Fatter Kids?

Michele White

One hundred and sixty thousand. What exactly does this number represent? The number of fast food restaurants in America. Sixty-five billion. What does this number represent? The amount of money spent in one year on fast food. Is there any wonder why America is the fattest country, or why there is such a rapid increase of obesity. This number fails to include neighbor stores that serves fried, processed, fatty, affordable food. Such places appeal to children's appetite, with bright catchy colors, and nice packaging. But what is this really doing to the children in our society? It is decreasing their nutritious food intake, which in affect is causing obesity, as well as health issues. But is this a real problem?

Children's Health

Obesity in children is a very serious problem. In fact it is directly a problem in which is being critically investigated by the Center for Disease Control or the CDC. In fact on the CDC's website, diseases are listed that are directly linked to childhood obesity. The number one disease was diabetes, closely followed by cardiovascular disease. Obese children would also have breathing problems, and may suffer from sleep apnea, in addition to asthma. They may also suffer from joint discomfort, liver disease, and gallstones. It also drains children of energy, after having a high peak off of unnatural energy. But, it will also effect a child's self-esteem, and self-confidence. Why should any child have to be subjected to that? After all the likelihood for obese children to become obese adults are high. So what can be done?

The Next Step

The First lady Michelle Obama has initiated a plan to make children healthier and decrease obesity. She promotes daily exercise, and healthy eating for children. She shows the bigger picture of eating healthy, how it improves health, and increase energy.  But more has to be done. Primarily, it comes down to the parents. Parents need to teach and educate their children about eating healthy, why they need to eat healthy, and the benefits of eating healthy. This is very important especially for people living in cities? Why? The majority of people living in cities such as Philadelphia are non-white. Black children are currently hold the highest percentage of obesity. Black people also have high percentage of developing heart disease. Children need to see their parents making mature choices when it comes to healthy food. Parents may need to provide healthy food. Although healthier food is more expensive, with some research, parents can find places that provide affordable, healthy, nutritious foods. The CDC also provided a very important factor that may prevent childhood obesity, breastfeeding. For each month a child is breastfed, the chances of obesity is lowered. Breastfeeding for at least a year will cut down America's medical expenses by $2.2 billion dollars. So what should we know about childhood obesity.

The blame cant be put on children for their obesity. These children don't bring it on themselves either.  In order to help children become healthier, parents, teachers and any influential adults, need to help, teach and encourage children to eat healthier.Healthier is the key word. Like Michelle Obama mentioned the point of helping children to eat healthy is not to neglect, but to learn moderation and balance. It is a fact: Children are the future. So why make a fatter future, full of misery, disease, and unhappiness. Why not change the way children think? Why not help them to appreciate healthy food? This has to start with us, these are our children, and we have to save them from a life that will cause them more pain than happiness, and possibly premature deaths. So what will you do to help them?