Does Genetics Affect Childhood Obesity
What Affects Childhood Obesity More: Genetics or Environment?
Shannon Fincher
ENG 122 English Compositions
Prof. Amanda Price
June 27, 2012
Childhood obesity is a major problem in the United States today, but who is the major culprit in contributing to our children’s obesity? Some feel if your parents are fat than you are predestined to be fat. Some say that genetics are your biggest issue and there is no way to fight it. We live in a society where everywhere we look there is a fast food restaurant offering greasy, fried, high calorie food, and you can “supersize” that for just a dollar more. Every time we turn on the television we see another commercial tempting us with food. Society has put food in our faces almost 24/7; it is no wonder that food is what we think about most all the time. I intend to show how our environment contributes more to childhood obesity than genetics. With most mothers working today it is so much more convenient to pick up something on the way home verses cooking a home cooked meal, and fast food is also less expensive. When parents are not making good food choices it sets a bad example for their children. It starts with the parent, we have to instill in our children good eating habits and making healthy choices when it comes to the kind of foods we eat. (Okin, S., 2005, pg.81). Children are also not getting the adequate amount of exercise, with so many video games and television shows targeted toward children, it has made it hard for children to tear away from their cool comfy environment and go outside to play in the hot sun. Our society caters to keeping a child entertained indoors more than outside. “The average child and the average adolescent watch television for 21-23 hours a week. While children watch television they are usually eating snacks. (Smith, J. 1999 p. 87). To begin this research we need to look at just exactly how obesity is determined in children. In searching through medical information and journals it
Shannon Fincher
ENG 122 English Compositions
Prof. Amanda Price
June 27, 2012
Childhood obesity is a major problem in the United States today, but who is the major culprit in contributing to our children’s obesity? Some feel if your parents are fat than you are predestined to be fat. Some say that genetics are your biggest issue and there is no way to fight it. We live in a society where everywhere we look there is a fast food restaurant offering greasy, fried, high calorie food, and you can “supersize” that for just a dollar more. Every time we turn on the television we see another commercial tempting us with food. Society has put food in our faces almost 24/7; it is no wonder that food is what we think about most all the time. I intend to show how our environment contributes more to childhood obesity than genetics. With most mothers working today it is so much more convenient to pick up something on the way home verses cooking a home cooked meal, and fast food is also less expensive. When parents are not making good food choices it sets a bad example for their children. It starts with the parent, we have to instill in our children good eating habits and making healthy choices when it comes to the kind of foods we eat. (Okin, S., 2005, pg.81). Children are also not getting the adequate amount of exercise, with so many video games and television shows targeted toward children, it has made it hard for children to tear away from their cool comfy environment and go outside to play in the hot sun. Our society caters to keeping a child entertained indoors more than outside. “The average child and the average adolescent watch television for 21-23 hours a week. While children watch television they are usually eating snacks. (Smith, J. 1999 p. 87). To begin this research we need to look at just exactly how obesity is determined in children. In searching through medical information and journals it