Expository Essay

Exercise and Obesity

Obesity, one of the leading preventable causes of death among children, is a medical condition in which excess body fat accumulates and causes additional health issues. Most children who suffer from Obesity have diets similar to those of their peers, but vary drastically in their rates of metabolism, causing excess weigh gain regardless of food choice. It is important for young children to understand the causes of Obesity and how to prevent it, as well as the risks associated with the disease. It is important for young children to understand the causes of obesity because the number one reason most young children are obese is due to poor eating habits. The lack of physical activity and exercise also increases the chances of becoming obese. When young children are not physically active, they are more capable of storing excess fat, causing obesity. Genetics can partly be to blame when considering young children as they may control their appetite, decrease the ability to engage in and exercise properly, or affect taste which may cause the child to choose foods higher in fat content. However, it is important to remember that young children with Obesity related genes and risks are not destined to become obese. Rather, they have a higher risk of becoming obese and, therefore, need to become extraordinarily cautious of their weight.
The first step to avoiding Obesity is knowing how to prevent the disease. Getting proper exercise, developing a healthy diet and maintaining these habits as a life style are, perhaps, the most proactive ways to avoid developing Obesity. Adults also influence children’s physical activity by structuring routines and the environment (Deiner & Qui 2007). Getting proper exercise has many beneficial for children and adults alike. Not only does it provide health advantages, exercise also provides an opportunity for play and pleasure. Providing more outdoor play time has been associated with increased child activity in some studies (Tey et al. 2007), but not in other (Burdette & Whitaker 2005; Alhassan et al 2007.) Additionally, physical activity helps develop motor skills and increases energy in young children. If adults model their engagement in physical, maintenance of a healthy diet and introduce a variety of primarily healthy foods and snacks to young children, younger generations will be less likely to become over weight and develop Obesity. Teaching children how to make healthy food choices is invaluable as this skill will remain as they age, thus leading to a higher likelihood of leading a healthy adult life. Obesity is a big concern for children as young as preschool age. Adults have to ensure that children become interested in physical activity, and model good eating habits to prevent Obesity. Childhood obesity carries with it many additional risks; early heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. While these are all very dangerous diseases, it is important to note that heart attacks occur in young children as well as adults. Diabetes is a serious illness where, essentially, the body is unable to convert food to energy. Many African American children, in particular, are at higher risk for Diabetes due to cultural lifestyles and heredity. High blood pressure is another secondary concern associated with Obesity in young children. Finally, most young children who are obese also have high cholesterol Early childhood obesity is a serious global health concern with an estimated 42 million children under five from developed and developing countries considered overweight (World Health Organization 2010). Childhood obesity carries physical and psychosocial risks including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, asthma, sleep disturbance, joint and bone disorders, social rejection and low self esteem (Dehghan et al 2005). Ensuring that young children get proper exercise and have adults who model healthy habits and impose these habits on the children around them will decrease children’s risk of developing Obesity at a young age. Instilling these ideas at as young of an age as possible will increase the likelihood of these healthy habits becoming lifelong skills. If we as adults encourage all young children to do these things the young children will have a better understanding of healthy eating habits and will be eager to get proper exercise to keep from developing Obesity.

Works Cited
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