Childhood Obesity Prevention Essay

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Child and adolescent obesity has been quite a serious health concern in the United States, where prevalence has nearly doubled in the past thirty years. What is more alarming to health professionals is the profound immediate and long-term effects of obesity in children. Genetics, along with behavioral factors are deemed as the culprit, but it still remains a complex issue. What we do know is that there are many ways to help those already obese, but the key idea is prevention. The commonness of childhood obesity has been increasing steadily for decades, and although it has leveled off, it still is significantly higher compared earlier times. According to (Wood, Robert 2016), nearly one-third of children aged ten to seventeen are obese. That is to say that one in three American children is overweight/obese. With the increasing statistics of this dilemma, childhood obesity is now the number one health concern among parents in the United States. (American Heart Association 2016) So what really causes a child to become obese? A child’s physical activity level with their total diet, but also genetic factors can play a part. According to WEB MD 2016, children whose parents or siblings are overweight/obese may be at an increased risk of being overweight/obese themselves. This can be a major factor contributing to childhood obesity because of shared family behaviors such as eating and activity habits. Also with today’s advances in technology, many children are susceptible to video gaming, and prolonged hours watching television, which can reduce the amount of physical activity in a child’s life. Lastly, another root cause of childhood obesity would be financial stress. Instead of making their child’s health a priority, feeding them healthy foods, over the years, it has become more and more acceptable to rely on cheap, convenient alternatives such as McDonald’s, and other fast food chains to feed one’s family. The risks of childhood obesity are immense, ranging from psychological difficulties to health conditions that were only before seen to be almost unique to adults. According to the World Health Organization 2016, obese children are more likely to stay …show more content…
Childhood obesity affects a growing number of american families every year, but the majority of these cases can be curable. With support and encouragement, you can help your child reach and maintain a healthy weight (Smith, Melinda 2016). Healthy habits start at home. Cutting the fast food, sugary drinks, and desserts are some ways that parents can teach their kids how to eat clean, to avoid gaining weight. Also the monkey see monkey do expression comes into play. If a child sees an adult eating healthy, being active and limiting television time, he or she will do the same. Also, be weary of your food choices. There are hidden ingredients that aren’t that great for our bodies, such as hidden sugar in breads, or high sodium in canned soups. Also according to Smith, Melinda, avoid trans fat which can be found in cookies, crackers, candy, and packaged/processed goods. What you and your child should be consuming are potherbs, or leafy green vegetables that are rich in vitamins and minerals. Eating foods rich in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated help a child control blood sugar and diabetes. Following a healthy lifestyle, and making the right food choices for you and your family can definitely be a way to prevent obesity in your

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