Bullying

1
Bullying

• In past 6 months, 28 of students 12-18 say they
  have been bullied
• More in younger ages 37 6th grade, 28 9th
  grade, 20 12th grade.
• Bullies continue for years
• Characteristics of bullies
• Dominant and aggressive children
• Learned aggression at home
• Parents who use more forceful discipline
• Watch more TV violence
• Have fewer adult role models

2

• Bullying leads to anxiety and hopelessness
• One study used hidden cameras to see how other
  students reacted to bullies
• Found that 60 were neutral or even friendly to
  the bullies
• Near 50 actually started to support to bullies
  and make fun of the victim
• Another study on the long term effects of
  bullying found that, as adults, childhood
  bullying victims had difficulty with trusting
  relationships and lacked confidence when
  interacting with others
• But they did not still experience bullying in
  workplace

3
Childhood Obesity

• Rate of childhood obesity doubled for
  preschoolers, and more than tripled for 6-11 year
  olds in the past 30 years
• 31 of 6-19 year olds in US are overweight or at
  risk
• Involves genetic factors as well as eating and
  exercise habits, but the large increase is mainly
  due to eating and exercise.
• At risk for
• Hypertension, diabetes, glucose intolerance,
  sleep apnea, and asthma
• Orthopedic and metabolic diseases

4

• Obesity in adulthood, eating disorders
• Increased morbidity and mortality
• Associated with lower self esteem, poor body
  image, lower quality of life, depression, peer
  difficulties including bullying, marginalized
• Due to changes in family eating and activities,
  school environment, community development, and
  media influences

5

• Changes in culture
• More energy dense foods
• More advertisements for unhealthy foods
• 80 of ads for children are for fast food,
  cereals, candies, and toys
• Study found that ads for sugary drinks and candy
  made children more likely to consume them
• Fewer walkways and bike paths
• People drive more often
• 25 trips are 1 mile from house, but 75 are in a
  car
• Research shows that people are more physically
  active when more sidewalks and housing density

6

• School Environment
• More time in school and after school care
• More high caloric food in school and less
  nutritious foods like fruits and vegetables
• Less time for physical education classes
• PE dropped from 41 to 25 in 1995.
• 84 of kindergarten programs do not meet criteria
  for daily physical education, more common in low
  income and ethnic minority schools
• Home Environment
• More eating out, less sitting down for dinner

7
Interventions

• School-based interventions have short-terms gains
  but do not consistently reduce BMI
• Community-based interventions do lead to some
  increases in physical activity
• Weight control interventions can be effective
• Interventions have been too focused and need to
  take a multifaceted approach that involve all
  levels of society (culture, community, school,
  home)

8

• Recommendations
• Government Food in schools, focus on prevention
• Support at risk groups and community programs
• Community Recreation centers, nutrition programs
• More walkways in neighborhoods
• Health care Screening and tracking patients
• Coverage for preventative services, good benefits
• School More healthy choices and physical
  activity
• Nutrition classes, wellness policy
• Parent Involvement role models, food
  preparation, physical activity