Childhood obesity is a growing problem both in the United States and elsewhere around the world. Without careful consideration and new plans for avoiding the problem of childhood obesity, it is likely that the problem will continue to become more and more apparent in years to come. The prevalence of childhood obesity is also linked to adulthood obesity, meaning that children who are overweight are more likely to turn into adults who are overweight (Deckelbaum and Williams 241). Although both adults and children are at significant risk for disease related to obesity, it is very important to address the issue of obesity early. Children are much more capable of changing their behaviors and thus developing good eating behaviors at a young age. It is more important than ever for children today to understand what is healthy and what is unhealthy, and to develop good relationships with food and proper nutrition.
Upon watching television, it is easy to see why children have difficulty understanding what food is good food. Advertisements for food that are targeted towards children are often for foods that are packed full of sugar, with a focus on how fun these foods are to eat (Must, Strauss et al). Children have an unrealistic sense of what they should be eating because they are very susceptible to the suggestion of advertising. This new “fun-style” food can also be seen in things like Happy Meals, where unhealthy foods are presented with toys and other games to encourage children to ask their parents for these types of meals. (Must, Strauss et al.). Parents, often strapped for time or unaware of the poor nutritional quality of these foods, often give in to their children’s demands because of the easy nature of the foods.
Foods targeted towards children are very calorie-dense and heavily processed, as stated previously. Although this is problematic merely due to the lack of nutritional value, children who eat calorie-dense foods are prone to over-eat these foods (Dehghan, Akhtar-Danesh and Merchant). Dehghan et al. write, “Although the mechanism of obesity development is not fully understood, it is confirmed that obesity occurs when energy intake exceeds energy expenditure However, environmental factors, lifestyle preferences, and cultural environment seem to play major roles in the rising prevalence of obesity worldwide” (Dehghan, Akhtar-Danesh and Merchant). Foods that are carbohydrate and calorie-rich often produce an insulin spike in the blood, giving the child energy but then leading to an energy drop soon after (Dehghan, Akhtar-Danesh and Merchant). The child may then feel sluggish and hungry again, despite not needing any more calories (Dehghan, Akhtar-Danesh and Merchant). This often leads to children taking in more calories than they need on a daily basis, which is the primary reason that people as a whole gain weight.
Children do not have the decision-making skills to make good choices about food (Deckelbaum and Williams). Children do not have the physiological capacity to understand the long-term effects of eating poorly; their brains simply do not function that way yet (Deckelbaum and Williams). It is unfair to expect children to maintain good eating habits independently if the adults around them are not aware or enforcing these positive behaviors. Without adult support, children cannot be counted upon to make good choices about food-- they simply do not have the mental capacity to do so until later in life, when it will be much more difficult because their behaviors are already so deeply entrenched. It is the parents’ responsibility to help their children make good choices about food; without their parents’ help, children will have no hope of making good food choices.
In addition to eating more calorie-dense foods with more frequency than before, children are also living a more sedentary lifestyle than they ever have in the past (Tremblay and Willms). Children spend more time looking at computer screens or television screens than they have in previous years, and in places like Canada and the United States, more and more children have unfettered access to computers, televisions, smartphones, and so on (Tremblay and Willms). According to Tremblay and Willms:
Both organized and unorganized sport and physical activity are negatively associated with being overweight (10–24% reduced risk) or obese (23–43% reduced risk), while TV watching and video game use are risk factors for being overweight (17–44% increased risk) or obese (10–61% increased risk). Physical activity and sedentary behaviour partially account for the association of high socioeconomic status and two-parent family structure with the likelihood of being overweight or obese. (Tremblay and Willms)
Shaming children who are overweight at a young age is inefficient, and children who are unwilling to join sports are often hesitant because they feel they will be made fun of; if this is the case, then encouraging children to partake in an activity that is physical but non-competitive may be a good solution that meets the child halfway and does not increase their anxiety about being made fun of for their weight.
Childhood obesity can lead to a host of problems later in life. However, one of the most disturbing trends is the fact that many children are simply not developing the knowledge that they need to feed themselves properly. They do not know what good nutritional content is in food, and they are not forced to become accustomed to different foods at a young age. This means that there are many children growing up that have not been given the tools necessary to make good choices for themselves. What can be done about this issue? There are a number of potential solutions, but there are two underlying issues that must be addressed most quickly.
