Screen Media Arguments Against Childhood Obesity

Childhood obesity started to spark around the 1980s. Children began to lack physical activities and increased their intake of fast foods. Video games and watching television became more popular, so children played less outside. During that time parents began to blame the government. Parents believe that junk food and fast foods are advertised too much and have led to childhood obesity. “Obesity is one of the best-documented outcomes of screen media exposure.” ( “Screen Media Exposure and Obesity in Children and Adolescents”). Many observational studies find relationships between screen media exposure and increased risks of obesity. Should the U.S. government be involved in the fight against childhood obesity? Supporters say obesity has reached

The government is not doing anything about the rise of childhood obesity and this makes it worst. The government encourages unhealthy food and how it’s okay to sit on your couch all day and binge-watch tv shows and movies. The government is not doing its proper job to help prevent these actions towards the children who have to suffer this. “The government should encourage the food and restaurant industries to produce healthier food and better inform consumers about their food choices”. (“Diet and Obesity”). If the government starts to advertise more healthy options for kids, it will reduce childhood obesity. The kids need more healthy choices so they don’t grow up with horrible health conditions that could be fatal. The government needs to do better to end this so the kids can enjoy their lives. “Measures such as taxing soda or requiring that menus display calorie counts are appropriate actions that will lead to a healthier population.” (“Diet and Obesity.”) The government should start taxing more junk foods so it makes it harder for parents or other kids to buy. If junk food goes up in price and healthier foods go down it will make more people eat healthier

The government has done better with lunch foods in schools. Thanks to Michelle Obama with her lunch food program lunch foods have been healthier than before but there still could be some changes. “School lunches should include a range of healthy options. Limiting sugar, fat, salt, and refined grains is essential to fighting the U.S. obesity epidemic, which has affected far too many children.”(“School Lunches.”) School lunches have a big take on children nowadays. Parents rely on school lunches to feed their children if they cannot pay for packing their lunches. Healthier options can stop children from gaining weight and make them feel better during the school day. Unhealthy food can lead to children having bad moods, being tired, not focusing, and more. Children having these effects at school can lead to bad grades. “Obese children tend to be less physically active, which affects peer interaction and their ability to play with other children – in effect negatively impacting social bonding. This social issue often causes fewer healthy interactions.” Children who are overweight will lack social skills and activities which can lead to depression as a young child and bad mental health. Mental health is essential to keep healthy and in good shape. Children should not have to suffer through this at a young age, the government should help as much as possible to prevent any other child from going through