Environmental Factors And Childhood Obesity

In the book “Why We Get Fat and What To Do About It,” published in 2010, the author, Gary Taubes, discusses the observations of Hilda Bruch, a German physician, who arrived in New York City during the depression in 1934 to be astonished by the abundance of obese children especially since the only food one could get was standing in the bread line or at the soup kitchen. So why were children getting fat in a time when food was scarce but outside activity was abundant? Did environmental factors play a roll in child obesity? Or was it something else? Today environmental factors and food production has an immense impact on child obesity. Children who are obese are at risk to medical, social and psychological issues however the reversal of poor nutrition and lack of inactivity would resolve these issues. Environmental factors and food corporations have …show more content…
J. Michael Wieting states that many children don’t live in areas where they can purchase healthy foods or play outside. This environmental factor performs a key component in a child’s diet. Solutions that encourage a healthier diet should support parents by showing them the truth in how food is produced today with added sugars being used as preservatives. These added sugars turn to fat and cause children to become obese and lack energy. If the government taught parents to work towards a clean diet, which does not incorporate processed foods; children would not lack energy and loose weight. Parents should also be taught how to grow their own fresh fruits and vegetables. Even families that live in cities who may not have land to grow have many space saving options. If the government spent more time helping the American people loose weight by supporting strict nutritional standards for sugar additives by food companies that create processed food and encouraging local farming for fresh foods, people would be convinced to