First and foremost, in terms of nutrition, parents must be well-educated on the best and most nutritional foods for their children. Not all children grow up in affluent homes where parents have ample amounts of time to make fresh meals every night; however, in most places, there are many good alternatives to calorie-dense fast foods. Many fast-food restaurants offer fresh fruits and vegetables instead of French Fries, for instance; substitutions can and should be made by parents in order to ensure that their children eat properly and receive the proper nutrition. Schools can also be more involved in student nutrition, by offering nutritionally-sound options and the option for family nutritional counseling. The purpose of this solution is not to shame parents or children who are overweight, but instead to help them make good choices about food that still fit into their lifestyle.
The next thing that must be addressed is the sedentary nature of children’s lives today. Children’s on-screen time should be limited per day, and schools should be forced to bring back recesses, physical education, and playtime for students so that they can get ample physical activity. Children with the time and means should be given the opportunity to participate in sports or other physical activity-- even non-competitive physical activities like rock climbing or martial arts can be very good for children who shy away from the competitive aspect of sports. This will also give children a sense of discipline and tires them out, giving them a better understanding of why their body needs good fuel.
Children cannot be expected to make their own choices about food. The adults in their lives must encourage them from a young age to make good decisions by educating them on what good nutritional decisions look like. Healthy habits in childhood have been shown to translate into healthy habits in adulthood, just as unhealthy eating patterns in childhood are often destined to translate into unhealthy adulthood eating patterns. Educating children on the proper nutritional value of food may include educating parents as well; however, schools and caregivers can make a difference in children’s lives without the participation of parents or guardians if parents or guardians are unwilling or unable to make a change. Pushing children to be more active and giving them better, healthier options at the table are ideal ways to begin to educate them on the proper way to avoid childhood obesity.
- Thesis: It is more important than ever for children today to understand what is healthy and what is unhealthy, and to develop good relationships with food and proper nutrition.
- Issue 1
- Today, kids eat a lot of unhealthy food because of meals targeted specifically towards children at restaurants
- Often, food targeted towards children is very unhealthy
- Issue 2
- Children do not have the decision-making skills to make good decisions about food without education.
- Children need their parents’ help to make good choices about food, and do not understand long-term ill effects from eating badly.
- Issue 3
- Foods targeted towards children are very calorie-dense and heavily processed.
- Foods that are too calorie-dense encourage children to eat more than their necessary daily intake.
- Issue 4
- Many children are more sedentary than they have been in the past
- Current lifestyles allow children to sit around and do nothing more than children of the past.
- Issue 5
- Parents who were raised with poor eating habits do not have the knowledge or ability to help their children learn to eat properly.
- Questions to address:
- How can we get parents more involved in their childrens’ nutrition?
- How can we get children more involved in physical activities?
Works cited
Deckelbaum, Richard J and Christine L Williams. "Childhood obesity: the health issue." Obesity research, 9. S11 (2001): 239--243. Online.
Dehghan, Mahshid, Noori Akhtar-Danesh and Anwar T Merchant. "Childhood obesity, prevalence and prevention." Nutrition journal, 4. 1 (2005): 24. Online.
Ebbeling, Cara B, Dorota B Pawlak and David S Ludwig. "Childhood obesity: public-health crisis, common sense cure." The lancet, 360. 9331 (2002): 473--482. Online.
Epstein, Leonard H, Constance C Gordy, Hollie A Raynor, Marlene Beddome, Colleen K Kilanowski and Rocco Paluch. "Increasing fruit and vegetable intake and decreasing fat and sugar intake in families at risk for childhood obesity." Obesity research, 9. 3 (2001): 171--178. Online.
Ludwig, David S, Karen E Peterson and Steven L Gortmaker. "Relation between consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks and childhood obesity: a prospective, observational analysis." The Lancet, 357. 9255 (2001): 505--508. Online.
Must, Aviva, Richard S Strauss and Others. "Risks and consequences of childhood and adolescent obesity." International journal of obesity and related metabolic disorders: journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity, 23. (1999): 2--11. Online.
Tremblay, Mark S and J Douglas Willms. "Is the Canadian childhood obesity epidemic related to physical inactivity?." International journal of obesity, 27. 9 (2003): 1100--1105. Online.
