The obesity epidemic seems to be the only thing we hear now on the news and in the schools nowadays, but are people really to blame for this epidemic? The alarmingly increase in childhood obesity has been affected by many factors, in fact, “Nationwide, obesity stood at 29.4 percent. That’s almost triple the rate from 1990, when the Minnesota-based insurance giant UnitedHealth Group issued its first version of this report” (Landers). But schools should also have a role in combating this epidemic. In order for students to be healthier students should be taught about the health problems that stem from bad eating, proper methods of being healthy, and how exactly the ingredients in junk food affect the body. Oftentimes we hear the words
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Sugar for instance when consumed in large quantities has many detrimental effects, as does its alternative “high fructose corn syrup”. Gunnars states in his Authority Nutrition article about high fructose corn syrup that “It can lead to insulin resistance, high triglycerides, increased levels of the harmful cholesterol and increased fat accumulation in the liver and abdominal cavity. Not surprisingly, sugar consumption is strongly associated with some of the world’s leading killers… including heart disease, diabetes, obesity and cancer”. Although sugar is empty calories and they provide large amounts of energy they also come attached with harmful effects to the metabolism. In addition our processed foods are packed with sodium which consumed moderate amounts regulates body processes, but once the body over consumes sodium the body begins to react. In the article it is mentioned that “ Your body retains fluid simply to dilute the extra sodium in your bloodstream. This raises blood volume, forcing your heart to work harder; at the same time, it makes veins and arteries constrict. The combination raises blood pressure” (“4 Most Harmful Ingredients in Packaged Foods”). However these effects are never discussed at the time of purchase nor are they in general. In fact people aren't aware of the full effects of just extra sodium or sugar in the food and how slowly the waistband is becoming larger and the arteries are becoming narrower. Students should be taught the effects of the ingredients used in processed foods in order to gain greater perspective on their effects later on in
Sugar for instance when consumed in large quantities has many detrimental effects, as does its alternative “high fructose corn syrup”. Gunnars states in his Authority Nutrition article about high fructose corn syrup that “It can lead to insulin resistance, high triglycerides, increased levels of the harmful cholesterol and increased fat accumulation in the liver and abdominal cavity. Not surprisingly, sugar consumption is strongly associated with some of the world’s leading killers… including heart disease, diabetes, obesity and cancer”. Although sugar is empty calories and they provide large amounts of energy they also come attached with harmful effects to the metabolism. In addition our processed foods are packed with sodium which consumed moderate amounts regulates body processes, but once the body over consumes sodium the body begins to react. In the article it is mentioned that “ Your body retains fluid simply to dilute the extra sodium in your bloodstream. This raises blood volume, forcing your heart to work harder; at the same time, it makes veins and arteries constrict. The combination raises blood pressure” (“4 Most Harmful Ingredients in Packaged Foods”). However these effects are never discussed at the time of purchase nor are they in general. In fact people aren't aware of the full effects of just extra sodium or sugar in the food and how slowly the waistband is becoming larger and the arteries are becoming narrower. Students should be taught the effects of the ingredients used in processed foods in order to gain greater perspective on their effects later on in