A Weighted Matter- Childhood Obesity
Target Audience: Parents of children and preadolescents ages 4-12
Childhood obesity is a growing concern in the United States. Nearly 30% of children today are overweight, and with extensive knowledge about the risk factors of this disease, researchers are looking to express just how bad this problem has become. Kids with a Body Mass Index (BMI) at or above 95% fall into the obese category. At this rate, one-third of all children born after the year 2000 will suffer from diabetes during their lifetime (“Childhood Obesity”). Parents of children and preadolescents, ages 4-12 specifically, need to take more responsibility for the obesity of their children because the children are too young to care for themselves during this period of life. There are numerous health risks associated with childhood obesity, including heart disease, high blood pressure, asthma, sleeping disorders, an increase in joint pain, and the biggest concern of all, type 2 diabetes (Roth). Along with the physical health risks, kids are much more likely to have low self-esteem. Many young kids reported having troubles with their self-confidence and said they
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Some other factors that can contribute to childhood obesity include the culinary environment, psychological factors, genetics, socioeconomic factors, medical conditions, and the amount of time the child is spending sleeping (“Family Health Guide”). As expected, a diet that consists of high levels of fat or sugar or little nutrients can cause weight gain very quickly. If possible, everyone should work hard to incorporate more fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and low-fat dairy into their diet (Roth). For example, carrot sticks instead of potato chips or low-fat yogurt instead of an ice cream bar. However, this isn’t always as easy as it