Childhood Obesity Research Paper

Merriam Webster's definition of obesity is, “a condition that is characterized by excessive accumulation and storage of fat in the body and that in an adult is typically indicated by a body mass index of 30 or greater” (“Obesity”). Today, twelve point seven million children from the ages of two to nineteen are struggling with obesity. It is critical for children to be in good health when they are still at a stage in life where their body’s are still developing. These children struggling with obesity will have to face many challenges in their life that will just become more difficult to overcome as their health worsens. Obese children will have to deal with the consequences of their weight when they reach adulthood. Developing weight related

According to the CDC, In a group of children and teens ranging from five year olds and seventeen year olds, around sixty percent of overweight children had at least one cardiovascular risk factor and twenty-five percent of overweight children had more than one risk factor. In addition, some studies have shown that obese children are more likely to become overweight as adults. These overweight and obese children are targets for early discrimination and stereotypes. The stress from discrimination can cause low self esteem that can affect their academic performance and social skills. Obesity is a growing epidemic in the United States that needs to be addressed to improve the quality of life for those struggling with being

People who are suffering from obesity have the chance of early death, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, stroke, heart disease, gallbladder disease, sleep problem, some cancers and many other problems. Each of those problem are serious problems and can lead to even more serious causes, or even death. The best way to avoid these if you are already overweight is to exercise and eat better. These are not diseases and illnesses that people want to mess and take the chance of getting because they are serious diseases. In the american heart association's article on obesity it explains how being overweight can take a huge toll on your health. It can cause diabetes, heart diseases and make it hard for others to want to be around you. It is more difficult than it may seem than to just start eating healthy and eat natural foods due government subsidies on artificial sweeteners such as fructose, high fructose corn syrup and estevia. These subsidies make foods filled with fat and sugar so cheap that its hard to sell healthy food at a competitive price, So most families who are on a budget or are just making what they see as the thrifty choice buy and eat the unhealthy food digging themselves in a hole that is hard to get out of. But it is not just diet alone that will be needed to fight obesity. Exercise needs to be promoted everywhere, Today more kids spends time indoors doing a passive activity rather than physical