Childhood obesity: a school-based approach to increase nutritional knowledge and activity levels

Although the incidence of childhood obesity is rising at an alarming rate, weight loss programs for children are few and often inaccessible for various reasons, including cost, transportation difficulties, and lack of parental involvement. School-based programs, offered free of charge, make weight management more accessible. School-based health centers have a unique opportunity to assure that schools stay in the forefront of obesity prevention and management. This article discusses one such program that was designed and implemented by the staff of a Louisiana school-based health center.