...One of the fastest growing epidemics in the United States is childhood obesity. The amount of children that fall in the obese category has more than tripled since 1970. It is now estimated that one in every five children in the United States would fall under this obese category. This rapid growth has resulted from many changes in our society including: How we measure obesity, increased technology, increased availability of fast food, and an increased intake of sugar. To understand what it is that causes childhood obesity its necessary to have a solid comprehension of what obesity is and how its measured. The dictionary definition of obesity is “a condition characterized by the excessive accumulation and storage of fat in the body”; however,...
Words: 941 - Pages: 4
...Childhood obesity has become an epidemic in our country. It is for this reason that our children are the way they are today. The issues that the children and young people are having today are that they have to fix their own meals or order takeout. Childhood obesity is a growing problem in our country and it will not go away by its self. The way that we can slow down the rate of childhood obesity and maybe turn them around to be proactive. The fitness and health is our parent’s responsibility and the schools could have a big influence on our children. The schools have our children the most part of the day and this is the reason they should take the time to figure out what they can do to help our children. The way we use to eat back in the day was so healthy, now our children are having to eat fast food or microwave food. Another reason is all the electronics currently for the parents to let them do what they want. Just somewhere, they can be active. Technology in this day and time has made the lives of country so easy. People now a day’s ride instead of walking, email instead of taking a walk to a co-workers desk, or play the electronic games instead of taking the children to the park. Then when there is only one parent and they have to work. Well what are they to do but leave microwave or just eat anything the children want to eat. Then the parents come home come home and they eat this way to because they are too tired to cook. In the article “Why I Am Fighting Childhood...
Words: 1949 - Pages: 8
...A major component that leads to success in the food industry is marketing. The food industry is the best at manipulating and altering perceptions and persuading its customers that their product is a necessity. Big food corporations have had a major influence on the spread of obesity in America. Fed Up argues that if we want to see change we need to be the change. According to the film, kids watch an average of 4,000 food-related ads every year; that’s about 10 per day (Fed Up). Additionally, 98% of food related ads that children view is for products high in fat, sugar, and sodium (Fed Up). Fast food companies are targeting kids in their marketing strategies and it is leading to kids developing bad habits and ideas about food at an early age....
Words: 1135 - Pages: 5
...Obesity In America Damone Jackson Devry University English 135 Dr. Dominguez 8/28/2012 Obesity in America Obesity has become a major factor in today’s society, mostly too poor dieting. There are quite a few reasons that we have this problem today, one of them is that our economy is not the best right now and healthy food is fairly expensive. Our cultural progress and our need to have things right now have led to the fast food industry being almost like a necessity to us. To overcome this we need to educate ourselves on good dieting and figuring out how to get the most healthy food for your dollar. Among that finding a way to fit exercise into our busy lives. More public services should be created to aid this epidemic such as better parks, public transportation and health learning centers. In America our obesity rate has gone through the roof, according to Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third of the adults about 35.7% and 12.5 million kids which is about 17% (ages 2-19) suffer from obesity (US Department of health and human services, 2012). Your first though might be how can kids at a young age like become obese? I know when I was growing up I did most of my playing outside, running around, ...
Words: 1515 - Pages: 7
...Childhood Obesity ENG 122 Childhood Obesity Obesity is a serious medical condition that is defined as an abnormal constant accumulation of excess body fat that are usually twenty percent or more of a persons average body weight, according to PubMed Health (Obesity in Children) September 2011. Children are the biggest targets of this deadly disease of being overweight. In the U.S. childhood obesity has been on an alarming high rate, which has been impacting the health of American people. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2004, childhood obesity is one of the most significant health issues in the American Society and the second leading cause of preventable deaths in the U.S. Childhood obesity is a very serious disease that impacts many children and should not be taken lightly, its time that people put forth the effort to take preventive measures in the cure of the deadly disease. More focus is needed to help prevent childhood obesity from everyone parents, guardians and the government. People need to be aware of the risk and consequences of being obese and overweight in children before it is to late and their children become one of those statistics. Therefore, everyone toward fighting this deadly disease of childhood obesity needs a greater attention to put this to the forefront of government issues. According to PEW Research Centers 2011, children and teenagers are developing diseases that have been linked to adults...
