Reports of childhood obesity have tripled over the past three decades in America. One out of six children are obese, making America the country with the highest obesity rates. Children are not entirely responsible for their health, so what contributes to the rise in overweight cases? There are many theories on who is at fault for America’s epidemic, such as America’s food culture and lack of education on healthy lifestyles. While the debate on this issue is ongoing, the United States needs to focus on the leading causes in hopes of making changes for the betterment of the next generation. The increased reports of childhood obesity will only decrease once society addresses the predominant factors: parental styles, physiological elements, and …show more content…
Children tend to choose to eat unhealthy food, so they are more prone to weight gain due to the ingredients in American food. Side effects of different medications that one may choose to use can cause an increase in weight gain: “The most common psychopharmaceutical medications (antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, and antidepressants) may trigger some degree of weight gain through different metabolic functions” (Ioulia et al.). While these medications are not required for a child to take, many benefit from them to help with mental disorders, but unfortunately, medicine can force one to gain weight. Along with that, many other medications have the same side effects, resulting in children becoming obese. The staff of Beaumont.org, a large healthcare nonprofit, advised, “Ultimately (unless you have a genetic or health condition), it's your environment and your lifestyle choices that have the greatest effect on your weight.” A child who chooses to eat cake every day versus a child who doesn't will weigh more. As a result, most child obesity comes from the choices a child makes and how they choose to live their life. So, it is important to guide the next generation to