Consequences of Childhood Obesity

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When it comes to the topic of childhood obesity, most of us will readily agree that there are long-term medical affects associated with childhood obesity. The National Institute of Health states that obese children are more likely to become obese adults. Adult obesity is associated with a number of serious health conditions including heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers (National Institute of Health). Where this argument usually ends, however, is on the question of who is to blame. Whereas some are convinced that the government and the food industry are to blame, others maintain that parents are primarily bearing this burden. The people who believe the government and the food industry are to blame are consistently at odds over the issue of who is to blame for the long-term affects from childhood obesity with the people who tend to believe parents are to blame. Medical conditions are becoming more and more frequent, childhood obesity is becoming a growing problem and until recently, the government has not aided in the fight against obesity. However, there is more at stake here than what these two groups ultimately believe to be true. The percentage of obese children in the United States has risen from 5% in 1980 to almost 20% in 2012. Factors such as food choices and fitness levels are contributing greatly to this problem. Obese children eventually become obese adults and bring along with them many adverse medical conditions. These medical conditions such as diabetes are known to be severe and place a shorter life expectancy on the people it affects. Ultimately, what is at stake here is childhood obesity is on the rise in the United States due to people’s failure to eat the proper foods and as a result of children followin... ... middle of paper ... .... Langwith, Jacqueline. Childhood Obesity. Detroit: Greenhaven, 2013. Print. Lusk, Jayson L., and Brenna Ellison. "Who Is To Blame For The Rise In Obesity?." Appetite 68.(2013): 14-20 Obama, Michelle. "Let's Move." America's Move to Raise A Healthier Generation of Kids. Partnership For A Healthier America,. Ogden, Cynthia L., Margaret D. Carroll, Brian K. Kit, and Katherine M. Flegal. "Adult Obesity Facts." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 28 Mar. 2014. . Stupnicki, Romuala, Pawel Tomaszewski, and Katarzyna Milde. "Body Mass Index - Proposed Norms For Children And Youths." Papers On Anthropology 22.(2013): 203-213. Thompson, Bonnie. "You Blame Parents, Not Marketers, For Kids' Obesity." Advertising Age 77.31 (2006).

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