Teen Obesity

Word Count: 856 Parents have the most Influence, not McDonald's and Little Debbie. There may be a reason teenagers eat more burgers and fries than fruits and vegetables: their parents. Researchers have found that adolescents are more likely to eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day if their parents do. Contrarily, teens whose parents eat fast food and drink soda are more likely to do the same. Today families are eating less healthy food, eating out more, and fast food is very available. Obese teens barely escape the world of yummy junk food; they are surrounded by it. It’s like being addicted to drugs, but sugar and fat are the killers. Or are Manufactures and the parents the true killers? Should junk food manufactures have the finger pointed at them? Or should the parents get the blame finger? In my opinion, both are guilty as charged if they are not providing healthy food choices, fitness, and nutrition education to the teens of America. After all, the teens are our future, the ones who will take care of the older generation. Let’s connect with our teens, so they will live healthy and happy with little disease to pass on to their offspring. Today families also exercise less, are watching more TV, gaming, and surfing the internet. According to the U.S. surgeon general, only about one-half of U.S. children get regular exercise, and one-fourth don’t take part in physical activity at all. As a result, obesity among children and adolescents has increased substantially since the 1960s. The convenience of modern life has created a nation of youthful couch potatoes. More junk food, less healthy food and less exercise causes obesity. The health risks of being obese are well-known and include diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, cancer and joint pain. In addition to serious medical problems, overweight teens struggle with social and psychological problems such as disordered eating patterns,