Child Obesity Persuasive Essay
Child Obesity Heart problems, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and depression are just a few of the many health problems obesity can lead to. Obesity has been a major issue for many years throughout the whole world but especially in the United States. Children as well as adults suffer from obesity and, of course it is a major concern for parents. Three major factors contributing to this epidemic are: the poor quality of school lunches served throughout childhood, the quantity of junk food and fast food that parents serve daily to their children, and also the fact that today’s kids lead very sedentary lives – spending more time playing video games and watching television than engaging in any physical activity. Every parent
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should ask themselves this question: how can I prevent my child from becoming obese? The number of children suffering from obesity is higher than ever before, but parents can reverse this negative trend by instilling healthy values in their children beginning early in childhood to prevent obesity. One of the main reasons why the number of children who become obese keeps increasing every year is because of school lunches. School lunches have been the same for many decades; the same unhealthy food that was served to many of our parents in school and to some of us when we were in grade school is still being served to our children today. Pizza, hamburgers, french-fries, corndogs, and chicken nuggets are just some of the unhealthy lunches children eat at school. In addition to these very greasy and unhealthy meals, most if not all school cafeterias have vending machines with all kinds of junk food. According to Durham, from Herald Sun with Chapel Hill Herald, Over the past 25 years, the rate of obesity has doubled for children age six to eleven and has tripled for teens. Health officials consider childhood obesity an epidemic affecting 27 percent of youth in the U.S. ages 12 to 18, and 23 percent of children 5 to 11 (Durham 1). These are very high numbers, but it is obvious that parent’s negligence has contributed to these percentages. The poor nutrition from the combination of fast food and other unhealthy snacks at home is another reason why more children are suffering from obesity. For some parents who work fulltime, sometimes driving thru a fast food drive-thru such as McDonalds, Burger King and others, is much easier than cooking a healthy lunch or dinner at home. In addition, it seems that everyone is always in a hurry and prepackaged and frozen foods have become more popular than ever before. According to Laviolette from McClatchy – Tribune News Services, Today, moms are not spending much time at home like they used to, so they’re buying more prepackaged food that is higher in fat, carbs and salt (Laviolette 2). Although, driving thru a fast food restaurant is easier than cooking at home, foods with excessive fat, sugar or salt can make a child gain too much weight in a very short period of time. It is the responsibility of parents to do their very best to ensure that their child is healthy so they must prevent them from eating too much fast food and junk food. It is not right for parents to allow their children to eat unhealthy food simply because of their laziness. Parents can do a lot to prevent their child from becoming obese.
It is true that for some children who suffer from obesity it may be a little more difficult to lose weight due to hereditary or other health issues that may limit them to do certain activities. However, for the most part, a lot more can and needs to be done to combat this epidemic. The solution for children who suffer from health issues is that parents need to talk to their physicians and figure out what things their child can and cannot do. The most obvious solution to the problem of unhealthy lunches at school would be for parents to start packing healthier lunches for children. It would be wonderful if schools would serve healthier lunches, but it will probably take a while for this to happen. Instead of eating greasy cheeseburgers and french-fries twice a week, parents can pack a low fat sandwich or bagel with a fruit or veggie. Another solution to this epidemic is engaging children in physical activities and sports at an early age. Today’s children live a more sedentary life and most children would rather play a video game or watch TV than go outside to ride a bike, play with a ball, or simply play creatively with other children. It is the parent’s responsibility to make sure that their children are staying active as much as possible and to interest in sports and exercise as soon as they can
walk. Child Obesity is an epidemic that does not discriminate against race or color. Yes, school lunches, fast foods, and other prepackaged foods help contribute to the high percentage in child obesity, but the ultimate responsibility lies with parents for what their children eat on a regular basis. Being obese is not fun for any child and carrying extra pounds is just the beginning to a life full of problems. There are other serious emotional problems involved; for example, being mocked at school or in other public places can lead to intense depression. There is no need to join a gym or buy expensive diet foods. Rather, parents can start physical activities with their children by simply riding a bicycle to the park or gathering the whole family and taking a walk around the neighborhood. Parents can also get their children interested in more veggies and fruits, and cut back on butter and excessive amounts of cheese, chips, sodas etc. It may not be easy to prevent all child obesity but it is definitely worth trying. Healthier children are happier, and there is no reason why parents should not be working together as a family to prevent their child from becoming obese. It is possible to make the lives of our children better, it only takes a little effort and it will definitely put them on a healthier path for their entire lives.
