Childhood Obesity

Forty years ago in America childhood obesity was rarely a topic of conversation. A survey done in the early 1970s showed that 6.1% of children between the ages 12 and 19 were overweight. Eight years later the same survey was done and 17.4% were considered overweight (Iannelli). “Childhood obesity epidemic in America is now a confirmed fact since the number of overweight or obese children has more than tripled during the last 30 years” (Childhood Obesity Epidemic). “Over the last 20 years, the prevalence of obesity in children aged 6 to 11 years has tripled from 6.5% to 19.6%” (Childhood Obesity Epidemic). As a nation statistics should be alarming. Why are American children today so obese?

Before pointing fingers at any one reason, one must consider the causes of obesity. The sources are varied. These causes include: environmental factors, social factors and medication. Environmental factors including of overeating, lack of physical activity, eating out too often and school lunches (Schoenstadt). “The top two causes of obesity in children are the unhealthy diets and physical inactivity. A sedentary life along with a fat rich diet will also result in obesity” (Schoenstadt). Social factors may consist of not having enough money or even low levels of education. Medication is also a contributor because these drugs may cause weight gain (Schoenstadt).

Overeating plays an enormous role in today’s obesity epidemic. Most Americans do not know or understand proper proportion sizes their bodies should intake (Schoenstadt).

According to the article How to Prevent Children From Overeating there are five steps to prevent overeating.

These five steps include:

Step One: Set a good example for children. Parents should sit do...

... middle of paper ...

...clude, obesity epidemic in America has become a real threat for the American children and first who can stop it are the parents” (Childhood Obesity Epidemic)

Works Cited

Childhood Obesity Statistics in America. (2011). p. 3. Early Bedtime Prevents Obesity and Maintains Fitness In Teenagers. (2011, September 30). p. 5.

Childhood Obesity Epidemic In America. (n.d.). Retrieved October 19, 2011, from Childhoodobesitystatistics.net: http://www.childhoodobesitystatistics.net/epidemic.php

Fox, E. (2010, December 21). Obesity In America Compared To Europe. p. 5.

Superville, D. (2011, September 18). Olive Garden, Red Lobster tackle child obesity. p. 3.

Wang, Y. (2001, February 23). Cross-nation comparison obesity: the epidemic and relationship between obesity and socioeconomic status. p. 12.

Zaykoski, L. (2011, June 14). Statistic For Obesity In America. p. 5.