The Frightening Epidemic Of Childhood Obesity - 967 Words

The Frightening Epidemic of Childhood Obesity Up until the late 1990s, seeing an obese child was extremely abnormal because children’s main form of entertainment was playing outside. An important factor contributing to the increased rate of childhood obesity is that the foremost form of amusement has shifted from outdoor activities to vast outlets of easily accessible technology. Children are also being served a variety of unhealthy meals from fast food restaurants, such as McDonald’s or Taco Bell. Unfortunately, most parents do not know the underlying truth about what they are feeding their children and often choose the cheapest route for feeding their families. Research indicates that the corpulence of today’s youth is becoming severely problematic, and drastic steps are being taken to solve the obesity concern in adolescents. Research shows that many steps are being taken to help fight childhood obesity, one of which being a new movement in America called Letà ¢â‚¬â„¢s Move. Michelle Obama, who is a known advocate of the fight against childhood obesity, is using her resources as the First Lady to help remedy this situation. Obesity is only a symptom of a worse disease, being a slave to food (L. 2). Research used to write the journal â€Å"Pregnancy, Delivery, and Childhood Obesity† signifies that â€Å"†¦ over 12% of children age 2-5 are considered obese, more than double the percentage (5.0%) occurring from 1976 – 1980† (qtd. in Squibb 73). In 2010, the Let’s Move campaign launched,Show MoreRelatedEffects of Obesity on the Motor Development of Children Essay1367 Words   |  6 PagesObesity in the United States has become an epidemic. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2010), one out of every three people in the United States are now overweight or obese. Additionally, one out of every three children between the ages of 10 and 17 are not at a healthy weight (CDC, 2010). Ameri ca is officially the fattest country in the world, topping Mexico and the United Kingdom by more than six percent of the population (CDC, 2010). These frightening statisticsRead MoreThe Obesity Of Childhood Obesity894 Words   |  4 PagesUp until the late 1990s, seeing an obese child was extremely abnormal because children’s main form of entertainment was playing outside. The rate of childhood obesity drastically increased due to the fact that children’s main form of entertainment has shifted from outdoor activities, to vast outlets of easily accessible technology. Children are also being served a variety of unhealthy meals from fast food restaurants, such as McDonald’s or Taco Bell. Unfortunately, most parents do not know the underlyingRead MoreChildhood Obesity : A Real World Problem Essay1412 Words   |  6 Pages Childhood obesity is a real world problem, and it’s growing. Childhood obesity is when a child has excess body fat for his age, height, and gender. It has been estimated that one out of every three children are considered obese. Not only do children suffer from obesity but also with the problems that obesity carries. Children with obesity may suffer from high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, asthma, depression, upon many other diseases and health complications. I have seen manyRead MoreIn The Last Twenty-Five Years, America Has Embraced A Lifestyle1314 Words   |  6 Pagesfertility. This trend is frightening for millions of Americans because it shortens their lifespan and quality of life. As a result of the negative effects of obesity, children are being subjected to the media, marketing, and poor education that promotes and leads to the lack of knowledge and acceptance to obesity. Overall, our great nation is suffering profusely from this disease, and the complications associated with the disease. America needs to address the growing issue of obesity to save future generationsRead MoreThe Epidem ic Of Obesity And Obesity1319 Words   |  6 Pages There’s an appalling epidemic in today’s society sweeping across not only the United States, but all across the globe. This horrible epidemic isn’t the bird flu, or any type of sickness, rather obesity. Today, obesity rates are at an all time high in America. This disease, obesity, is being passed down the family both genetically, and by the terrible eating habits developing in the US. Kids growing up in this generation are facing frightening issues such as increased risk of heart disease, diabetesRead MoreObesity Is A Chronic Condition Of Excess Stored Body Fat1415 Words   |  6 Pagesroughly thirteen percent of the American population suffered from the malady, but by 2008, more than thirty-four percent of the country were found fighting for their lives against this disease(AMA). What is this frightening bug? It’s not a virus; it is obesity. In the simplest terms, obesity is a chronic condition of excess stored body fat (Balantine). Such a minor problem hardly warrants the need for worry; surely a few pounds in excess and snug-fitting jeans are not enough to cause nation-wide apprehensionRead MoreIs There Fast Food Near You?2917 Words   |  12 Pagesnumerous and along with it a childhood obesity epidemic has sprouted. Continuous concern for our youth has grown, as our youth are on average heavier than the previous generation. For these reasons, it is necessary to address the relationship that fast food has on children, particularly the relationship that childhood obesity and fast food proximity have on one another. However, this may not be necessarily true as there are many other factors and variables that may cause obesity within children. CompoundedRead MoreThe Problem Of The Obesity Epidemic1950 Words   |  8 Pageshard work or discipline is voided unnecessary, which I believe is a side-effect of technology. The o besity epidemic has drawn considerable attention from policymakers, and while new policy initiatives to address the issue are already underway, new policy initiatives are not enough and are likely going to overlook the simple truth. Technology is a major culprit behind this nation’s obesity epidemic. Cell phones, video games and 600 television channels are making kids gain weight, and there is no easyRead More Childhood Obesity: A Public Health Issue Essay2551 Words   |  11 PagesObesity rates in the United States are alarming, with more than one-third of U.S. adults and 17% of children qualifying as obese with a Body Mass Index greater than 30.0 (Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 2015). Even more frightening is the growth rate of this crippling health epidemic; between 1980 and 2014, obesity has doubled for adults and tripled for children (CDC, 2015). The physical consequences of rising obesity rates in our country include an abundance of physical ailments including type -2Read MoreThe Fat Tax : Paying By The Pound2090 Words   |  9 PagesBenefits and Negative Consequences A. Advantages of a Fat Tax 1. Reduction of obesity rate. 2. Increase in revenue. 3. Lowered health care costs. B. Disadvantages of a Fat Tax 1. Infringes upon freedom of choice. 2. Negative impact on businesses. 3. Targets the poor. IV. Conclusion/Summary The Fat Tax: Paying by the Pound I. Introduction The prevalence of obesity in the American population is growing at epidemic proportions. As our waistlines grow, so does the number of proposed solutions