Cause of Childhood Obesity

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“I don't know too many parents that want to feed their kids’ soda, but high-fructose corn syrup is cheap. The price of soda in 20 years has gone down 40 percent, while the price of whole foods, fruits and vegetables, has gone up 40 percent and obesity goes up right along that curve” (Tom Colicchio). Childhood obesity is a serious medical condition that affects children and adolescents. We live in a world where our children can step out of their school and walk into a McDonalds. Where soda companies make millions of dollars a year by placing soda machines in schools. A world where people are dying faster from childhood obesity than smoking. No matter how hard we try to avoid the topic, it's a huge effect on children and their parents. Parents have a huge influence on their child’s eating behaviors that can prevent or reduce the risk of obesity. Thus, fast food advertisement does not have an effect on childhood obesity.
Children not getting enough sleep, not fast food advertisements, is causing childhood obesity. Jeff Barnes states, “ studies show that when a person is deprived of sleep that a person is at risk of becoming overweight or obese” (parag. 2). Jeff Barnes claimed that when a child is lacking sleep it is affecting two hormones, Ghrelin and Leptin. These two hormones are what make a person full and keeps them away from food. So when a child isn’t getting enough sleep they continue to get more and more hungry. “308 children in Louisville, KY from ages 4-10 had a bracelet monitoring their sleep” (Dr.Mercola parag. 4). The Results show that kids with the least amount of sleep are 4.2x likely to become obese. As stated the two hormones, Ghrelin and Leptin, effects are used to help the body, but with a lack of sleep the body...

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... Health Channel. Better Health Channel, Feb. 2012. Web. 04 Mar. 2014.
"Lack of Physical Activity Is Linked to Childhood Obesity." Lack of Physical Activity Is Linked to Childhood Obesity. N.p., 09 Sept. 2009. Web. 04 Mar. 2014.
"The Impact of Food Advertising on Childhood Obesity." Http://www.apa.org. American Psychological Association, n.d. Web. 04 Mar. 2014.
Joelving, Frederik. "Ban Fast Food Ads on TV: U.S. Doctors." Reuters. Thomson Reuters, 27 June 2011. Web. 04 Mar. 2014.
Weller, Chris. "Fast-Food Ads Use Toys To Attract Kids: Is Child Obesity A Product Of Pop Culture?" Medical Daily. N.p., 30 Aug. 2013. Web. 04 Mar. 2014.
"MEDIA RELEASE." MEDIA RELEASE. Lia-Marie Arniel, 08 Sept. 2009. Web. 04 Mar. 2014.
"Lack of Physical Activity Is Linked to Childhood Obesity." Lack of Physical Activity Is Linked to Childhood Obesity. N.p., 09 Sept. 2009. Web. 04 Apr. 2014.

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