Childhood Obesity

Between sixteen and thirty-three percent of children and adolescents suffer from obesity. Even though obesity is easy to recognize, it is not so easy to treat. Studies show that a child that is obese during the teenage years has an eighty percent chance of being obese as an adult. There are many causes of obesity. These causes include genetic factors, lack of physical activity, and unhealthy eating patterns. In rare cases, obesity can be caused by a medical issue that a teenager might have. Genetic factors deals with passing a certain gene down to the offspring which makes them more inclined to be obese. However, just because a teenager 's family is obese does not mean they are destined for obesity also. They could just be picking up bad diet …show more content…
Many things can be done to prevent obesity. The first way is to remain active. Most kids these days are involved in something that makes them active or just like to be active on their own. If they stay that way, that will ensure they exercise enough to burn off any extra calories during the day. Another way is to eat healthy and not too much. Healthy eating is vital to preventing obesity because the food that a teenager eats is the thing that makes them obese. If they eat cakes and cookies all day, they are more likely to be obese than someone that eats salads and healthy dishes like baked chicken. Also, teenagers often eat a lot. Minimizing how much they eat will minimize the calories entering their body. So instead of eating because they are bored, they can go for a run instead. There are many steps a teenager can take to live a more healthy, active lifestyle. One way is to eat healthier. Instead of reaching for a candy bar, teens should try to reach for an apple or a salad for an after school snack. Also, instead of getting the double bacon cheeseburger at Wendy 's, get a salad. Another way that ties in with that is to make certain dishes healthier. There are lots of recipes with simple substitutions can be healthier. Something as simple as replacing regular whole eggs in an omlette with egg whites will save hundreds of calories a year. The final step is to add more physical activity into a daily routine. …show more content…
It can be caused by many factors like lack of exercise or diet. There are many serious health risks associated with it such as strokes and diabetes but also many ways to prevent it. Also, there are steps teens can take to not only to prevent it, but manage to live a healthy and active