Society Has The Responsibility Of Combating Childhood Obesity

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We’ve all heard about childhood obesity and the negative influence it has on children. It seems as if childhood corpulence has become customary. Many solutions to this issue have been constructed but this issue still hasn’t been resolved. This epidemic has no plans on stopping anytime soon and it’s become pellucid, we need to do something.

Childhood obesity commenced in the 1970s and it’s continued to spiral upwards. It’s nearly been 50 years since this issue became transparent and no change has occurred, it is only worsening. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “In the United States, the percentage of children and adolescents affected by obesity has more than tripled since the 1970s.1 Data from 2015-2016 show that nearly 1 in 5 school age children and young people (6 to 19 years) in the United States has obesity.” This just goes to show that obesity isn’t incipient. Childhood corpulence is a trend with nothing stopping it. It’s only a matter of time before this gets out of hand.

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How do we resolve a problem that affects millions? First, we need to shed some light on the importance of developing nutritional habits. In no way does this mean you need to go on a diet. Watching what you put into your body is of utmost importance. This includes eating junk foods, products high in sugar, and soda in moderation. Everyone has been told not to eat too much ice cream or hamburgers. Why does a salad have more nutritional value than a soda? Everything contains calories but what those calories are converted to is what we’re focusing on. Unlike soda, salads have nutrients. Your body absorbs these nutrients and uses them which means the calories you consumed are benefiting your body. On the contrary, a soda has absolutely no nutrients. Its main ingredient is sugar. Due to the fact that soda is high in sugar, the calories you are consuming are converted directly to visceral fat. According to a team of licensed nutritionists and dietitians at Healthline Media, “Sucrose and high-fructose corn syrup are about 50% fructose, which can only be metabolized by your liver. Excessive amounts may contribute to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.” Do you still think we don’t need to change our nutritional habits?

What is motivating us to change what we serve to our children? Why is childhood obesity a health problem? Childhood obesity seems to have a connection to mental health. Children who are obese are more likely to be bullied and teased. According to Dr. Nicola Davies who writes for Psychiatry Advisor, “While rates of obesity are increasing globally, with 39% of adults overweight or obese, there appears to be a link between mental illness and obesity.’ According to the World Health Organization, patients with a history of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have a greater chance of becoming obese.” Childhood corpulence has a connection to mental health. Being bullied for your weight can take a toll on a child’s self-esteem and confidence. Unfortunately, the resolution for obesity just isn’t simple. The cold hard truth is that buying healthy and nutritious food is extremely expensive but there are ways around this obstacle. As stated by kitchn, an online magazine company that specializes in home cooking and kitchen intelligence, “Buy fresh produce when it’s in season and freeze it! Fresh produce is always great, but the cost can add up fast. Stick with buying what’s currently in season and consider stocking up when you find a good deal.” Despite how difficult it may be to stop this epidemic, the results will be worth the work you put in.

Childhood obesity is still negatively impacting children. These children are our future teachers, law enforcement officers, doctors, and presidents. With diabetes and the emotional toll of obesity being ordinary, what do you think our future is going to be like? It has almost been 50 years and nothing has changed besides the increase of obesity among children. I think it’s time to put the children’s health and well being before anything else because in the end, what our future is going to be like lies in the hands of you.     

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