Too Many McFatties

Did you know more than 35% of adults and 17% of children and adolescents ages 2 – 19 in the United States are considered Obese (Bucci 32). Obesity is a huge growing problem in not just the United States but everywhere that needs to be controlled. The U.S is the fattest country in the world with Mexico as a close second. Fast Food and Technology are some of the main reasons you usually think of when you think of causes of Obesity, but did you ever think that Parents and Family members have a huge part in the cause of Obesity? Family Influence can cause obesity in children by not eating healthy.

As Americans, we’re always on the go. When hungry and have no time there are many fast and healthy items available. Many people who say that fast food chains is the main cause of obesity in America because there are plenty of fast food restaurants on every block with very few healthy options ("Do Fast Food Restaurants Contribute to Obesity?"). Fast food business are very easy to find and offer quick service, but there are other options that are healthy, especially in urban areas. Restaurants such as Panera offer a range of items that are healthy and offer a quick service for those on a schedule.

Obesity "Obesity is defined as having an excessive amount of body fat" (Zeratsky). Obesity is not just about being overweight or eating unhealthy food. Obesity itself is much more complicated than that and has become a worldwide problem. People are considered obese if our body fat percentage is high enough and also if you are thirty-five pounds overweight (Hellmich). Body Mass Index is something a lot of doctors talk about in the health world and it is abbreviated BMI.

2011. Web. 2/26/11. (http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-lazarus-20110225,0,1163345.column) Levine, Susan and Stine, Rob. “Obesity Threatens a Generation”.

According to the film Consuming Kids: The Commercialization of Childhood, advertising has caused increased obesity in children. As reported by CBS news, “Obesity rates have doubled in children and tripled in young teenagers”. This rise in obesity has been directly linked to advertising; in that, children who spend much time on media are likely to have obesity related disorders such as depression and anxiety (Juliet Schor). Obesity is one of the many life threatening disorders today. According to Pam Belluck a reporter of New York Times, children’s life expectancy is being cut short by obesity (Belluck).

In the recent decades, obesity has grown into a major health issue in the United States within young people. With 31 percent of the United States of children being obese, the United States has become the country with the highest rate of obesity in the world. Obesity is not only found among adults, but it is also now found mainly among children and teenagers. The childhood is a very important period for the initiation of obesity especially in this time. Eating practices that children are taught or learn during childhood affects a person later in their life whether they know or not.

Although the fast food industry is a largely linked to the growth of child obesity, they can not solely take the blame. A child is ten times more likely to become obese if his or her parent is obese. This is due to a combination of genetic factors and social environment the child has been accustomed to. Parents have the responsibility to teach their children that it’s not ok to eat fast food regularly. After all, the parents are the ones who buy the fast food for their children and drive the family to the restaurants.

Some argue that fast food is responsible and that fast food advertisements are targeting children and others argue that fast food restaurants are not responsible what so ever, such as that arguments that it is a child dietary habits surrounding the meals. What is the relationship between fast food and the increasing rate of childhood obesity in the United States? Many health professionals believe that fast food restaurants are a major factor in increasing childhood obesity in America. Their belief is that advertisements produced by fast food restaurants are targeting children as their audience. Schools are now also contributing to f... ... middle of paper ... ...children's diet.

Web. 08 May 2012.

One can imagine what kind of harm obesity could do to one’s body. Obesity is a serious issue amongst American teenagers. The causes of obesity are countless. The fast food culture we live in today has a huge impact. These restaurants don’t pack in nutrients to make their food healthy, but pack in flavor and convenience.