Childhood Obesity is of the most concerning diseases among children today; fast food is one of the main causes because people are uneducated about it. One out of three kids in the U.S. is overweight (Overweight in Children, 6). Fast food has been proven to be a huge factor in this childhood disease. Kids meals are overloaded with calories and high in fat. Knowing what is put into children’s mouths can enable them to live a healthy and happy life.
Childhood Obesity has increased fivefold in the U.S. Childhood Obesity has increase from 6.1% to n18.4% in ages 12-19. “Recent data suggest that nearly 15 percent of U.S. youngsters and almost one third of adults are obese” (Holgun, 2).This disease is of no. 1 concern among parents because it can lead to other deadly diseases. Childhood Obesity is now causing doctors to see health problems that usually are not seen until adulthood (Overweight in Children, 7). Children that are obese are more likely to be obese as adults. This obesity issue leads to more risk of adult health issues some of those that may be deadly (Childhood Obesity Facts, 1). Immediate health effects are cardiovascular disease, like high cholesterol or high blood pressure. Long term health effects are heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, or even cancer (Childhood Obesity Facts, 1).
Eating too many high-calorie and high in fat foods is a huge contributor to obesity (McMillan, 3). “Knowledge about good nutrition not only helps to bring about desired weight reductions, but also is an important element in overall good health” (McMillan, 3). Children who do not eat fast food do not consume as much fat, sugars, and carbs as those who do (Holgun, 2). Only 3% of kids’ meals at fast food restaurants meet the calorie standards...
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CDC.”Childhood Obesity Facts.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC, 27 Feb2014. Web. 18 Mar 2014. < http:// www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/obesity/facts.htm>.
CDC.”Tips for Parents- Ideas to Help Children Maintain a Healthy Weight.” CDC.CDC, 31 Oct 2011. Web. 3 Apr 2014 http://cdc.gov/healthyweight/children/
Goodheart, Barbara. Diabetes. New York: CDC, 1990. Print.
Holgun, Jaine.”Fast Food Linked to Childhood Obesity.” CBS News. CBS Interactive Inc., 5 Jan 2004. Web. 3 Apr 2014.
Jaslow, Ryan.” Despite more options, 15 of fast food kids’ meals healthy: study.” CBS. CBS Interactive Inc., 8 Nov 2013. Web. 3 Apr 2014.http://www.cbsnews.com/news/despite-more-options-1-of-fast-food-kids-meals-healthy-study/
McMillan, Daniel. Obesity. New York: CDC, 1994 Print.
The American diet has changed dramatically in the past couple centuries and so has the restaurant industry. The result of this change in Americans actions and diets is a rising obesity rate among children. In the 1970s, the childhood obesity rate was five percent of children (2-19 years old). The obesity rates doubled in the 1980s and by 2008 16.9% of children were obese (Grossklavs and Marvlesin). The percentage of obese children has more than tripled in the last 40 years. The growing epidemic is dangerous and alarming. There are many factors that contribute to the dramatic rise of obesity children. As obesity has grown, so has the fast food industry. “Between 1977 and 1995, the percentage of meals and snacks eaten at fast food restaurants doubled,” (...
CDC talks about the immediate health effects happening to children and adolescents. For those who are obese are at a risk for bone and joint problems, inability to breathe, social, and poor low self-esteem. Approximately, 5-17 year olds, 70% of obese youth is at a high risk of getting cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease is high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Obese adolescents are more likely to carry a condition called pre-diabetes, which is a development of high blood glucose that becomes diabetes. The long-term health effects of obese children and adolescents are at more risk to obtain adult health problems. The conditions of adult health problems are much worse conditions that connect to heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, and several types of cancer, arthritis, and stroke. Those who struggle with being overweight or obesity combines the risk of having cancer with the internal organs like the breast, colon, esophagus, kidney, pancreas and many more.
The overall rate of obesity for children comes in at 17 percent, or about 12.5 million obese children in America today (Doheny 1). The number of children who are obese is growing at a fast rate. Most cases of childhood obesity are caused by eating too much and exercising too little. Extra weight puts children at a risk of serious health problems; such as, diabetes, heart disease, and asthma (Smith 1). Although obesity can be prevented, it has become a growing problem among children due to several factors that lead to health problems.
