The Causes and Effects of Obesity

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So much of what occurs in this world is a result of cause and effect. For instance, if a match is struck; a flame ignites, if water is put on the flame; the flame is extinguished, if more fuel is added to the fire; the fire gets bigger. A major problem in our society today, the problem of obesity, results from cause and effect. While many factors are involved, the causes for obesity are ultimately from choices made by individuals. One of the causes for the continuing rise in obesity in the United States is because the cycle of obesity, that perpetuates from parents to their children, continues. Poor nutritional and physical activity modeling from obese parents has a profound negative effect on their children, and if we are ever going to be able to stop obesity rates from rising, the obesity cycle must be broken.

Obesity beginning in childhood can lead to a lifetime of health problems, such as; heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Also childhood obesity has psychological risks such as; depression and low self-esteem. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 1 in 5 children are Obese, which the organization defines as "as a BMI at or above the 95th percentile for children of the same age and sex." Researchers, educators, physicians, and families around the country are clamoring to find ways to change the statistics. Some people blame fast food for being too alluring, basically conceding to the fact that personal responsibility is not enough to combat the entrancing effects of fast food advertising. Santa Clara County in California went as far as to ban toys in kids' fast food meals. Santa Clara County supervisor Ken Yeager says the ban will prevent "restaurants from preying on children's love of toys to pe...

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...w that not only are children affected by how their parents feed them but also by the genes that are passed onto them.

If parents don't start becoming responsible for their children's health and weight issues there is no stopping the rise of childhood obesity. If obesity rates continue to rise, our healthcare system will continue to be strained with caring for people with complications of obesity and everyone will suffer, even those that have chosen to live healthy lifestyles will be affected. Not only will more strain on the healthcare system cause health insurance premiums to increase, but all taxpayers will end up footing the bill for obese, public health recipients. If parents begin to make better healthier choices for themselves and their children, it will break the cycle of obesity, and it will have positive effects on their lives, as well as our country.

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