Childhood Obesity in America

Childhood Obesity in America

Childhood obesity has been increased at an alarming rate in the current generation. Obesity is the number two cause of preventable death in the United States. (The Get America Fit Foundation) Obesity is caused by a poor diet, lack of exercise, family lifestyle, stress and so many other reasons. It is not too late to turn this generation around. In most cases, obesity is completely reversible. Taking steps now for preventing childhood obesity can start a healthy path for the next generation. Today is the time to start a turnaround in childhood obesity, because tomorrow could be too late.

With nine million children and teens ages six to nineteen overweight, it is important to look into this problem. Being overweight or obese can increase the risk of serious health conditions including: Breast Cancer, Coronary heart disease, Type II diabetes, Sleep apnea, and Gallbladder disease, Osteoarthritis, Colon Cancer, Hypertension and Stroke. (The Get America Fit Foundation) The rates of the United States of Americas obesity have reached epidemic proportions, and the cost of loss productivity is at its highest. Childhood obesity results in high percentage of Obesity in an adult stage as much as 70 percent. (Pakhare) This rate has doubled in the last three decades. The cost to be obese or overweight on average raises health insurance rates, medical bills, and grocery bills. As a country, the obese population causes health insurance to raise the whole society, decrease the working population, and put strain on the economy. (Pakhare) The medical burden every year due to obesity-related disease is $147 billion dollars. (Doane, 2010) Currently, a total of 190 million Americans are obese or overweight, as childhood obesity has tripled in the last 30 years. (Doane, 2010) If it continues to increase, the medical burden will continue to increase and create more economical issues. In Houston, Texas, the Memorial Hermann Hospital set up a MASH unit of sorts in a middle school gym and ran tests on 97 seemingly healthy children to find that three out of four children were either overweight or obese. (Doane, 2010) With 75% of children likely to be obese as an adult, the economy cannot handle it, and neither can the children's health. The disease is destroying children and their self-esteem. From the test in Houston, a fifteen year old girl said, "What I look like now, it upsets me." (Doane 2010) Children and teens should not need to worry about that, or feel bad about them self. Looking into the disease, and what it does, isn't necessary when you can understand the causes, and prevent the disease from beginning.

The most common causes of childhood obesity in America are poor diet, lack of physical exercise, and an unhealthy family lifestyle. (ChildhoodObesityInAmerica, 2011) There is not a single person or thing to blame; parents, schools, friends can all take the blame. One main issue is school not having funding for enough after school activities and sports. Only 4% of elementary schools, 8% of middle schools, and 2% of high school require daily physical education. (Besser, 2010, February, 2) That simply is not enough. With the technology in society keeping America on off its feet, there needs to be more requirements in schools that force kids to be up and moving on their feet. Also, states control the lunch program at most schools, but do not control the "extra" food in snack machines and drink machines. Instead of eating a healthy snack such as nuts, children are eating junk food and drinking soda. (England, 2010) Parents are the number one enforcer and need to take that responsibility seriously. Parents also need to take responsibility and put it on themselves. Parents need to set the example for their child, and watch what their kid is eating. Especially with the current state of the economy, parents look for the cheapest, less messy, way out during meal time, and don't always choose based on health. (England, 2010) Everyone is rushing around, but it is important to have a family dinner with solid, healthy foods. It is also important for families to be physically active. Parents need to limit the amount of screen time, and increase the amount of outdoor time. Another main reason not commonly looked at for why children are becoming obese at an alarming rate, is due to stress. (ChildhoodObesityInAmera, 2011) Stress releases hormones, which release fat to unwanted places, and tell your brain to actually eat more than you need, or tell you that you are hungry, when you actually aren't. Although comfort food does actually make you feel better when you are stressed, it decreases your want to be active. (ChildhoodObesityInAmera, 2011) Stress can come from lots of places; school, family, friends, television, magazines and many others. A parent puts stress on their child to get good grades. Children want to make friends and fit in. Television and magazines portray unhealthy images, and put stress on children to want to look like models and movie stars. Eating disorders can also lead to obesity and cause stress on young children. The media is not portraying a positive body image, so children are being influence by marketing techniques. (Scanlan, 2011, April, 15) With so many causes, it is important for parents to watch their children and help prevent them from becoming overweight, and even more importantly, if their child is already overweight or obese, to begin to try and turn the problem around.

Obesity is completely reversible in most kids. Making the right choices early in life, can start a good path and prevent having to reverse this negative result. (Pakhare) The most difficult part of turning around childhood obesity is for the parent to approach the child. The best way to approach the child is to tell them "We want to work towards a healthy life, so let's do it together." (England, 2010) Parents need to set a good example, eating healthy at home and by doing daily exercise. It is important for parents to implement rules for reducing screen time and increasing exercise start at infancy. (Pakhare) At age two, children are in constant need to move, so pitching the stroller can be a great first step. Currently the first lady, Michelle Obama, is taking on child obesity with an overall ambitious goes, to eliminate the problem of childhood obesity in a generation. (Obama, 2010, February, 9) She developed a nationwide campaign called Lets Move. It is to teach children proper proportions, what specifically they