According to CDC, from 2017 to March 2020, the prevalence of obesity among U.S. children and adolescents was 19.7%. This means that approximately 14.7 million U.S. youths aged 2–19 years have obesity. Obesity in children increases the risk for the following health conditions. High blood pressure and high cholesterol which are risk factors for heart disease. Type 2 diabetes. Breathing problems, such as asthma and sleep apnea. Joint problems such as osteoarthritis and musculoskeletal discomfort. Gallstones and gallbladder disease. Childhood obesity is also associated with: Psychological problems such as anxiety and depression. Low self-esteem and lower self-reported quality of life. Social problems such as bullying and obesity as an adult. 

The Nutrition Education assistant partnered with Cloverport Elementary school after school programming to teach Serving Up MyPlate. Meeting with 25 kindergarteners and 3rd graders. Once a week for six sessions. The curriculum taught the five food groups, and the importance of each food group has on the body.   Also, the importance of being physically active, and the importance of food safety practices. Each week the children were given a new healthy food or snack to try, also participated in physical activity games such as steal the bacon and relay races led by the family resource coordinator.

At the end of that six week session, the kindergartners had a 61% increase in their knowledge of washing their hands before eating. 50% of the kindergarteners had an increased knowledge of being able to identify vegetables. 72% of the kindergartners were able to identify the dairy group and 61% of the children were able to understand what being physically active meant. The third graders had a 71% increase of drinking less sodas and a 71% increase in reading the nutrition facts and 71% increase of being physically active longer. 57% of the third graders also tested in trying new foods.