Obese children in America

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The biggest health crisis in our nation is obesity (Carmona, 2003). It affects everyone everywhere. In today’s society, one out of every three children are considered obese (“overweight and obesity,” 2009). Child obesity has become a raging conflict and solutions must be presented to reduce it. One might think that the reason so many children are obese is from eating too much food, but in reality there are many more variables. The chance of being obese increases forty-one percent if a child has a TV in his or her bedroom and watches more than two hours a day (Adams, 2010). Some other factors include: belonging to a single- parent family, living in an area without means of physical activity, genetics and lifestyle habits ("Overweight and obesity,"2009; Adams, 2010). Surgeon General, Richard H. Carmona, said, “We have an epidemic of childhood obesity.” In the 1960s just over four percent of children were overweight, but in 2003 that number rose to fifteen percent (Carmona, 2003). Fewer and fewer children are playing outside regularly, choosing instead to be inside on the computer, in front of the television, and playing video games. Many children do not get enough physical activity in their daily routine. Many schools physical education programs cut back on the time actually spent doing vigorous activities. "One study showed that gym classes offered third-graders just twenty-five minutes of vigorous activity each week" ("Overweight and obesity,"2009). Guidelines show that children over two years old should at least get sixty minutes of vigorous activity a day ("Overweight and obesity,"2009). The average family is busier today than ever, which causes parents to rush meals and not take the time to plan nutritious hom... ... middle of paper ... ...hier eating habits; and Improved health literacy. Many suffer from this disease, and the simple act of living becomes a task. The writer hopes that if an individual agreed with being obese before reading this essay has opened their eyes and has became motivated to make a change. At the accomplishment of achieving these goals, many deaths and illnesses can be prevented in America. References Adams, J.(2010, March 08). Fat American children: many causes, a lifetime of effects. Retrieved from http://articles.latimes.com/print/2010/mar/08/health/la-he- 0308-closer-20100308. Carmona, R.(2003, July 16). The obesity crisis in America. Retrieved from http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/news/testimony/obesity07162003.htm Overweight and obesity.(2009, February). Retrieved from http://kidshealth.org/PageManager.jsp?dn=KidsHealth&lic=1&ps=107&cat_id=189 &article_set=30265.

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