Argumentative Essay On Childhood Obesity

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Childhood obesity has become one of America’s biggest problems today. The number of overweight and obese children has increased at an outstanding rate during the mid- 1970s. According to the author of “The Metamorphoses of Fat- a History of Obesity,” one in five American kids is overweight or obese (23). Obesity is causing a broad range of health problems for these children that shouldn’t be happening until they reach their adulthood. Some of these health problems include high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol levels. Not only does childhood obesity cause health problems, but psychological ones too. Obese children are more likely to develop a low self- esteem and depression because of their negative body image.
When we think about this problem, we point fingers at unhealthy fast food restaurants and school lunch programs, saying their foods and serving sizes are to blame. People argue that ad campaigns aim at young children, making them victims of the fast food industry. Schools are selling unhealthy food to children during school hours whether it is during lunch time or having a vending machine placed in every corner of the school full of unhealthy snacks. “However, all human beings have power to exercise free will, even young children” (Vigarello, 15). Children follow the people who are around them the most which are their parents. Parents influence children the minute they are born. Children will always follow what their parents do and if the parents are living an unhealthy lifestyle, soon enough their child will be living the same one. Until we stop children from eating at fast food restaurants and change their eating habits and exercise routine, obesity in the United States will not go away.
Obesity is a...

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... and exercising regularly. Parents should limit the amount of fast food that their child is consuming. Parents don’t have to completely get rid of fast food, but they should limit going out to eat to once a month. Parents should pack their child’s lunch containing all the main food groups and pack some snacks so they can eat that throughout the day instead of buying snacks for the vending machines. Parents should limit TV and computer time and instead gather the whole family to play outside for at least an hour. Parents should enforce a healthier lifestyle at home so that obesity could be avoided. What children learn at home about eating healthy, exercising and making the right nutritional choices will have an impact on them and affect other aspects later on in life. Focusing on these causes may decrease childhood obesity and lead to a healthier society as a whole.

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