should ask themselves this question: how can I prevent my child from becoming obese? The number of children suffering from obesity is higher than ever before, but parents can reverse this negative trend by instilling healthy values in their children beginning early in childhood to prevent obesity. One of the main reasons why the number of children who become obese keeps increasing every year is because of school lunches. School lunches have been the same for many decades; the same unhealthy food that was served to many of our parents in school and to some of us when we were in grade school is still being served to our children today. Pizza, hamburgers, french-fries, corndogs, and chicken nuggets are just some of the unhealthy lunches children eat at school. In addition to these very greasy and unhealthy meals, most if not all school cafeterias have vending machines with all kinds of junk food. According to Durham, from Herald Sun with Chapel Hill Herald, Over the past 25 years, the rate of obesity has doubled for children age six to eleven and has tripled for teens. Health officials consider childhood obesity an epidemic affecting 27 percent of youth in the U.S. ages 12 to 18, and 23 percent of children 5 to 11 (Durham 1). These are very high numbers, but it is obvious that parent’s negligence has contributed to these percentages. The poor nutrition from the combination of fast food and other unhealthy snacks at home is another reason why more children are suffering from obesity. For some parents who work fulltime, sometimes driving thru a fast food drive-thru such as McDonalds, Burger King and others, is much easier than cooking a healthy lunch or dinner at home. In addition, it seems that everyone is always in a hurry and prepackaged and frozen foods have become more popular than ever before. According to Laviolette from McClatchy – Tribune News Services, Today, moms are not spending much time at home like they used to, so they’re buying more prepackaged food that is higher in fat, carbs and salt (Laviolette 2). Although, driving thru a fast food restaurant is easier than cooking at home, foods with excessive fat, sugar or salt can make a child gain too much weight in a very short period of time. It is the responsibility of parents to do their very best to ensure that their child is healthy so they must prevent them from eating too much fast food and junk food. It is not right for parents to allow their children to eat unhealthy food simply because of their laziness. Parents can do a lot to prevent their child from becoming obese.
It is true that for some children who suffer from obesity it may be a little more difficult to lose weight due to hereditary or other health issues that may limit them to do certain activities. However, for the most part, a lot more can and needs to be done to combat this epidemic. The solution for children who suffer from health issues is that parents need to talk to their physicians and figure out what things their child can and cannot do. The most obvious solution to the problem of unhealthy lunches at school would be for parents to start packing healthier lunches for children. It would be wonderful if schools would serve healthier lunches, but it will probably take a while for this to happen. Instead of eating greasy cheeseburgers and french-fries twice a week, parents can pack a low fat sandwich or bagel with a fruit or veggie. Another solution to this epidemic is engaging children in physical activities and sports at an early age. Today’s children live a more sedentary life and most children would rather play a video game or watch TV than go outside to ride a bike, play with a ball, or simply play creatively with other children. It is the parent’s responsibility to make sure that their children are staying active as much as possible and to interest in sports and exercise as soon as they can
walk. Child Obesity is an epidemic that does not discriminate against race or color. Yes, school lunches, fast foods, and other prepackaged foods help contribute to the high percentage in child obesity, but the ultimate responsibility lies with parents for what their children eat on a regular basis. Being obese is not fun for any child and carrying extra pounds is just the beginning to a life full of problems. There are other serious emotional problems involved; for example, being mocked at school or in other public places can lead to intense depression. There is no need to join a gym or buy expensive diet foods. Rather, parents can start physical activities with their children by simply riding a bicycle to the park or gathering the whole family and taking a walk around the neighborhood. Parents can also get their children interested in more veggies and fruits, and cut back on butter and excessive amounts of cheese, chips, sodas etc. It may not be easy to prevent all child obesity but it is definitely worth trying. Healthier children are happier, and there is no reason why parents should not be working together as a family to prevent their child from becoming obese. It is possible to make the lives of our children better, it only takes a little effort and it will definitely put them on a healthier path for their entire lives.