Words: 1689 - Pages: 7
...Childhood Obesity in United States Janet Henry Ashford University English 122 Instructor: Teresa Plummer July 16, 2012 Childhood Obesity in United States Obesity is having excess body fat. In the young generation obesity has become a major factor and it continues to grow. According to the Center for Diseases Control and Prevention childhood obesity has more than tripled in the last 30 years. By being obese, it cans lead to many different diseases; it can result in a shorter life span. It often causes depression, and other physical and psychological problems. In this paper, I will talk about Childhood Obesity in United States. Most of the preliminary findings will be directed towards the initial cause of Childhood Obesity in United States and what we can do to try to correct it in the adolescent children age and what can be done to help prevent it. It is very important that the world must step up and do our part and educated our young children so fewer children will continue to be obese. Our schools need to be a safe place where children can receive the nutrition they need to grow. They need to be able to learn and fuel their active minds, and exercise their physical bodies. U.S. first lady Michelle Obama has adopted a healthy eating and fighting childhood obesity program by creating a community garden. (Charles, 2012) Without help to control their weight, obese children are prime targets for a variety of health-related problems, including heart disease...
Words: 374 - Pages: 2
...corn it can’t be that bad.” Contrary to popular belief, corn consumption should be banned for humans. Any nutritional value corn may have, is too low to counter the amount of starch in it. Corn is the source of high fructose and/ or glucose, which is not good for you either. Some may say, “Corn is the source of some good vitamins.” Corn is used in about everything you can imagine. You can find corn in every country worldwide. “Corn is a good source of fiber, and great for the colon,” some may argue. I believe the Pros to consuming corn are far less than the Cons, especially in a society fighting with obesity not only in our adults but our children also. Today our nation’s diet is not balanced. It is heavily dependant on grains, grain-based products, and grain-fed livestock. Corn has been linked to the cause of most if not all of today’s major chronic diseases, such as cancer, obesity, autoimmune diseases, and diabetes. With our nations health on the line, as the current first lady denotes, why then do we as food producers, consumers, “big business,” not find alternatives for healthier eating and decrease if not ban the consumption of corn? Bottom line money, its big money to be had in corn, corn based products and corn fed livestock. Corn feeds 300,000,000 Americans three meals a day, rather than promote healthier living; “big business” still chooses the bottom line over the lives of their fellow citizens....
Words: 643 - Pages: 3
...Communication and Information Literacy Expository Essay The choice to fight obesity is a life altering decision. Fighting obesity can be a struggle but is worth it in the long run. Exercise is a great way to lower obesity because it is convenient, everyone can participate, and it can reduce health problems. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the rate of childhood obesity has more than doubled in the past thirty years. Today more than 23 million U.S. children and adolescents are either obese or overweight (Green, Riley, & Hargrove, 2012). The only way to fight obesity is to do something about it! Exercise is a great way to lower childhood obesity in the United States because it can be done as a family and lowers health problems. Exercise can be done almost anywhere, thus making it convenient. The use of a treadmill or dumbbells doesn’t constitute as exercise. According to the Encyclopedia of Human Development (2006), exercise is “sustained activity over a period of time that utilizes and strengthens the cardiovascular and pulmonary systems.” Therefore, exercise can be as simple as riding your bike or running around the backyard. Since the use of workout equipment, such as a stair stepper, is not essential to exercise everyone can participate. It is very important for children to get outside and play. You as a parent can help to encourage activity by challenging your child to a race or taking them to the park. Exercise doesn’t have to...
