In America today it is very common to see obesity in people of all ages. The most daunting, however, is the growing prevalence of obesity in children. The numbers just seem to keep rising and rising making this a major cause for concern. The main causes of childhood obesity are the Standard American Diet, the overly-busy lifestyles of parents, and the lack of physical exercise. Firstly, the Standard American Diet is what the average American eats on a regular basis. The SAD greatly contributes to obesity in children because it contains mostly calorie rich, addictive foods that are high in sugar, sodium, fats, and oils, while being alarmingly low in nutritious, natural foods. Unfortunately, the addictive properties of these calorie-dense,
…show more content…
When trying to balance life and their careers, on top of their kids school functions and extracurricular activities, they often look for ways to cut corners. This has lead to the popularity surge of “convenience food”. There are many readily available options of such convenience foods; the freezer section of any super market is guaranteed to be riddled with them. Some of the most common examples of frozen convenience foods are pre made breakfast sandwiches, toaster waffles, single serve microwavable pizza, burritos, skillet meals, and of course every kind of TV dinner under the sun. To a mom walking into the grocery store wondering what she will feed her family throughout the coming week, these convenient items can be very appealing. They are quick, easy, affordable, and do not take up a lot of room in the freezer. The majority of these convenience food packages boast phrases like “ready in 10 minutes”, “just add water”, or “only use 1 skillet" to necessitate their …show more content…
For one, due to this poor diet of the average American, kids do not have a lot of energy. The nutrition deficient foods put kids in an almost perpetual state of sluggishness. Thus, they may not look at physical activity as a fun, exhilarating experience, but more of a grueling ordeal that they want no part of. For two, the extreme prevalence of television, video games, and apps in the lives of kids today allows them to have fun and interact with other kids without having to leave the comfort of their living room couch to do so. This almost entirely negates the need for participation in physical or face to face recreational activity. Conclusively, childhood obesity is a growing problem with a theoretically simple solution. However, it is ultimately up the individual parents to pull away from the norms of the Standard American Diet, take a bit more time to prepare healthy meals and snacks, and encourage their kids to put the electronics down and socialize the old school way: face to face. Though making these changes is easier said than done, it is extremely worthwhile to the long term well-being of the
When trying to balance life and their careers, on top of their kids school functions and extracurricular activities, they often look for ways to cut corners. This has lead to the popularity surge of “convenience food”. There are many readily available options of such convenience foods; the freezer section of any super market is guaranteed to be riddled with them. Some of the most common examples of frozen convenience foods are pre made breakfast sandwiches, toaster waffles, single serve microwavable pizza, burritos, skillet meals, and of course every kind of TV dinner under the sun. To a mom walking into the grocery store wondering what she will feed her family throughout the coming week, these convenient items can be very appealing. They are quick, easy, affordable, and do not take up a lot of room in the freezer. The majority of these convenience food packages boast phrases like “ready in 10 minutes”, “just add water”, or “only use 1 skillet" to necessitate their …show more content…
For one, due to this poor diet of the average American, kids do not have a lot of energy. The nutrition deficient foods put kids in an almost perpetual state of sluggishness. Thus, they may not look at physical activity as a fun, exhilarating experience, but more of a grueling ordeal that they want no part of. For two, the extreme prevalence of television, video games, and apps in the lives of kids today allows them to have fun and interact with other kids without having to leave the comfort of their living room couch to do so. This almost entirely negates the need for participation in physical or face to face recreational activity. Conclusively, childhood obesity is a growing problem with a theoretically simple solution. However, it is ultimately up the individual parents to pull away from the norms of the Standard American Diet, take a bit more time to prepare healthy meals and snacks, and encourage their kids to put the electronics down and socialize the old school way: face to face. Though making these changes is easier said than done, it is extremely worthwhile to the long term well-being of the