A child who is obese is automatically more likely to be exposed to a variety of health hazards throughout his or her life. It is estimated that “15 percent of children between six and nineteen suffer from obesity” (Lee and Sprague). A person who is deemed obese, is someone who has “a body fat percentage of more than 25 percent in boys and 32 percent in girls” (Lee and Sprague). Being severely overweight exposes you to more diseases than someone who is not overweight. Obese people “are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes . . . [from] being overweight” (Lee and Sprague). Some health issues, such as hypertension, heart attacks, and cancer can be obtained from being obese. There is also a great risk of “heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer and other chronic illnesses” when you are obese (“Hope”). high cholesterol as well as high blood pressure. Being obes...
It is apparent that living an unhealthy lifestyle, as well as eating poorly, negatively affects one’s health. From a young age it is quickly learned which foods are considered healthful as opposed to junk food. It is a parents responsibility to supervise the intake of their child's food, however there is a higher risk than ever before of childhood obesity.
“In 2012, more than one third of children and adolescents were overweight or obese.” (CDC) Childhood obesity is a problem that has inundated society for many decades. Almost anywhere that you go, you’ll see a magazine article or some sort of poster regarding childhood obesity. Childhood obesity can be defined as a condition where excess body fat negatively affects a child’s health or well-being. Majority of adults care about their weight because self-image is a very important factor in their lives, but when it comes down to children, many pay their weight a very minimal amount of attention. Due to the superfluous rise in the number of obese children over the past couple of decades, doctors and physicians have become concerned about this trend. This concern is raised by the various diseases and health issues accompanying childhood obesity. Childhood obesity puts children at a greater risk for developing health issues and diseases of the heart.
“Children's current levels of fast-food consumption probably are even higher because of an increase in the number of fast-food restaurants and in fast-food marketing since the late 1990s (Holguin),” stated Ludwig at CBS. Ludwig is right, and this is outside of schools. Most students eat breakfast and lunch during school hours.Therefore, these fast-foods are their main meals… unhealthy meals. Also, where is the money from that allows franchises such as McDonalds to be in high school cafeterias?
However, when creating fast food restaurants, the industries were not thinking about the negative effects such as obesity. Other than obesity, other harmful effects exist as well. Fast food restaurants serve unhealthy products such as greasy foods and artificial meat that lead to dietary health issues in many adults and children. A recent study showed that “Young children who are fed processed, nutrient-poor foods are likely to become unhealthy teenagers, and eventually unhealthy adults. Now twenty-three percent of teens in the U.S. are pre-diabetic or diabetic, 22% have high or borderline high LDL cholesterol levels, and 14% have hypertension or prehypertension”
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) about “17% (or 12.5 million) of children and adolescents aged 2-19 years are obese” (Moreno et al., 2013 P.157). “Surveys administered in 1976-1980 and 2007-2008 show that the prevalence of obesity has changed from 6.5% to 19.6% among children 6-11 years old age and from 5.0% to 18.1% for those aged 12-19 years (Moreno et al., 2013 P.157).
The present public health problem has become a great public concern and the future of these children and future adults has also been brought to attention. For example, "as obese children are more than likely to become obese adults, they are at an increased risk for type 2 diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, and several cancers" (Gollust, 2014). Research has also indicated that the current generation of children are on track to have shorter lives than their parents because of increasing rates of obesity (Gollust, 2014).
Institute of Medicine. (n.d.). Retrieved Jan 10, 2011, from Childhood Obesity Prevention Actions for Local Government: www.iom.edu/Activities/Childhood/LocalObesPrevention.asp
Since the fast food industry is targeting America’s youth, providing healthier options on children’s menus will reduce the rate of childhood obesity and allow for a healthy future.
Remember how happy you were when your parents bought you a happy meal as a child. It came in that cool little red box with some fries and chicken nuggets. Oh, and best of all it always came with a toy; your parents would tell you not to open it until you finished your food but that never happened. Or the time you forgot money at home but still managed to scrap up a dollar and sixteen cents from your car for an iced sweet tea. Fast food always comes in the clutch, but what is really behind the happy meals and sweet teas. We all know fast food is not good for you, but who’s to blame. Is it fair that we blame fast-food chains or are we just to afraid to blame ourselves?
" The Obesity Epidemic in Young Children." National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 10 Feb. 2001. Web.
Fast food is popular in America. In fact, one of America’s nicknames is “fast food nation,” (“Healthy” par. 1). It is quick and only takes a short amount of time to get the food. There are so many fast food restaurants in the world. Every corner people turn, there is another McDonald’s or a popular fast food restaurant. What people do not know about this easy way of eating is how unhealthy fast food really is. Quick food does not mean nutritious food. However, many Americans debate whether fast food restaurants should be required to show the nutrition in their food.