Childhood Obesity In Schools Essay

Childhood obesity is a serious problem of the modern society, and this issue is constantly drawing much attention from the wide public. Nowadays childhood obesity has transformed into the epidemic which is spreading and developing in a fast tempo. According to the statistics, for example, the number of obese children who fall under the age category of 6–11 years old increased from 7% to nearly 18% in 30 years while the percentage of those who are 12-19 years old grew from 5% to 21% (Cdc.gov, 2016). The dramatic changes that people are facing nowadays result in the increase of the number of researches dedicated to the issue and in deeper public concern. Both the scientists and the ordinary people speak about the causes of this problem and the means of withstanding them. Among other numerous reasons that are said to influence the development of the childhood obesity such as hormonal problems or genetics, one of the most widespread causes of the obesity is recognized to be fast

In a research conducted to explore the influence of fast food availability in the school and the levels of childhood obesity it was revealed that approximately 61 percent of the children had the possibility to buy junk food in school (Datar & Nicosia, 2012). Moreover, speaking about the proximity of the fast food restaurants to the schools, the researchers found that children who visited schools with fast food restaurants nearby were heavier than the students who visited schools that are far from fast food establishments (Davis and Carpenter, 2009). Nevertheless, children do not necessarily need to go to fast food restaurants since they can buy some fast food also in the convenience stores or supermarkets near their schools or even somewhere on their way