 7%.
d. 5%.

Answer 1

The Healthy People 2010 initiative aimed to reduce the percentage of overweight or obese children between 6 and 19 years old to 5%. This target addresses increasing childhood obesity rates, which can lead to serious health complications.

Step-by-step explanation:

The goal of Healthy People 2010 regarding childhood obesity is to reduce the percentage of children between 6 and 19 who are overweight or obese. The specific target mentioned in the question aims to decrease this percentage from 11% to 5%.

This initiative addresses the distressing trend where childhood obesity can lead to serious health issues, such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Additionally, obesity is often defined as having a body weight at least 20 percent higher than what is considered a healthy weight for a particular height.

The rise in the prevalence of obesity among children reflects the tendency of children today to weigh more than those in previous generations. To counteract this public health concern, adjustments in diet and physical activity are essential to restore energy balance and reduce obesity rates.