Title – Do Something about… Eating Healthy

Day 7: Getting the Skinny on Obesity

By – Do Something, Inc. / www.dosomething.org

Primary Subject – Health / Physical Education

Secondary Subjects – Other

Grade Level – 9-12

Do Something about…

Eating Healthy

10-Day Unit

The following lesson is the seventh lesson of a 10-day

Eating Healthy Unit from Do Something, Inc.

Other lessons in this unit are as follows:

Day 1: Green Scene Students learn the benefits of green vegetables and the number of recommended servings

Day 2: Vital Vitamins Students learn about different types of vitamins and how they function in the body

Day 3: Nutritious Choices Students examine their eating habits and learn about a balanced diet

Day 4: International Food Day Students learn the differences in people’s diets from around the world

Day 5: Super-size Me Students learn about America’s growing obesity and its relationship to portion size

Day 6: Got Greens? Students learn ways foods are marketed towards youth in order to start their own green campaign

Day 7: Getting the Skinny on Obesity (See the lesson below) Students learn about the New Food Pyramid and how to evaluate their Body Mass Index

Day 8: Action Plan Students evaluate their own activity levels and plan ways to add more movement into their lives

Day 9: Fitting in Fitness Students evaluate how they spend their time and how to include physical activity into their day

Day 10: Green Day Students plant a garden and/or fix up a community space for physical activity

More student resources for this cause are at:


www.dosomething.org/causes/healthy_eating

Day 7: Getting the Skinny on Obesity

Goal:

Students will learn about how to evaluate their Body Mass Index and the New Food Pyramid.

Steps:

1. 
   Warm-up:
   
   Have students reflect on their metabolism and that of their parents. This may be a sensitive topic, so make sharing voluntary.
2. Introduce students to the concept of Body Mass Index. According to the Center for Disease Control, "for adults, overweight and obesity ranges are determined by using weight and height to calculate a number called the "body mass index" (BMI). BMI is used because, for most people, it correlates with their amount of body fat."
3. Explain to students that in the past many people assumed people who were overweight were lazy and indulgent. Now it is quite clear that there are many genetic factors that control our weight and make it more or less easy to control.
4. Have students look at their own B.M.I by going to
   

   http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/dnpabmi/Calculator.aspx

   
   . Given the sensitivity of this issue, allow students privacy when calculating their BMI. Also, let students know that the test does not take into account athletes whose body weight is due primarily to muscle mass.

5. Have students investigate the BMI of their state and compare it to that of others.
   

   http://www.obesityinamerica.org/geographic.html

   
   and compare the BMI or body mass index to that of other students. How does their state compare?

6. Introduce students to the new food pyramid and compare it to illustrations of older versions of the pyramid. How has this one changed? http://www.mypyramid.gov/
7. Discuss with students how the new food pyramid takes into account gender, activity level, and age.
8. 
   Reflect:
   
   Have students go to
   

   http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/dnpabmi/Calculator.aspx

   
   to calculate their individual food pyramids. Encourage them to change their diets to incorporate their individual food pyramid.

Other Activities:

Have students learn about healthier fast food options at

.

E-Mail

Do Something, Inc.

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