Obesity In Children Research Paper

Child obesity remains one of the world’s most problematic crises. Over the past thirty years, this modern crisis has escalated uncontrollably since the 1980’s. Today, the United States is considered to have the highest rate of obesity in children. This issue has become a rampant in the United Sates, since it has affected about one out of six groups of children. The problem of child obesity is no longer hidden in the dark, it has captured the public’s attention and we need to put an end to this epidemic. Among all children today, there are wide-ranging health problems in child obesity and it is due to certain components in their society, for instance, lack of activities, eating unhealthy foods and their parents.

One of the primary causes of childhood obesity is technology. “Results indicated that while television use was not related to children's weight status, video game use was.” Kids who are obese last longer playing video games than those who are average weight. “This ‘“couch-potato’” hypothesis is by far the most popular hypothesis regarding the connection between electronic media use and obesity in children, and it applies equally well to both television watching and video game use.” (Vandewater)

In other countries where obesity is not a big problem kids play outside for hours instead of being inside the house playing video games, taking naps or searching the web. Children are more likely to become obese if both of their parents are also heavy. “Parents who do not recognize weight problems in their children are less likely to take steps to change their children’s unhealthy lifestyles and to prevent obesity.” (Evans) When raised around unhealthy habits children are educated with the idea that junk food is what’s best for