Words: 537 - Pages: 3
...Daniela Magana Professor deCastro English 101 December 16, 2013 The Solutions to Childhood Obesity “Over the past three decades, childhood obesity rates in America have tripled, and today, nearly one in three children in America are overweight or obese. Children with childhood obesity face many health problems like type two diabetes, high blood, pressure and are at risk for many types of cancers. The lack of children’s physical activity today is one of the major factors that lead to obesity as well as eating unhealthy diets, the increased food portions and the lack of information about healthy choices. Dr. Anand, the Executive Director for the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, describes the prevalence of obesity as being “at epidemic proportions” (Center for Nutrition Policy & Promotion, 2008, pg. 2). This statement was made in 1998. Since then, the rates of obesity have continued to rise dramatically and if we don’t do anything to stop it these numbers will keep rising. Many people think that dealing with obesity is only the parent’s responsibility, but what we need to realize is that it is not only the parents responsibility, fighting this epidemic has also become the responsibility of our schools and communities. Obesity education needs to be in our homes, schools and our communities to raise awareness of the causes, as well as the risks. We need to take action in helping reduce this health problem which is affecting more and more children each day. Parents...
Words: 2551 - Pages: 11
...Outline I. Introduction of Michelle Obama II. Reasons I chose Michelle Obama as a Role Model. A. She is more than just the First Lady and Presidents Wife. Her biography tells how she is a Mother and a Lawyer. B. I admire what she stands for with healthcare and children. C. She represents the shades and ages of all people. D. She does not hide behind her husband’s fame she is her own woman and has made a name for herself. III. Reasons why Michelle Obama is a good Role Model A. She started a program called “Let’s Move” that targets childhood obesity. The Wall Street Journal states that “fighting childhood obesity has become her top priority.” B. She promotes preventative health care such as getting yearly checkups and staying healthy through patient education. She even had a meeting with nurses all over to help push health reform. Leadership and role Model MICHELLE OBAM My Leadership role model paper is about Michelle Obama. Everyone knows her as the First Lady of the United States. Some may just say hey she is the “Presidents Wife”. There is more to Mrs. Michelle Obama. She is a wife, mother and a leader to All Americans. She has made a name for herself and has several different programs that she has helped kicked off. So without further hesitation I introduce to you Mrs. Michelle Obama. Michelle Obama was born on January 17, 1964 in Chicago Illinois, where she grew up. She was no rich when she was younger, she was just very determined...
Words: 722 - Pages: 3
...data from the National Center for Health Statistics shows that approximately one child out of every three in the United States is overweight (Fighting, 2014). Additionally, a Centers for Disease Control study shows that approximately seventeen percent of children in the U.S. (12.7 million), between the ages of two and nineteen years, are obese (Childhood, 2015). That in itself should be cause for concern. These kind of numbers are very alarming and show just how serious the situation is. What seemed to be a problem that has recently emerged, childhood obesity has been a growing concern for years. How did this happen? What is causing such a catastrophic health concern in our children? Politicians argue the fact that advertisement is to blame as this is an obvious scapegoat. We need to open our eyes to what should be an elementary problem and solution. While there are several contributing factors to this epidemic, poor diet and lack of physical activity stand out as the direct cause. Local leaders and parents must take a more active role to encourage their children to become more active and eat healthier to combat the overwhelming crisis of childhood obesity in the United States. Balanced is a term that should be in everyone’s vocabulary concerning the health of our children. A National Institutes of Health study indicated that obesity is a result of an imbalance “between energy intake and energy expenditures” (Cullen, 2006). In other words, children are ingesting more calories...
Words: 3127 - Pages: 13
...Keep Hope Alive: Fighting Obesity in America Jonathan Gilchrist Advanced Composition SPRA11 Sec AA Professor Jeffry Berke April 5, 2011 Keep Hope Alive: Fighting Obesity in America Introduction America is the one the richest countries in the world. One would think that it would hold a similar title for being the healthiest. That is far from the truth. Obesity has become a vast dilemma in our nation. Adults, children, even animals are suffering from obesity. It has come to be all too normal. The media has latched onto the dangers of this disease, while various diets and weight programs have been released to the public. It is very difficult to understand why America ignores the warnings of countless TV shows, the government, and news. Even the event of a family member’s death doesn’t seem to wake our nation up. The American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery shows that Obesity and overweight issues cost the U. S 117 million dollars in healthcare annually(McCue, 2010). Tobacco is currently the lead cause of preventable death, a statistic that obesity could soon obtain (Lemonick, 2004). Excess weight takes a horrible toll on the body. Various health problems such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and more come from obesity. Michael Limerick’s (2004) “How We Grew So Big,” places the blame on technology stating “We humans have utterly transformed our environment; over the past century especially, technology has almost completely removed physical...
