Child obesity
Jessica Cook
Baker College

Abstract Children that are overweight get the eye every time they are in public. But some jump conclusion and just assume that it is the parents fault when maybe it is not anyone’s fault. This is an arising problem here in the United States. More and more children are becoming less active, and relying on technological things to help with boredom. They may not realize it at a young age but as they mature and get older it will only become more of a problem. As a nation we need to fix the problem or the people of the future will not be here for very long.

Child obesity
When it first became a problem
Some of us have been told that we are a little over weight and that we should watch what we eat. On the other hand some people are told that they are obese and they need to make a life style change. But for young children they are not told this, their parents are. Children today are overweight and juggling the line of becoming obese. Now granted for some of them it is a hormonal problem but for others it is just simply laziness. Parents sit back and let this happen to their child because they do not want to tell them no or they do not want their child to resent them. Remember to being a child fifteen years ago everyone played outside and parents did not have to tell you to go play that was just what you wanted to do. And you had to fights with parents just too even come inside for dinner. In today’s society with all of the technology kids only want to play inside with their Ipads, or Xbox, and even their cell phone.
Recent studies have shown the uprising of child hood obesity. According to Dr.Whitfield “Over the past 30 years, the rate of childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents.”(Medical, 2014) This is a problem. People of the future will not be here for very long if this keeps going the way that it is. It is not the entire parents fault but they are a big factor in what goes into their child’s mouth. Problem That Needs To Be Fixed
This is a problem that needs to be fixed because they are our future. They are going to be the ones running the show one day. And how will they be able to do anything if walking to the bathroom makes them run out of breath. Children and some parents do not see this as a problem, but others do. According to the American Heart Association there are some ways to help balance calories and ways to develop healthy eating habits. They include the following:
1. Encourage healthy eating habits. Small changes can lead to a recipe for success!
2. Make favorite dishes healthier!
3. Remove calorie-rich temptations.
4. Help your kids understand the benefits of being physically active.
5. Help kids stay active!
6. Reduce sedentary time.
These are just some very simple ways to help keeps your kids active. Not saying that it is bad if they have something sweet or junk food here or there. But an everyday thing is not good for them. They need nutrients, and vitamins, and energy. Center for Disease Control states that, “In 2012, more than one third of children and adolescents were overweight or obese.” (CDC.gov, 2014). Some risk factors are “Obese adolescents are more likely to have pre diabetes, a condition in which blood glucose levels indicate a high risk for development of diabetes” (CDC.gov, 2014). They do not see now that at this young age this can carry into their adult life and they will be permanently stuck with these health problems. Some people just think when puberty hits in they will lose the weight. That’s not always the case. But if they stay with this life style and chose not to make a life style change for the sake of their health, then they are going to have all of these complications when they get older such as “heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, several types of cancer, and osteoarthritis” (CDC.gov, 2014).
Why Parents are the problem According to the poly post “The