Chevas

NAME: Chevar Rhoden
AGE: 13 Years Old
SCHOOL: Greater Portmore High School
TOPIC: Obesity in childhood

Good day my following competitors, readers and judges of this essay competition. The first question to be asked is “What is Obesity?” Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and/or increased health problems. People are considered obese when their body mass index exceeds 30kg/m2. The second question to be asked is “what are the causes and suggestions to help maintain a good weight?” Obesity can cause many diseases and disabilities or disadvantages. Obesity increases the likelihood of various diseases, particularly heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea (the most common type of sleep apnea and is caused by obstruction of the upper airway), certain types of cancer, and osteoarthritis. A lack of energy balance most often causes overweight and obesity. Energy balance means that your energy IN equals your energy OUT. Energy IN is the amount of energy or calories you get from food and drinks. Energy OUT is the amount of energy your body uses for things like breathing, digesting, and being physically activity. My suggestions to maintain a healthy weight, your energy IN and OUT don't have to balance exactly every day. It's the balance over time that helps you maintain a healthy weight. * The same amount of energy IN and energy OUT over time = weight stays the same * More energy IN than energy OUT over time = weight gain * More energy OUT than energy IN over time = weight loss
Overweight and obesity happen over time when you take in more calories than you use. Another cause is having an inactive lifestyle. Many children aren't very physically active. One reason for this is that many people spend hours in front of TVs and computers playing games which I’m prone to and leisure activities. It is good to sit and study but you need some form of physical activity. I know many children that are hyper-active but still end up “fat.” This maybe because of their eating habits, I know many of you would be thinking if they don’t burn calories when they play but that doesn’t necessarily have to be true. Other reasons for not being active include: relying on cars instead of walking, fewer physical demands at work or at home because of modern technology and conveniences, and lack of physical education classes in schools. Our environment also has an effect on this topic. Our environment doesn't support healthy lifestyle habits; in fact, it encourages obesity. Some reasons include:

1. Lack of neighborhood sidewalks and safe places for recreation. Not having area parks, trails,
Sidewalks, and affordable weight classes makes it hard for children to be physically active.

2. Oversized food portions. Children are exposed to huge food portions in restaurants, fast food places, gas stations, movie theaters, supermarkets, and even at home. Some of these meals and snacks can feed two or more people. This isn’t necessary.