Childhood Obesity

Parents, teachers and public health officials are growing increasingly alarmed at the rising incidences of childhood obesity, juvenile diabetes and related health problems. In all, about one in three children in America are overweight or obese. While the causes of such conditions are varied, it’s clear that one factor is that young people are spending less time outdoors, whether it’s because recess periods are being cut back or because kids spend more time inside after school and on the weekends.

To view the 2002 article "Childhood Obesity on the Rise" by Carol Torgan, Ph.D., click here.

The No Child Left Inside Act would help address this problem by increasing the time students spend learning about nature, both in and outside the classroom. Such lessons are often more engaging to students and often lead them to become more active outside.