Paleo Diet Analysis

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

The Paleo Diet is eating anything except processed food and grain or any base grain products. A big saying is “If the cavemen did not eat it, neither should you.” Meat, eggs, and fish are all encouraged in this diet. This is a low carbohydrate diet. This diet is also known as the Caveman diet because of the foods that are allowed to be eaten in this diet. Having to constantly check your calories will not be a problem. The diet appeals to nature.

Obesity in the United States is a major issue. Because there is such a high obesity rate, there have been so many diets established to try and reduce these constantly rising rates. A lot of these weight-loss diets that have been established are known as fad diets. A fad diet is a diet that becomes popular quickly, and may die out just as quickly. In the United States, there are some popular and healthy fad diets such as the Atkins diet, the South Beach diet, and Weight Watchers.

Health has become a very popular topic in today’s society; how to lose weight, healthy body mass index, proper foods to eat to give your body nutrition, certain exercises to help lose weight here or gain muscle there, lower prices for a gym memberships, it seems to be a topic we are hearing about all the time now. However, there seems to lack of conversation about the health of the younger generation. Obesity among children is a growing problem in today’s society (Ogden, Carroll, Lawman, Fryar, Kruszon-Moran, Kit 2015).

There is a new epidemic that is hitting America by storm in this day and age. It is a serious concern that can lead to serious health problems, social ostracism and, if left untreated, fatality. This disease is obesity, more specially child and teenage obesity in America which statistics show has reached an alarming 2.5 million for children ranging from 2 to 19. This teeming number is continually increasing and as a result, children are at an increased risk for diseases traditionally correlated with adults such as heart disease and Type II diabetes. Sadly enough, this can and will shorten the life span of children if measures are not taken. Now, there are many unknowns as to the actual causes of teen obesity and not just gluttony or

The obesity rate in America has become a major national health issue over the last several decades. Increasingly alarming statistics have garnered national headlines. Current statistics place 68.5% of the U.S. population in classifications ranging from "overweight" to "super obese." Approximately 35% of all U.S. adults currently fall under the label of "obese".(Ogden, et al., 2014) Potentially more alarming is the prevalence of obesity in adolescents. U.S. youth are becoming obese at earlier and earlier ages. One out of six children ages 2-19 are now obese and fully one-third of adolescents are overweight or obese. (Ogden, Carroll, Curtin, Lamb, & Flegal, 2010) Between 1980 and 2000, obesity rates among adults doubled and tripled among adolescents. (CDC.gov)

For the past few decades, the dire situation of obesity in America has gotten worse and is now affecting new generations of young Americans. Every day the poor eating and physical choices that children make can lead them to a life with diabetes, heart disease, and cancers. The unhealthy lifestyle that children have is influenced by their parents and the society that surrounds them. This unprecedented surge of poor lifestyle choices has lead to an epidemic that young children are now facing. Ultimately, the health of young children is at stake.

You might be wondering how to start now that you have decided that the Paleo diet is what you are looking for to help you in your pursuit of healthier life.

According to its website (www.thepaleodiet.com), the Paleo Diet is "based upon everyday, modern foods that mimic the food groups of our pre-agricultural, hunter gatherer ancestors." Foods one should eat when following the Paleo Diet include grass produced meat, fish/seafood, fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, nuts and seeds, and healthful oils. One should avoid cereal grains, legumes, dairy, refined sugar, potatoes, processed foods, refined vegetable oils, and salt. The logic behind this is to recreate the diet that Homo sapiens were evolved to eat. This is where the line begins to get a little fuzzy.

Ever wish you could eat an endless supply of your favorite food and still lose the weight? With the Paleo diet, your dream could possibly be answered! That's right... you don't have to concern yourself with counting calories or doing any particular exercises. There's no workout program associated with this diet plan. That's one of the reasons why the Paleo Diet is fabulous and unique. At the same time, there is much to be said when it comes to the foods that our grandparents ate. In my grandmother's day, they farmed their own animals and grew their own vegetables, which could account for their long and mostly healthy lives. What researchers say is that their way of life seems to gone away with the modern day conveniences of box meals which are quick to prepare. People nowadays are busy making a living instead of actually living but they are not living longer.

A common type of fad diet is the Paleo diet. This diet consists of eating only natural foods such as fish, meat, vegetables, and fruit and nuts, all of which are similar to what the cavemen ate during the Paleolithic period. Foods completely excluded in this diet are grains, legumes, dairy products, refined salt and sugar and processed oils (Dillon, 2012). This diet promotes nutrient dense foods but avoids many energy dense foods. It rids processed foods low is nutrients and high in calories and sugar, and replaces these with healthy fruit and vegetables. Since the Paleo diet involves a large consumption of meat, the body would exceed the required intake of 15-25% of protein (Dieticians Association of Australia), consuming about 38% according

As its name suggests, the Paleo Diet gets its inspiration through the Paleolithic era, when man survived like a hunter-gatherer. The diet, originated by Loren Cordain, health professor with the Colorado State University, is dependant on a radical distinct thought. Professor Cordain argues that considering that the human genome hasn't evolved over the last 50,000 years possibly even, there exists reason to imagine that this most natural diet for man is what his caveman ancestors ate. In other words, once and for all health one should survive on fish, meats and eggs from grass-fed and naturally raised livestock, vegetables, roots, fruits and berries, seeds and nuts.

Over the past 4 weeks I have spoken to many adolescent girls, ages 9 through 12, who candidly admitted they had already tried dieting. These

There are many concerns regarding the health of adolescents in America. It is not new information that bad eating habits, disregard for health, and lack of exercise contribute to obesity and other health ailments

The importance of establishing health promoting practices during childhood and adolescence has long been recognized by nutritionists and other health professionals. The purpose of this paper is to investigate further the issues relating to adolescents' diets and contributing factors. Contributing factors include the increase of fast food consumption, unconventional meal patterns and lack of exercise. During adolescence, the influences on eating habits are numerous. The growing independence of adolescents, increased participation in social life and a generally busy schedule of activities have a great impact on food intake.�In the September 2007 issue of 'Health Promotion