Today, In the United States childhood obesity has become an epidemic. One out of three children is considered overweight or obese. The main enablers consist of watching TV or engaging video games while consuming fast foods instead of nutritious, home-cooked meals. On average, a child will spend four hours a day playing video games while munching on potato chips and a high calorie soda. This type of activity is directly linked to terrible grades in school, reading fewer books, and not exercising as much as they should. Obese children are plagued with medical conditions stemming from high blood pressure to diabetes and most of them will develop low self-esteem and depression which will continue into adulthood. From fast food to electronics, quick and easy is the reality of today's busy families. Childhood obesity in America can be reduced if a lifestyle and reduction of junk food is integrated into a child’s day.

The main contributors of a sitting lifestyle consist of the Television and Video game. A child, through TV, absorbs thousands of commercials featuring junk food/ fast foods. The same child, by high school, will have spent more time playing video games than they have in the classroom. This will contribute to poor grades, aggressive behavior, and the inability to act socially with other peers. Lawrence (2010) notes that “70% of obese children will continue to be obese through adulthood” (para. 2). These numbers will continue to rise until parents and school officials incorporate ways to counteract this lifestyle.

Another contributor to childhood obesity is the enormous amounts of junk food or fast foods consumed on a daily basis. Fast food obesity is a problem because fast food meals contain low quality carbohydrates, high levels of saturated fat, and added sugars. Lawrence (2010) states that “nearly one-third of U.S. children aged 4 to 17 eat fast food,”