Effects Of Childhood Obesity

When you hear the word epidemic what do you think of? AIDS, or maybe poverty? Well there is a new word that might come to mind, obesity. Obesity is being called the “newest epidemic” of this century. Approximately 300,000 people will die this year from obesity related deaths. There are many health consequences that come with being obese. These include, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, musculoskeletal disorders, and some cancers. Childhood obesity has become a major epidemic in America. The fast food advertisements, the lack of outdoor activities, and the decrease in parental controls all contribute to childhood obesity. Many of the food choices that these children make will leave long-term effects on their health and well-being.

The percent of obese children has increased among children fivefold since 1970. The junk food companies create commercials and advertisements that are aimed directly towards to younger children. The goal of these companies is to get the children to recognize these brands so they will ask their parents for them. “The IOM notes that by two years of age, most children recognize products in supermarkets and ask for them by name.” (Nestle, M.) One of the techniques that the fast food and junk food companies use to making the children feel like the food is just for them. They want the children to feel special, that they are eating something exclusive that is not for adults. It makes them think that they know what is good for them to be eating and that their parents do not. “Marketers explicitly attempt to undermine family decisions about food choices by convincing children that they, not adults, should control those choices. Indeed, children now routinely report that they, and not their parents, decide what to eat.” (Nestle, M.) Simply stated these children are spending mostly all of their money on fast food or junk food. In the article “Food Marketing and Childhood Obesity- A Matter of Policy” the author talks about this saying, “American children spend nearly $30 billion of their own money annually on such foods, and companies design products to tap this market.”(Nestle,

The fast food advertisements, the lack of outdoor activities, and the decrease in parental controls all contribute to childhood obesity. Many of the food choices that these children make will leave long-term effects on their health and well-being. In conclusion all the health food options need to get out there in their advertisements so the children will see more of them rather than the fast food advertisements. There also needs to be more opportunities for the children to play outside and participate in outdoor activities. Again the parents also need to be more involved in their children’s lives, making sure their children and themselves are eating properly, enjoying the outdoors, playing outside and, getting a good amount of exercise. Lastly having the health food industries advertising more, the outdoor activities improved, and the parents becoming more involved in their children’s lives we can all end childhood obesity for