“The bigger the better” is not always necessarily true. In America, the amount of citizens overweight is rapidly increasing as the age of overweight people is decreasing. Although there is no specific cure, this disease can be lowered by attacking a diverse amount of contributing factors. The adolescent obesity epidemic can be controlled by lowering the price of healthy foods, enforce stricter health education in schools, and address the problems at home. One solution to America’s obesity epedimic is to lower the price of fruits and vegetables. The amount of fast food consumed is at an all time high and is constantly growing. America has a heavy dependency on fast food, which is “estimated to be 187kcal per day” (Flodmark 5).
The production of fast food, also known as conventional food, places a burden on the environment. The fertilizer and chemicals used to develop the maximum amount of crop from a field pollutes the environment all over. When it rains, run offs from the Midwest fields lead into the Gulf of Mexico, which contribute to a giant dead zone of almost no sea life. This effects the fishing industry majorly and causes a loss of 212,000 tons of seafood every year (Walsh 34).
Another flaw of the fast food industry is the conditions in which the livestock are raised.
The Research paper on Junk Food and Fast Food in the UAE
In the last 3 or 4 years, many schools in the UAE started selling junk food and fast food to the students. Junk food and fast food is known for causing obesity among people all around the world. As Dubai Health Authority (DHA) public relation agency we will try to raise awareness about the harmful effects of junk food and fast food on people especially the students who still in schools, and why ...
In the conventional food system, thousands of cattle and pigs “are kept in close concentrated conditions and fattened up for slaughter as fast as possible, contributing to efficiencies of scale and thus low prices” (Walsh 34).
Although it has many negative outcomes, the popularity of fast food is mainly due to its extremely low prices. Fruits and vegetables are more expensive than grains; therefore the cost of cheap conventional food compared to the cost of organic food “is a principal cause of America’s obesity epidemic” (Walsh 32).
As a result of cheap, calorie-heavy conventional foods, “Americans spend less than 10% of their incomes on food” (Walsh 33).
With a suffering economy, American citizens are more prone to buying the cheapest thing available, which is fast food. However, the financial difference of healthy food compared to organic food ends up balancing to be equal because “obesity adds $147 billion a year to our doctor bills” (Walsh 32).
In addition, lowering the price of healthy foods to match the price of conventional foods will allow citizens to make healthier choices. A study shows that “lowering the price of fresh fruit and vegetables by 50% increased sales by two- to fourfold in high-school cafeterias” (Flodmark 5).
Taking multiple steps that deal with the prices of fresh food versus fast food will show immediate results.
Another way to lower the obesity epidemic is by fixing the flaws in the nation’s current school-based health system. One of the requirements the government places on the U.S. school system is teaching health education. American schools require the minimal amount of health education classes in order to receive a diploma. Although the current system requires health education, it only requires the minimum amount. In order for a health education program to be successful, the school-based obesity prevention programs need to have a multi- strategic approach that includes both mind and body. One reason school health education programs are failing is due to focusing only on physical activity. The Teen Eating and Activity Mentoring in Schools (TEAMS) project presents a new health education program that involves nutrition education, programs to increase physical activity, and school environmental changes (Daratha 2).
The Essay on Should the Sale of Junk Food in School Canteens Be Banned
Junk food is defined as food items which are generally considered to be unhealthy and have low nutritional value. However, many children and teenagers enjoy consuming junk food because it tastes good. Nevertheless, junk food is commonly outed as one of the main causes of obesity in young people. Some school canteens sell junk food among other things to students. As such, it is believed that the ...
When testing teens’ concepts of health, TEAMS concluded that adolescents focused on short-term consequences such as energy level, athletic performance, and appearance (Daratha 2).
An educational improvement is enforcing computer assistance for implementing obesity guidelines and to promote the implementation of current recommendations in school-based health centers (Gilbert 72).
There have been many obesity prevention programs that “provide publication of recommendations or guidelines, however, often has not changed provider behavior” (Gilbert 73).
In order for the computer assistance program to be successful, schools would have to adjust the health education to be more extensive and require the students to be tested. Another approach that can be made to better school based health education is to enforce regular meetings with the school therapist. Obese children “may also be suffering from depression and feelings of shame” (“Obesity in Teens” 1).
After performing a study in Denmark on the relation between BMI and depression in teenagers, researchers concluded that obesity was significantly related to depression. Parental issues such as separation and social status were common depressing factors among teens. A study suggests “clinical treatment of obesity may sometimes not just be a matter of diet and exercise, but also of dealing with issues of shame and social isolation” (“Obesity in Teens” 1).
Including intangible factors, such as depression, will aid in the success of lowering obesity in America.
