Are Children Eating And / Or Lazing Away Their Future?

Many Americans are suffering from nutrition issues. There are approximately 12.5 million children and adolescents aged 2-19 years that are obese (CDC). The proper health and nutrition for children is very critical to their growth and development. The media and its promotion of junk food is one way that affects obese children. Within this paper, I will discuss the long and short term impacts of obesity on children, their growth and development, describe a specific child who is affected by obesity, and give three ways to combat obesity that involves collaboration among schools, families, and communities.

The data has shown that there is an ongoing problem with obesity in DeSoto County and many counties in Florida. The State of Obesity, reports that Florida 's adult obesity rate is 26.4 percent, up from 20.7 percent in 2004 and from 11.4 percent in 1990("Florida", 2014). In 2011 for DeSoto County, the percentage of obese females was in the worst 25% of all counties at 44%, while the percentage of obese males was in the middle 50% of all counties at 38.2%. The national average in 2011 was 36.1% for females and 33.8% for males. Excess weight is considered to be one of the major causes and determinates of future health problems. These problems include diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease among others. These issues cut across race, gender and age. If you are a black person aged 45-64 you are more likely to either have one of the diseases attributed to obesity or have the highest risk of developing one of these diseases. There is some good news among the data when it comes to children, the CDC reports that between 2008 and 2011 Florida 's rate fell from 14.1% to 13.1%, a statistically significant decrease according to the CDC analysis. The goal is to continue in this same direction by focusing on the education and intervention of children so they do not become a member of this statistical population and eventually fall into

Obesity has become an increasing issue in the United States and all around the world. The study that I read about analyzed data from 68.5 million persons to assess the trends in the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adults between 1980 and 2015 (The GBD 2015 Obesity Collaborators. 2017.). Children learn lifestyle choices from the adults that are around them. We, as adults, influence children on a variety of things, such as; eating or sleep patterns, exercise, or how we act towards situations or people. It is important to set a good example for the younger generations so that we can thrive in the future.

Childhood obesity has expanded tremendously within the past thirty years (CDC, 2015). It is not only a state, but also a nationwide issue. For many children, they depend on their school lunches to provide them the nutritious meals they cannot afford to have at home. As a community, we need to get our children into better shape. Not only will they become more astute, but they will also live healthier lifestyles, and have less health complications as they age. When you are overweight or obese, you are much more likely to develop health problems like heart disease, diabetes, or even a stroke. It is our responsibility as a community, state, and nation to offer nutritious meals and activities for our youth and future.

Childhood obesity is not just an issue in United States- it is an growing epidemic. Obesity epidemic in kids has increased by alarming rate just in last few decades. Nearly one in every five child is obese in the United States. If the pattern of obesity continued on most of America’s children will be living with diabetes, heart disease, and dying young due to obesity. The American Heart Association reported this year that childhood obesity is the top health concern among parents in the United States, beating out smoking and drug abuse. My own younger siblings suffer with child obesity. Their craving for fast food and very limited physical activity has made them overweight and currently they suffer from health problems. Is this the future of our young generation? How much contribution should a parent have in their child’s diet? Fast food has taken over American diet and it has lead to poor nutritional diet among American youth. Fast food companies spend billion of dollars every year on commercials, convincing youth to love and eat their product. It’s just not our eating habits that has lead our young generation into obesity, lack of physical workout has also played a major role in obesity epidemic. TV, computer, video games and other technology entertainment has contributed to children getting no exercise. Obesity in children can put them in high risks of developing chronic and serious illness. Unhealthy weight leads to having weaker lungs, poor blood quality, heart

throughout the U.S. during the past 25 years has led policymakers to rank it as

Childhood obesity is a source of great debate in the United States. Many studies have shown the problem has become epidemic. Adults in the United States are increasing in weight and so are children and teenagers. Many factors are contributing to this growing problem. The influence parents have on their children can affect them negatively. Children of overweight parents are more likely to be overweight themselves. Another issue adding to the childhood obesity problem is the fact that children and teens have more options when it comes to food choices. School lunches, vending machines, and cheap calorie-packed snacks all contribute to this issue. Healthy foods are also more expensive and not as readily available as

Childhood obesity is a growing epidemic across the world, and has become a rapidly increasing problem in the US. In the past thirty years, the obesity rate for children aged 12-19 has quadrupled, and it has doubled in children aged 6-11 (US Department of Health and Human Services, 2015). When compared to the lifestyle of an average 13 year old thirty years ago, today’s lifestyle is one that seems to stack the cards against them. Thirty years ago, kids participated in recess and gym class daily, today those programs are being cut in order to allow for academics. Children thirty years ago enjoyed fast food only on occasional and typically ate a home cooked meal, with a wide range of food groups and smaller portions (Let 's Move!, 2010). Kids no longer walk to school for a multitude of reasons, and they often opt to come home from school and play their favorite video game or watch their favorite show instead of playing a game outside like children who grew up 30 years ago did. There are also factors that contribute to obesity that may be out of the children’s control. Often times children aren’t in charge of what they eat or what activities they participate in (Haelle, 2013). Socioeconomic factors may also contribute to childhood obesity (Wang, 2001) yet another factor that the children themselves cannot control. While there may be many reasons why we see a spike in childhood obesity, there are also things that we can do to fix the problem.

