User:Zpelayo/Nutrition education

National Education and Training (NET) program[edit]
In 1978, the Nutrition Education and Training (NET) program was created by the USDA, with the purpose of giving grants to help fund nutrition education programs under state educational systems. Funding for the program was targeted towards school children, teachers, parents, and service workers. In its inaugural year, the program was funded with $26 million gradually decreasing to $5 million in 1990. In 1996, NET was restored to temporary status.

Examples of government agencies that incorporate nutrition education into their programs, include[edit]

 * Let's Move, launched by First Lady Michelle Obama in February 2010, this program is a comprehensive learning approach that brings in the all aspects of child health, through the Healthier US School Challenge ;
 * USDA Food and Nutrition Service, which provides nutrition education materials to children and adults of all ages and nutrition education to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants and applicants;
 * USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture through the cooperative extension program; and
 * MyPyramid.gov, through the Ten Tips Nutrition Education Series.USDA MyPlate green.svgte, a program started through the FDA that helps come up with a personalized diet depending on your age, height, weight, sex, and physical activity.

Current issues[edit]
Childhood obesity is a public health concern. In a recent study done by medical researchers, from 2011-2012, 8.4% of young children ages 2-5, 17.7% of kids ages 6-11, and 20.5% of teens ages 12-19 are categorized as obese in the U.S. Besides nutrition education, environmental factors such as a decrease in physical activity and increase in energy intake have led to more sedentary children. This increase in body mass index has led to hypertension, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes among other chronic diseases. Poor nutrition habits and lack of physical activity have led to this increase of obesity that leads from childhood to adulthood. A lack of funding and insufficient resources have led to poor nutrition education. Lack of funding has led to schools developing contracts with private companies such as soda and candy companies that allow vending machines and other products as well and has created a monopoly in public schools.

Nutrition based policies use a trickle-down methods: federal, regional, state, local and school district policies. Teachers have a more direct influence in nutrition education. There are not a lot of studies that show how nutrition education policies affect the teachers in the schools they are meant to influence.

References;