Childhood Obesity In Children

Almost two-thirds of adults Americans are considered overweight or obese. In the past four decades, obesity has doubled in the United States. Obesity is established very early in life and can be carried on through the adolescence stage all the way through adulthood. A new study found by Ruth Loos, a professor at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, showed that a third of children who were overweight in kindergarten, were already obese by eighth grade. By age 11, those who were overweight tended to stay that way, and those whose weight were considered “normal” did not become bigger. Overweight and obese adolescents have a high risk of developing chronic heart disease and diabetes. Along with that, they can suffer from sadness, stress and low self-esteem issues. (Loos, 2014) …show more content…
Most children inherit their obesity from their parents. Also, unhealthy eating and a lack of physical activity play a major role in obesity in children. Dr. Rani Whitfield, a spokesperson for the American Heart Association, said that today, children are taking the same types of medication as their parents so they can manage their blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol. Physical activity is very important for a child. A child should be doing physical activity for at least 60 minutes a day. School cafeteria lunches help contribute to child obesity. Greasy, fried, fattening foods is what children are eating five days a week. With healthier lunch choices, it could help a child keep their weight under control. (Whitfield, Staiano