Take shape: Obesity project
Education in schools is an essential step in responding to the problem of
obesity. This includes helping learners to appreciate the complexity and
'whole society' nature of the problem. Take shape is a project for the
secondary school curriculum designed to enable learners aged 14-19 to examine
the complex causes of obesity in our society. The learning outcomes of the
project have strong links to the citizenship curriculum and cross-curricular
links to science and PSHE.
Take shape comprises:
- small tasks to engage students in understanding key concepts, as well as a series of research notes to help them complete the tasks
- consolidation activities which use comic strips and board games
- a slideshow presentation about four future scenarios and their impact on healthcare, food and the economy
- a big task in which students work collaboratively to develop an overall strategy to tackle the obesity problem in the future
- extension activities in which students consider the need for multiagency responses and develop further understanding of the energy balance system in our bodies.
Take shape was commissioned by Foresight following their two-year study, Tackling Obesities; Future Choices (published in 2007). This study was used to inform the Government's obesity strategy, Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives: A Cross-Government Strategy for England (published in 2008). Foresight are part of the Government Office for Science within the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
You can access Take shape resources here.
Published: 12 August 2009
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