Sue Palmer is another sociologist that believes the increasing impact of technology and the media over the past 50 years is causing childhood to deteriorate. Palmer argues that in modern society there is a ‘toxic childhood’ due to an excessively screen-based culture which she feels is why there has been an increase in developmental conditions in children. She has reasons for some of these conditions, for example ADHD could be caused to screen saturation as the rapid changes of images on TV can make an immature brain go into overdrive resulting in the child seeing real life as boring. Palmer also believes the increase in screen-based activities has made it more difficult for children to develop literacy skills. Also Palmer
Childhood Obesity Majority of children in today’s society are decreasing the time spent in physical activities as they are spending more time playing video games and watching TV. Due to their sedentary behavior they are increasing the level of excessive body fat to their weight (Whitker, Robert). This issue of childhood obesity has become an epidemic in America. The Colorado University research shows that within last couple of decades the obesity level among children and adolescent has doubled (P. Kendall). The increase in excessive body fat leads to serious health problems such as high blood pressure, type two diabetes, and other serious health risks (Estarbrooks, Paul).
Statistics show that a child with two obese parents has an eighty percent risk of becoming overweight, and a child with normal size parents has only a forty percent chance of becoming overweight. Another risk factor is meal patterns, shipping breakfast slows the metabolism down which slows down the process of digestion. Eating too much fast food is the highest risk to take for meal a choice. Watching television or playing video games instead of playing outside or exercising is a bad choice. Childhood obesity is often the result of genetics and environmental factors.
At present, nearly 8% of children 4 to 5 years of age in the United States are overweight. Whereas, in general, the increases in prevalence cross the entire pediatric population, girls have been more affected than boys (Williams, C. L. 2001). Childhood is a critical period for shaping a healthy lifestyle. More kids are obese due to the lack of activity and the increase of calories. The average American parent(s) work a full- time job and that leaves less time to cook dinner; making
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
The mind frame which an adolescent is permanently damaged with is not a healthy one. The learned behavior that a male or female carry on becomes an unhealthy cycle. It is too often that adults don’t realize that the major victim to domestic violence is the innocent child who lives the domestic violence environment. For example, young preschool children witnessing domestic violence has a negative effect on the development of preschool. There is a discrepancy between exposed and non-exposed children in cognitive ability as well as externalizing and internalizing behavior problems.
| Radio’s influence on the American culture was big. With the radio everyone was introduced to new family shows, advertisements for new products, listening to sporting event with out being there, and getting the news. Television had bigger influence on the American culture than the radio had. Television introduced moving pictures that the radio did not have. With television you can see the live events like football, baseball, boxing, and concerts with out leaving the house.
Heavy media usage is considered to be more than 16 hours of media consumption a day. Not only is it proven that technology has changed the way we think, it has also damaged our ability to focus and concentrate. The proof can be found in the grades of minority children. It is reported that half of heavy media user report fair to poor grades and light media users (less than three hours of media per day) report higher grades. Another question to consider is how well children can function on less than eight hours of sleep.
Not only are we doing this to ourselves, now we are doing this to our children. (1 in 3 American children is obese). 30.6 percent obesity in America. This number is sobering when comparing it to other countries. What is more alarming, is that if people don’t start paying more attention to what they are eating this number is only going to grow.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, obesity rates have tripled in America's youth and adults since 1980 America needs to understand that not the only people getting larger, but so are their children. We are leading children to poor health and a poor understanding of what exercise and being active can do for you. With schools limiting PE classes and sporting budgets, exercise has been something only merely talked about rather than being practiced. Children are being diagnosed with Cardiovascular disease which is one of the leading causes of death in our nation and many other chronic diseases. Because of the significance of fast food chains in America, we feel the urge for an easy meal, Americans, in general, immediately look to the fast food nation for a quick suppression to their hunger.