Argumentative Essay On Childhood Obesity

Kids like Cake Visit any public park or any school playground and you are sure to find young children that are above the national recommended weight for their ages. These children range from being overweight to being obese. Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have a negative effect on health and is defined by body mass index (BMI). In the United States, the rate of childhood obesity has been on a high rise over the past few decades. Obesity is a growing epidemic that has lasting, economical strain, psychological effects, contributes to major health issues because of, a lack of physical activities and education.

What is causing this plague on your future leaders, teachers, lawyers

It is hard for children of any size to make friends, but when children have weight issues it becomes harder. Many obese children develop poor self-perceptions due to negative stereotyping and peer rejection. “Obesity also appears to be a contributing factor in the development of mental health problems in children; studies have found significantly higher prevalence rates for psychiatric diagnoses in obese children and youth compared both to children in the general population and to a children with other chronic health conditions.”, as stated by Christine Scwartz, author of “The Mental Health Implications of Childhood Obesity”. Obese children are more likely to have cardiovascular disease, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Martin Brune and Ze’ev Hochberg in their resource titled “Secular Trends in New Childhood Epidemics: Insights from Evolutionary Medicine”, reports that “According to Finish study, the incidence of type –I diabetes among children younger than 15 years has increased from 12 per 100,000 in the early 1950s to 65 per 100,000 in 2006.” Reports by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest that many types of cancer, including but not limited to, cancer of the breast, colon, kidney, thyroid, ovary, and cervix are associated with childhood and adolescent obesity. Children and adolescents who are obese are more likely to become obese

The amount of recess time for many schools has decreased in the last few decades and in some cases has been eliminated. The lack of physical activity is not due to children being lazy, as some may think. Children may not have a place to be active, as documented by Donna Spruijt-Metz in her article titled “Etiology, Treatment, and Prevention of Obesity in Childhood and adolescence”. Spruijt-Metz states that “A recent review of built-environment influences on children’s physical activity showed that levels in youth are positively associated with publicly provided recreational infrastructure (access to recreational facilities and schools) and transport infrastructure (presence of sidewalks and controlled intersections, access to destinations, and public transportation).” The internet, video games and social media also contribute to a growing lack of physical