Child obesity is a serious medical condition that affects children. It is when a child has gained and passed the normal weight of their age and height. Child obesity also leads children to a path of health problem favorable to adults such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Obesity can also cause a child to have low self-esteem and depression problems. Child obesity is increasing rapidly in today’s world. A child’s environment, lack of physical activity and technology are major reasons causes of child obesity.
The environment around children plays a huge role in their lives. An environment can also have an effect on a child’s health. Children that live in bad neighborhoods or have parents that don’t make a lot of money to support family needs fall victim to this cause. Parents may not have access to stores that sell healthy, affordable foods such as fruit and vegetables. Fast food restaurants may be a primary, easy, and cheap source of food. Therefore the child grows t want and favor unhealthy foods. Sugar drinks and less healthy foods on school campuses take part in child obesity too. Some children eat at school more than they would at home. Schools have vending machines and various events throughout the year that sell unhealthy snacks to students.
The lack of physical activity is another cause of child obesity. Eating without exercise is harmful to everyone, but children should not fall victim to the unhealthy consequences due from lack of exercise. Schools should make physical education mandatory for all students. Children should be able to have fun while burning calories and losing weight at the same time. Fun activates like dodge ball, potatoes sack races, and etc. would encourage children to get active. A daily 60 min workout would decrease child obesity numbers slowly but effectively.
Last but not least is the effect that technology has on children. Video games, television,