Words: 2646 - Pages: 11
...Obesity: The Killer of Our Youth? An Explanatory Essay Giovanni Atkins Goldey-Beacom College Obesity: The Killer of Our Youth An Explanatory Essay Everyday across the country, children practice unhealthy eating habits. Throughout the day they indulge in fatty foods that greatly affect their health, especially during school lunch. Schools lunches normally consist of quick and easy options like pizza, chips, soda, etc., all foods that when eaten regularly can lead to serious health problems. Children are prone to these eating habits everywhere and have learned from school. It’s for reasons like this that obesity in children has doubled in the last 25 years. What was once known, as Adult-Onset Diabetes is now common within our youth and caused from childhood obesity. An article from USATOADAY titled “Unhealthy Risks for Kids Tip Scale” explains this, also going into detail about the debate between enforcing healthy lunches for students and keeping junk food in schools. Though fattening foods may be easily prepared, is the timing really worth the lives of our kids? Could a healthier diet at school make for a healthier lifestyle? These questions need answers. Let us begin. In order to get something accomplished, you must involve the government. An article from the Washington Post titled “Junk Food Widely Available at U.S Elementary Schools Despite Anti- Obesity Push” explains this and how federal regulation is necessary in order to enforce healthier school lunches. With...
Words: 1668 - Pages: 7
...Poverty and Childhood Obesity Linda Weems English 122 Instructor: Craig Smith October 5, 2012 Poverty and Childhood Obesity Over the past years, more people have become underprivileged. America used to have a strong middle class, but now the middle class is gradually retreating due to many jobs going overseas and local companies closing due to the 2007 economic crash. Because of the state of the economy, people will have to make tough decisions about what to spend their money on. Childhood obesity in America is an increasing ailment that has become an epidemic that has lasting emotional effects, because of the limited access to healthy foods. In more recent months, middle class families have been finding it hard to keep up with the rising cost of food and many of them have turned to the State for public assistance. In Nevada, “The picture of the food stamp spike is framed by the recession: About 145,000 Nevadans were collecting food stamps in fiscal 2007; in March of this year, the government counted almost 354,000 recipients statewide”. (Demirjian, 2012) In my neighborhood, I look around at the kids surrounding me. More than half of these kids are what one would consider “obese”. Childhood obesity is increasing in the United States – and the kids that I see today are a direct result of America’s unawareness to this crisis. The key causes of childhood obesity are a deficiency of exercise and deprived nutrition; these contributors must be conquered...
Words: 2023 - Pages: 9
...Obesity in Children Veronica Zepeda BSHS 361 February 6, 2012 Joycelyn Benett Obesity in Children Childhood obesity is a growing crisis in the United States. A mixture of cultural factors influence children eating and exercise habits. The media, television, video games, and movies take place of exercising or playing outside. Other factors that led to childhood obesity are cultures, working parents, eating fast foods versus healthy low fat foods. The Cause Countless factors contribute to childhood obesity; some of these factors are poor eating habits, overeating, lack of exercise, family eating patterns, activity level, types of foods, and overfeeding. Most children grow up to follow their parents eating examples in the form of lifestyle, therefore; modeling by parents about their eating habits is another cause to childhood obesity. Children tend to model their parents exercise habits. Stressors and emotional reactions promote overeating habits for children, for instance; divorce, marital problems, fighting among parents. Other causes include physical activity classes are being removed from schools are feeding children with unhealthy foods in the school districts. When children sit and watch television they sit for hours at a time, while watching television they consume unhealthy snacks, commercials shown promote eating junk food that encourage children to eat sweets, salty, saturated fats, carbohydrates, and mal-nourished foods. Medical Health Effects ...
Words: 941 - Pages: 4
