America is becoming fat. It is a simple fact, and everyone knows it. Already, Americans weigh on average 24 pounds more than they were in the 1960’s (“Hurst” n.p.). Twenty-four pounds may not seem like much, but it is not just the adults that are being affected-- America’s children are the main victims. The future of the United States is at stake, and yet no one seems to notice.
Before people can even try to solve the problem, they must first know what deems a child “obese.” Obesity is determined by comparing the ratio of a child’s height to his/her weight (also known as a Body Mass Index or BMI) against the average BMI for children in that sex and age group. If a child is above the 95th percentile for his or her age/sex division that child is considered obese (“Childhood” n.p.). However, “obese” is not just a term used to describe a fat child. Obese children have to deal with many social issues that accompany their weight problems. Obese children are often the victims of bullies; this can lead to depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem that these children may carry with them their entire lives (“Childhood” n.p.). Along with the title of “obese,” these children face a more serious dilemma than just being made fun of by their peers. Health issues such as the risk of high blood pressure and high cholesterol
are heightened. These health conditions were previously only seen in adults. Not only are the nation’s children facing problems that have previously never been dealt with, but the excess body fat opens the door for cardiovascular diseases, eating and sleep disorders, diabetes, puberty at a younger age, and some types of cancer (“Childhood” n.p.). The scary realization occurs when one takes into consideration the fact that chi...
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In today 's society Obesity is one of the main causes that children and adults have a problem with. It is one of the main topics that causes death and other medical conditions. Being able to detect obesity is easy but being able to get rid of it can be hard, and it is hard for a lot of people. There are so many teens and children that are not just overweight, but obese, and it is a big issue in America. There are many causes to this issue and it is that people not wanting to be healthy, and also
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Obesity, in general, is a major health risk and, in America, it is on the rise. However, more focus is placed on childhood obesity because an obese child has a greater chance of becoming an obese adult. Struggling with obesity and the health risks and illnesses it may cause can be difficult for an adult, but for a child, dealing with it is tougher. This is an important topic because it is a 100 percent preventable concern. Statistics Over the years, childhood obesity has been on the rise. In
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