The Media Presents Evidence of Childhood Obesity Epidemic

Television programs and newspaper articles constantly provide information on a childhood obesity epidemic. A former President and a current governor have taken an active role in raising concern about the possibility of a childhood obesity epidemic. Health professionals around the country have voiced serious concerns about the childhood obesity epidemic. Nutritionists have spoken about the poor eating habits of the children of the country, and these experts have made many suggestions for improving the eating habits of the children in the country. Doctors and nurses have also noted the trends, and their concerns about a childhood obesity epidemic.

Other professionals that are experts on the physical fitness of children around the country have expressed their fear that the children do not get enough physical exercise. These professionals note that children do not get to play as much at school, and they do not have activities after school to get exercise. The physical education people believe that children do not go out to ride their bikes as their parents and grandparents used to do. Many of the professionals agree that the children spend too much time watching television and playing games on computers. The children today have many distractions that keep them sedentary that were not available to children in the past.

The Evidence of a Childhood Obesity Epidemic Is Frightening

There is unfortunately evidence that the childhood obesity epidemic is a reality. Statistics show some frightening trends in the rising number of children who are considered obese. The number of children who can be classified as obese has doubled in the last thirty years. These classifications are made through medically accepted standards. Twenty percent of the children are classified as overweight. The statistics show that children and adolescents are all in danger of being part of an obesity epidemic. The statistics also show that the childhood obesity epidemic affects children from all ethnic backgrounds. Girls and boys are equally affected by obesity according to the available information.

The effects of obesity include an increase in diseases such as childhood diabetes. The children who are overweight when young tend to grow up to be overweight adults, and this means they are more likely to suffer from heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke. Overweight children tend to suffer psychologically as well as physically. These children are teased and bullied more often than their thinner peers. Their self-esteem also suffers from the negative treatment they receive because they are obese.

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