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Childhood Obesity in America

In: English and Literature

Submitted By moncrief2001
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Childhood obesity is a fast growing epidemic in the US. Approximately seventeen percent of children and adolescents between the ages of two and nineteen are obese. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the definition of obesity is “a BMI at or above the ninety-fifth percentile for children of the same age and sex.” (2012). There are many risks involving childhood obesity. Children who are obese run the risk of having high blood pressure, high cholesterol, increased risk of diabetes, sleeping problems, joint problems, liver issues and social problems. (CDC, 2012). With the vast amount of resources available, parents need to take action in his or her child’s life to prevent childhood obesity from becoming worse.
What causes childhood obesity? The answer is this: too many calories consumed and not enough calories burned. Every day, children consume sugar laden drinks and unhealthy food. Mix this in with less physical activity and more sedentary behavior and that equals the recipe for disaster. Children are making unhealthy food choices and getting less exercise because of exposure to environments that make the poor choices for them. At school, many children have access to sugary drinks and poor quality foods through vending machines. At home healthy foods may not be available, so the choices become processed foods and fast food. Obtaining affordable, healthy food is also an issue for some. When parents are on a strict budget, it is cheaper to buy food that is not healthy. The lack of exercise also plays an enormous part in childhood obesity. The US Department of Health and Human Services recommends “sixty minutes or more of physical activity per day.” (2008). Schools are not adhering to these recommendations by not providing daily physical education classes. Many communities are not providing safe areas for children to play. Parents

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