Unhealthy Eating and Poor Diet Cause Juvenile Obesity

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Society is immersed within a plethora of problems – one of which is juvenile obesity. Juvenile obesity is affecting many industrialized countries and is increasing yearly. According to Patricia Anderson and Kristin Butcher, authors of Childhood Obesity: Trends and Potential Causes, “ By 1999-2002, nearly 15 percent of U.S. children were considered obese” (Anderson). Knowing more and more kids are being affected by this trend is unnerving, not only in the present, but also for the future. Causing health-related issues such as diabetes and heart complications, the control of obesity is ever-relevant and needs to be addressed in a timely manner. But before a call-to-action enters the fray, the causes of childhood obesity need to be determined. If identified correctly, the causes of childhood obesity can be targeted and an effective plan make be implemented towards eliminating them. While childhood obesity is a singular issue, the broad range of it accounts for many possible causes of the problem.

One cause that has theoretically been associated with childhood obesity is that of genetics. Needless to say, the chemical make-up of the body has some of the greatest effects on the way a person appears, both inside and out. But the real question is, “Do genetics play a role in obesity?” With a general ignorance on the subject, one could easily make an argument in support of this idea. If genetics controls how a person looks, then how is it not the main cause of obesity? The answer to this question is actually quite simple. Obesity is an over accumulation of fat in the body which can lead to a glut of health issues. With that in mind, one must consume more calories than one expends with exercise and physical strain in order t...

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...s down to it, these potential causes for childhood obesity are working together in a negative manner and affecting society in the same fashion.

Works Cited

Anderson, Patricia M., and Kristen F. Butcher. "Childhood Obesity: Trends and Potential Causes." Spring 2006. Web. 09 May 2012.

Brown, Stephen, David Birch, James Teufel, and Viajava Kancherla. "Overweight Children: The Perspectives of 9-13 Year Olds." Research Articles. Web. 06 May 2012.

Moran, Rebecca. "Evaluation and Treatment of Childhood Obesity." American Family Physician. AAFP, 15 Feb. 1999. Web. 11 May 2012.

Dehghan, Mahshid. "Childhood Obesity, Prevalence and Prevention." Nutrition Journal. 2 Sept. 2005. Web. 11 May 2012.

Whitehead, Tanya D. "Combating The Obesogenic Environment: Helping Children Hold Onto Health." Online Journal of Health and Allied Sciences. Oct. 2007. Web. 08 May 2012.

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