Appetite for Destruction: Childhood Obesity

As little Johnny stands in front of the refrigerator, he is faced with a tough decision. He must decide between the shiny, red apple and the pudding cup with his name written all over it. Johnny reaches for the pudding cup without any hesitation and heads straight for the living room to watch some television while the sun continues to shine bright on a beautiful, spring afternoon. What is wrong with this picture? Clearly little Johnny needs to reevaluate his snack choice and how to spend his afternoon. As time goes on, children that are not nutritionally educated and physically motivated will continue to head down the path to one of the biggest epidemics America is facing today: Childhood obesity.

Childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents in the past 30 years (Center for Disease). What this skyrocketing statistic boils down to is the lack of proper education from parents and schools about diet and exercise. If a child’s parents are sitting in their recliner eating Cheetos, naturally, their child will catch on and begin to do the same thing. However, if someone is fortunate enough to have a parent who encourages physical activities and provides healthy meals early on, the child is less likely to become a victim of childhood obesity. There are many ways that this disheartening trend can be solved for children that have yet to become obese, or have already fallen under the obese category.

For normal and obese children alike, schools play an exceptionally critical role by instituting a safe and supportive environment with policies and practices that support healthy behaviors. Schools also provide chances for students to learn about and practice healthy eating and physical activities. By prov...

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...ill make them want to continue playing the sport. Little leagues build character, help children lose weight, and allow weight loss to become a fun activity rather than a chore.

A classic solution that has been a go-to method for weight loss is portion control. Rather than eating enormous quantities of junk food, children should be rewarded with special treats every now and then. Portion control reduces calorie intake and provides a healthy balanced diet, given that the portions are filled with healthful items.

Granted there are many solutions to childhood obesity that deserve merit, these listed solutions will be the most efficient in solving the issue. What each solution boils down to is proper diet and sufficient amounts of exercise. By encouraging healthy habits earlier on in children’s lives, the chance of becoming a healthier nation doesn’t seem so far away.