The Epidemic of Childhood Obesity

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Recommended: Childhood obesity and its effects on children

There is an epidemic so fierce, it is impacting families from California to Maine. It is not the

Ebola epidemic. It is childhood obesity. An estimated 1 in 7 children between the ages of 6 to 17

are overweight and/or obese. That is a staggering 14 percent. Compared to 5 percent

almost 20 years ago. Hispanics, African-Americans, and American Indians, females to

males are more prone to this devastating medical condition. So many divided on an

issue that everyone can see; the health and welfare of children. Obesity can be

controlled and possibly maintained. At what cost and how many are willing to pay the

price to fight this disease?

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) the average American is 23

pounds overweight. A person is considered overweight or obese if his or her BMI (Body

Mass Index) is greater than 30. It cost the America Government and additional $4,879

per female and $2,646 per male for public healthcare who are overweight or obese.

Obesity factors include poor dietary habits, genetic predisposition, family lifestyle,

socio-economic status and child’s ethnicity. Children who are overweight or obese are

not necessarily overeating, but lack the balance of physical activity to burn off excess

calories off. One issue is that most families develop what most researchers label as “fast

food habits” due to either time restraints for eating a good meal or in the economy now

with families who have 2 working parents without any time to cook. Fallibility always

rest with the individual, but parents are obligated to teach right and wrong to children in

the household. Does living a healthy lifestyle fall under that statue? Research ...

... middle of paper ...

...Children To Parents." Press Release Distribution - Submit Press Releases Online - PRWeb. 4 Nov. 2013. Web. 08 Nov. 2014. .

Gray, Graehm. "Graehm Gray: Government Intervention to Solve Childhood Obesity: Part Three | Nerdel." Nerdel - The Nerdel News - Fighting Childhood Obesity Through Fun, Fitness and Nutrition on Nerdel.com. 15 Mar. 2014. Web. 08 Nov. 2014. .

Newman, Constance, Katherine Ralston, and Annette Clauson. "Balancing Nutrition, Participation, and Cost in the National School Lunch Program - Amber Waves September 2008." USDA Economic Research Service - Home Page. Sept. 2012. Web. 08 Nov. 2014. .

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