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Causes Of Obesity In The United States

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Is youth obesity a problem in the United States? Obesity continues to get worse by the year. In 1980, around 35 years ago, 7% of children aged 6 to 11 were obese. In 2012, this was looked at once again. It was found that this percentage increased by nearly 11%. Only 5% of adolescents in America, aged 12 to 19 were obese in 1980. By 2012, this increased by almost 16%. There are many different causes of obesity in both children and adults. Obesity itself is having excess body fat, but it’s often confused with simply being overweight. Being overweight is having excess weight for a specific height, coming from muscle, bone, fat, or water. It can be a combination, as well. Obesity is most likely to begin between the young ages of 5 and 6, or during …show more content…

If one biological parent is obese, the child has a 50% chance of being obese, but if it so happens that both parents are obese, the chances of obesity in their offspring will increase to 80%. There are some medical issues that cause obesity, and only 1% of obesity is caused by a lack of physical activity. Obesity in children and in adolescents can come from other problems. A good start is bad eating habits and overeating. Many times obesity runs in the family, but it’s not a streak that must continue. It could also be medical issues, such as endocrine or neurological problems, different medications, such as steroids, and stressful life events and changes like abuse, death, divorce, or separation. Bullying at school or family problems may also affect health, but low self-esteem and depression can do just as much damage. Obesity increases the risk of being diagnosed with serious health problems, such as heart disease and high blood pressure, as well as other health issues, such as diabetes. Breathing problems are commonly associated with obesity, and quite often do obese children have trouble sleeping, sometimes due to emotional problems, OCD, anxiety, and depression. Teenagers tend to be less popular at …show more content…

A good start is a weight management program, which can be found in most communities throughout the city. The very first step should always be to make a few modifications to bad eating habits. For example, instead of sodas and juices, try to drink water more often. Instead of fast foods, try fruits, vegetables, and organics. Meals should be planned with a healthy breakfast, lunch, and dinner with simple and small snacks in between, such as an apple or orange. Even if healthy, there should always be a limit on snacks. Portions are a large part of a good diet, as well. Smaller plates could help a great deal with weight loss, but a person should never starve him or herself. Parents should always be aware of what their child eats at school, since school is generally where children spend much of their day. Not all schools support healthy eating choices, as they should. To ensure that a child is eating healthier than what their school is providing, it’s best to simply make a homemade lunch and healthy

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