Childhood Obesity
Comp 11
November 13, 2012
Childhood Obesity Childhood obesity is a serious health and societal issue. Rising at extreme rates, one may call it an epidemic. Childhood obesity increases incidences of mortality later in life, causes asthma and type II diabetes, which was only found in adults. With these ill effects, childhood obesity is an issue that should not be taken lightly. Over the last fifteen years, obesity in children has increased fifty percent. While the cause of this is equivocal, and heredity may play a role, there are some contributing factors. The media, parents/caregivers, and schools are major influences which are, to some extent, responsible for this astounding inclination of obesity among children. In this paragraph I will be discussing three of the contributing factors to obesity in children, media, parents, and schools. Though parents should not allow the television to become their babysitter, some often do. Children, who are the most profitable sector in the media, are dragged into the unmerciful pull of the media. There are countless television programs and stations for children of all ages. With this wide variety, children are able to spend hours watching television which requires no physical activity, so children rarely, if ever participate in any physical activities outside of the school setting. This leads to inactivity which consequently, may lead to obesity. The media also contributes to obesity in children because of their junk food advertisements. During these programs, many food ads entice the children causing impulse eating. With the inactivity and impulse eating, children are more susceptible to become obese. To counteract the affects of the media, children need guidance from their parents. Parents have a major influence on the well-being of their child. They can contribute to the possibility of obesity affecting their child by cooking and buying unhealthy food and permitting too much time watching television.
November 13, 2012
Childhood Obesity Childhood obesity is a serious health and societal issue. Rising at extreme rates, one may call it an epidemic. Childhood obesity increases incidences of mortality later in life, causes asthma and type II diabetes, which was only found in adults. With these ill effects, childhood obesity is an issue that should not be taken lightly. Over the last fifteen years, obesity in children has increased fifty percent. While the cause of this is equivocal, and heredity may play a role, there are some contributing factors. The media, parents/caregivers, and schools are major influences which are, to some extent, responsible for this astounding inclination of obesity among children. In this paragraph I will be discussing three of the contributing factors to obesity in children, media, parents, and schools. Though parents should not allow the television to become their babysitter, some often do. Children, who are the most profitable sector in the media, are dragged into the unmerciful pull of the media. There are countless television programs and stations for children of all ages. With this wide variety, children are able to spend hours watching television which requires no physical activity, so children rarely, if ever participate in any physical activities outside of the school setting. This leads to inactivity which consequently, may lead to obesity. The media also contributes to obesity in children because of their junk food advertisements. During these programs, many food ads entice the children causing impulse eating. With the inactivity and impulse eating, children are more susceptible to become obese. To counteract the affects of the media, children need guidance from their parents. Parents have a major influence on the well-being of their child. They can contribute to the possibility of obesity affecting their child by cooking and buying unhealthy food and permitting too much time watching television.