Childhood Obesity

The United States is dealing with an increasing epidemic of child obesity in our society. In the past years, Americans have changed there eating and exercise habits drastically for the worse. Children become the victims of obesity because of the lack of a nutritional diet, and exercise. Some claim that the media is to blame for the epidemic while others feel it is the parent 's responsibility. This eating disorder should be taken as a serious matter especially when children 's health is at risk. The evidence suggests that childhood obesity has been linked to future medical and psychosocial disorders. The American people need to start taking preventive measures to help decrease the rate of obesity in our youth. According to the American Heritage College Dictionary, Obesity is the condition of being obese; increased body weight caused by excessive fat (Pg. 940). Being overweight is a large build up of adipose tissue, which is stored cellular fat. Obesity was never a big issue until recently, when studies have shown increasing rates in adults and children. "The number of children who are overweight has doubled in the last two to three decades; currently one child in five is overweight" (NIH Pg 1). These statistics are mind-boggling considering a large increase in such a short time period. These numbers are prevalent in predicting future statistics on obese children in the United States. One child in five translates into 15 percent of Americans aged 6 to 19 that are overweight (Greaser Pg 1349). These statistics will only increase in years to come if nothing is done about it now. Genetics do play a role in a person involving weight gain, but there is not much we can do to change our gene makeup. "Now there are two potential explanations for this. Either 50 percent of the population has the genes that make them susceptible to obesity, and the environmental factors are acting on this 50 percent; or 50 percent of the population is exposed to specific

Cited: Childhood Obesity: causes and preventions. Symposium Proc., 27 Oct. 1998. Washington: Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, 1999. National Institutes of Health. Childhood obesity on the rise. June 2002. 10 Oct. 2004. "Obesity" The American Heritage College Dictionary. 3rd edition. 2000.