As a whole it is all of our responsibility to fight against this epidemic so that we can win the war for our children’s health. Becoming obese is a result of consuming more calories than you burn off with activity. As stated earlier depression can play a part in obesity as well, children that are not popular, may feel left out and eat as a way to cope with those feelings. Many do not realize this is a cause for obesity, but it is and needs
Both private and publicly owned institutions that have not kept the public sufficiently educated on the dangers of eating the products they serve or produce; these companies have made millions of dollars on the sales of fast food, junk food, and sugar drinks. As a nation we should be stressing physical activity in home and at school, however, recess is being systematically eliminated, while games and sports equipment is being sacrificed for other costs. The fast food industry has done a wonderful job in making children want fast food and convincing parents that fast food meals are a nutritious alternative to cooking meals at home and they are quick, easy, and affordable. “Advertisements often portray unhealthy eating messages to children. As many commercials are for fast food, soft drinks, and cereals sweetened with sugar, one could argue that children are encouraged by the media to consume high fat, energy dense food” (Ebbeling, Pawlak, & Ludwig, 2002).
I completely agree with Weintraub and believe that they should take more responsibility. I’ll admit that fast food advertisements play a big role in child obesity. But not big enough to overpower the kids’ parents; at least, it shouldn’t. According to David Barboza’s “If you Pitch it, They will Eat”, “most big food companies, despite some promises to offer healthier foods and in some cases to limit marketing in schools, deny that they are to blame for the
Childhood Obesity Jamie Blake ENG 122 Jennifer Williams October 15 2012 Child obesity is a huge problem in the United States and a lot more citizens need to be aware and educated on the steps that can be taken to assist children struggling with obesity. How does Childhood Obesity happen, how many does it affect, what can be done to prevent this problem and what are the long terms affects. There are facts that show and lead others to believe that childhood obesity is the fault of the parents because children are watching too much Television, playing too many video games, they are not getting enough exercise, and most importantly they have an unhealthy diet. Well what is childhood obesity; it is defined as a serious medical condition
Greg Crister writes in “Too Much of a Good Thing,” that many baby boomer parents believe that children are able to distinguish when they are full and have the right to make bad decisions about what they eat. “That may be true” according to Crister but he argues that in a world that billions of dollars are spent to attract kids and their families to enjoy a greasy fast food, its not always the best choice to let children decide. In most cases, since parents are the main role models of their children, they should be the ones to teach their young to eat
Taking the Blame for Obesity Parents are the ones who knowingly open the door between childhood obesity and a long and healthy life. In David's Weintrub's article, "The Battle Against Fast Food Begins in the Home" blames the parents. Eating unhealthy can cause serious health problems. Parents are their children's first teachers. Showing them how to obtain a healthy lifestyle will benefit them for the future.
While some argued that it is the fault of food industries, and for some, fault of consumers, it can easily be resolved with two words: self-responsibility. Therefore, consumers are definitely the ones responsible for the current epidemic in this country. The first reason why consumers are responsible for America’s obesity epidemic is because consumers are the ones that choose what to eat and feed their children. There are many alternatives to fast food but most people rather not take their time to prepare for a healthier meal. In “The Battle against Fast Food Begins in Home”, author Daniel Weibtraub tries to convince parents to take a stand and fend off obesity in their homes.
Therefore, the focus should be more on the diet of the child rather than exercising. It is very good to exercise daily, but in this case, laziness is not the main culprit in child obesity. All these variables that have been stated have consequences that lead to obesity amongst children. The psychological result of an obese child is lower self-esteem, a negative body image, and an overall unfavorable social health. A child who is dealing with overweight or obesity more than likely have bad experiences with other children
Parents that don’t make enough money are living in areas that aren’t particularly safe, which leads to the children being scared to go outside and play. Education also contribute to the socioeconomic issue with obesity. Parents that have no sort of education don’t understand the proper nutritions that are in the foods and what are healthy food choices. Schools are suppose to help children lose weight and teaching them about nutrition. Many schools face a lot of budget cuts and the first programs to be cut
During early childhood and teenage years humans undergo extremely important growth and development. In order to properly blossom, the importance for a child to receive proper nourishment and consume foods beneficial to one’s health increases greatly. The fast food industry does not provide children with the well balanced diet necessary for proper growth and development. Aside from targeting younger individuals, the fast food industry also reaches out to particular races. Many people of Hispanic and African American heritage have been specifically targeted through ads on webpages, banners, and commercials on TV (Fast Food Facts).