“Obesity rates are increased among USA children by more than 300%” (Vitale). It is an epidemic that is alarmingly growing in children and growing into adulthood (Vitale, 2010).). It is important to realize that children are “not fully responsible for their own health choices and rely on adults to protect and nurture them; therefore need an environment

As a matter a fact, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention said “[o]verweight or obese preschoolers are five times as likely to become overweight or obese adults as their normal weight peers” ( Phil 1). American children are easier to become obese adults that will later become a greater problem to society. “More shocking, an obese child can expect a shorter life” (Dalton 35 ) . Obese children are likely to face health problems such as “cardiovascular disease, such as elevated blood pressure or serum insulin levels or dyslipidemia, and 25 percent had two or more risk factors, type 2 diabetes” (Dietz 1) . For this reason, parents need to take action and solve the problem with obesity because it will affect children's health that can later result as a bigger

The number of children affected by childhood obesity has substantially risen over the last 30 years. The percentage of children aged 6–11 years in the United States who were obese increased from 7% in 1980 to nearly 18% in 2012. Similarly, the percentage of adolescents aged 12–19 years who were obese increased from 5% to nearly 21% over the same period (Ogden, Carroll, Kit, & Flegal, 2014; National Center for Health Statistics, 2011). After reading this statistic we begin to understand how rapidly childhood obesity has taken a hold on children. In the last 30 years childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents. In 2012, more than one third of children and adolescents were overweight or obese (Ogden et al., 2014). It is vital that parents and schools properly educate children on the value of proper nutrition and

“Two-thirds of adults and almost one-third of children in the United States are overweight or obese” (Institute of Medicine of the National Academies). All around the country school boards, a small number of parents, and the department of Agriculture have tried to make school lunches healthier for students. They typically get shut down rather quickly by parents who say making his or her child eat a fruit or vegetable along with their lunch is ridiculous and uncalled for. Some schools have sent home letters to parents describing obesity and how to help his or her child not struggle with it. With so many people closed off from the idea that his or her child might be obese or have obesity it’s hard to make them understand the severity of it. “Overweight adolescents have a 70% chance of becoming overweight or obese adults. This increases to 80% if one or more parent is overweight or obese.” (United States). Childhood obesity has grown so much that type two diabetes was once only known as onset adult diabetes; now doctors are seeing it in children younger than ten years old. In a study done by Stanford School of Medicine, they discovered that the overall percentage of obese children has tripled over the last thirty years. If that startling discovery doesn’t make people want to make a difference, I challenge them to think what the children will look like in another thirty years from now.

Childhood obesity is a health problem that is becoming increasingly prevalent in society’s youth. For a number of years, children across the nation have become accustomed to occasionally participating in physical activities and regularly snacking on sugary treats. In result of these tendencies, approximately one third of American children are currently overweight or obese (Goodwin). These grim statistics effectively represent all the lack of adult interference, in regards to health, has done to the youth of America. The habits of over consuming foods and under participating in physical activities are all too common in the children of today. Children cannot solve this issue alone, though. These young people need to essentially be given the

(6b) The prevalence of childhood obesity is high in America with approximately 16.9% of 2-19 year olds in the United States being obese during 2011-2012 (7). The percentage of obesity in America has been steadily increasing. From 1980-2008 the prevalence of obesity in the U.S. more than doubled among adults and more than tripled among children (6). Even though children are consuming adequate or excessive food calories, they are not meeting the federal Dietary Guidelines for Americans. (9a) Food insecurity and childhood obesity combined implicate future consequences for children. Overweight and obese children face long and short term complications: chronic inflammation, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, mental health disorders, lower self-esteem, and underachievement in school and even increased mortality (10).

A steadily increase in childhood obesity has gained the awareness of everyone. Many are wondering that today 's obese children may turn into the generations next obese adults. Obesity is a global issue, and being knowledgeable of the causes is an affection way of prevention. Technology, foods, and genes all factor into the childhood obesity epidemic. For example, “McDonald 's even has toys in their food, increasing production and influencing students to eat it more” (Qtd. by Marcia). It is certainly helping increase trends. “The overall health didn 't increase in the US between 2010 and 2011( (United Health Foundation).” A child is considered obese when they are above or at the 95th percentile with his/her peers. Obesity puts children at risk for health problems down the road. Strokes, heart issues, etc. are many problems in connection with it. Adults of today were limited to the exposure of these problems. Easy/unrelented access technology, fast food, and genes have been major factors. “Also, nearly 60% of children use technology for three hours or more daily”(Qtd. by Marcia Clemmit).Using most of your day outside of school inactive is a major problem, and what 's worse, is that parents allow it as children are influenced by their actions. Also, genes are another factor as children maintain genes where they have no control of, increasing their chances of being obese further in life. In general, obesity is factored upon major things like technology, fast foods, and