The role of parents is a crucial factor for the overall wellbeing of their children. Parents have an important role in their children’s health. A study shows “children who lack parental support have a greater risk of becoming overweight than children who get adequate support at home” (Flodmark 5).
It is both the child and parent’s responsibility to increase opportunities to consume healthy foods, limit the availability of junk food, and increase the amount of physical activity their child participates in each day. The Kiel Obesity Prevention Study applies a simple nutrition education program of eating fruit and vegetable every day, reducing the intake of high-fat foods, keeping active for at least 1 hour a day, and reducing TV viewing to less than 1 hour a day. This intervention method resulted in the percent fat mass decreasing to 0.4% compared to the normal 3.6% (Lissau 33).
The Essay on Overweight And Obesity Children Health Physical
The health and well being of America's children and adolescents is in jeopardy. now and in the future, is under threat. In 2002-2003, research found that most healthcare problems stemmed from a preventable condition. the most prevalent child health issues affecting children are preventable: obesity, dental disease, emotional and behaviour al problems, bullying and learning delays. These problems ...
Another approach to controlling adolescent obesity is to require a nutrition class for parents. A study showed the effect of educating families and teachers with audiovisual, printed material and discussion meetings about preventing obesity. After one year of participating in this study, “the prevalence of overweight and of obesity decreased by 12.2 and 12.1%” (Lissau 33).
Families can help their children practice a healthier lifestyle through “role modeling healthful behaviors, providing an environment that makes it easy for their children to make healthful choices, focusing less on weight and more on behaviors and overall health, and providing a supportive environment for their children to enhance communication” (Neumark-Sztainer S133).
Among the girls who showed unhealthful weight control behaviors, “58% reported low family meal structure and high family weight concerns” (Neumark-Sztainer S137).
Dr. Susanna Kautiainen’s survey concludes “’Internet addiction’ (the inability to avoid going online at least once a day) was associated with overweight among boys but not with girls” (“TV and the Internet” 1).
Another study, performed by Dr. P. Iacovazzo, shows “Those who spent more time in front of the TV were more often overweight and obese than those who spent less time watching TV” (“TV and the Internet” 1).
There are many simple compromises parents can make, such as allowing the use of video games that involve physical activity, such as the Wii Fit, or limiting the amount of time their children are allowed to spend on technology.
Obesity is a serious problem that effects the wellbeing of America’s nation. Not only does it effect the current generation, but it also effects future generations to come. Even though the US government has taken steps to diminish the amount of overweight people, the results show that obesity is continuing to spread at an even faster rate, now targeting adolescents. In order to lower obesity, American citizens need to improve certain contributing factors such as price of healthy foods, amount of health education in schools, and level of control at home. It is important to include all because each has a role in targeting potential problems that could arise.
The Essay on Obesity in Children 2
Introduction Childhood obesity is a major problem not only nationally but locally as well. Childhood obesity is a doorway to other major issues children suffer from in today’s society such as bullying, and is the major contributor to health related issues not only as a child but issues that will haunt their health in their future endeavors. Let’s Move is a fantastic campaign that brings awareness ...
Works Cited
Daratha, Kenneth B. “Obesity Prevention in Early Adolescence: Student, Parent, and Teacher Views.” Journal of School Health 80.1 (2010): 13-19. Academic Search Premier. Web. 28 Feb. 2011. Flodmark, Carl-Erik, Inge Lissau, and Angelo Pietrobelli. “Child and Adolescent Obesity: Why We Need to Fight!” Acta Paediatrica. Supplement 94.(2005): 4-7. Academic Search Premier. Web. 28 Feb. 2011. Gilbert, Kevin, et al. “Evaluation of Technology to Identify and Assess Overweight Children and Adolescents.” Journal for Specialists in Pediatric Nursing 15.1 (2010): 72-83. Academic Search Premier. Web. 28 Feb. 2011. Lissau, Inge. “Action, Prevention and Epidemiology of Paediatric Obesity.” Acta Paediatrica. Supplement 94.(2005): 30-37. Academic Search Premier. Web. 28 Feb. 2011. Neumark-Sztainer, Dianne. “Preventing the Broad Spectrum of Weight-Related Problems: Working with Parents to Help Teens Achieve a Healthy Weight and a
Positive Body Image.” Journal of Nutrition Education & Behavior 37.(2005): S133-S139. Academic Search Premier. Web. 28 Feb. 2011. “Obesity in Teens Related to Depression and Shame.” Brown University Child & Adolescent Behavior Letter 21.10 (2005): 2. Academic Search Premier. Web. 28 Feb. 2011. “TV and the Internet: Fattening for Teens?” Eating Disorders Review 15.2 (2004): 1. Academic Search Premier. Web. 28 Feb. 2011. Walsh, Bryan. “The Real Cost of Cheap Food.” Time 31 August 2009: 31-37. Print.
