Childhood Obesity: The Government Must Take Action

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Recommended: Impact of childhood obesity on the nation

Childhood Obesity is on the rise in the United States. According to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention, “childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past 30 years. The prevalence of obesity among children aged 6 to 11 years increased from 6.5% in 1980 to 19.6% in 2008[…] adolescents aged 12 to 19 years increased from 5.0% to 18.1%.” (CDC 2010) Parents have started to file complaints with school districts and state representatives about the lack of attention this issue is receiving. There have been several references to the school lunch program and the lack of physical activity that children are provided during the school day. On the other side, some parents believe that the government should not be involved and does not have the right to tell the students what they should or should not eat. These parents argue that it should be left in the hands of the school board to determine the nutritional guidelines for their school lunch program and the amount of daily physical activity that children are given. Parents should not be opposed to tighter government restrictions on what can and cannot be served to students in schools, or mandates of increased physical activity, because these reforms will help decrease the strain on the health care system that the childhood obesity epidemic is starting to create.

The food schools serve our children has a great impact on their education and success in school. A large number of children in the United States eat lunch at school every day because most of them rely on the reduced or free lunch program. Students are often tired and sleepy after returning from the cafeteria to the class room, due to the fatty greasy food they eat there. Children deserve more than the highly processe...

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...It is not only affecting our children’s health, it is costing parents and the government enormous amounts of money each year to treat childhood obesity related sicknesses. Parents that are against the government’s input in our school meals and activities should reconsider their position and understand that the government is not looking to control them, but to raise healthier children and stop the childhood obesity epidemic.

Works Cited

Glazer, Carol. "Obesity Is Not Just about Food - The Boston Globe." Boston.com. 05 Dec. 2005. Web. 11 Mar. 2011. .

"Obesity and Overweight for Professionals: Childhood | DNPAO | CDC." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 31 Mar. 2010. Web. 11 Mar. 2011. .

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