Childhood Obesity Epidemic Summary

Who holds the blame for the childhood obesity epidemic in America? Fast food companies for not disclosing health information concerning their products? Or parents for not teaching their children healthy eating and exercising habits? In Bronwyn McHugh’s article” The Childhood Obesity Epidemic,” he reported that over thirty percent of America’s youth are suffering from obesity (94). In the coming years, obesity problems in America will rise and health issues caused by obesity will become more apparent. Fast food companies cannot be held responsible for the growing epidemic of childhood obesity. Parents need to become more aware of diseases caused by obesity and take advantage of healthier food options and exercise plans for their children. In

These irate parents believe fast food companies are to blame for their children’s extreme weigh gain and health problems. Zincenko sympathizes with these lawsuits by comparing them to his own obesity problems as a child as a result of eating fast food consistently. His own single, struggling parents choose to feed him fast food because of its affordability and convenience. He emphasizes McDonalds can be found on almost every street corner throughout the United States, but healthy options are much more difficult and expensive to find. Zincenko’s expresses his concern of fast food companies spending billions of dollars a year advertising their “dangerous services” to unsuspecting children without any health information or safety

The use of video games, television, and the internet consumes children’s free time. In the Physical Activities article it states, “Children and adolescents spend an average of five and a half hours a day using media that includes TV, video games, computer activities, and the Internet” (917). These hours spent on electronics have consequences, children are not receiving the amount of exercise needed to keep them from gaining weight. Parents should encourage their children to spend less time on electronics and more time spent participating in physical activities. Children learn by example, so parents hold the responsibility for installing these healthy lifestyle habits in their children. According to Mahmood, “Studies’ suggested that parents should encourage outdoor play since children of active mothers were twice as likely to be active as children of inactive mothers” (9). To prevent obesity in Children, parents need to limit the amount the use of electronics and encourage their children to participate in physical activities that will burn calories and keep them from gaining excessive