Growing Health Epidemic Childhood Obesity - 1258 Words

Children in America are now facing a growing health epidemic: childhood obesity. As many as 1 out of 6 children are now considered obese, and the number is expected to grow. In fact, if current trends progress, the generation born after 2000 will be the first generation that will be unhealthier than their parents. Along with health risks, the cost of care for the increasing obesity cases is estimated to cost $78 billion in medical expenses (Spradlin 2015). With an increase of obesity and related illnesses, more research is being done to evaluate what is different about the new generation’s lifestyles that have caused such a negative effect on their health. While there is an emphasis being placed on home habits and nutrition, many health†¦show more content†¦This can encompass multiple factors, but the largest factor are a lack of exercise and poor nutrition. Children are now spending more time playing video games, and watching television, both of which drastically in crease their sedentary time. Their lack of exercise at home could also be from the fact that for many families, including low income families in poorer neighborhoods don’t have avvess to safe or desirable physical activity locations. In addition, children are also consuming more processed, saturated foods, which not only affects their weight, but also their healthy development. This is in part to families being unaware of the health risks, and because children are often more exposed to unhealthier foods through advertisements according to the CDC. It is well known that children are often do not have the ability to choose their diet, not do they have the knowledge to fully grasp the negative consequences of their sedentary lifestyle. With so many factors contributing to young student’s lifestyle, it is easy to understand how the childhood obesity crisis quickly came about. Unhealthy foods at school Meals at school make up a large portion of a child’s dietary intake, anywhere from one third to one half of their calorie intake happens at school according to Schanzenbach. Changes in school lunch have indeed changed over the years, but to what degree has it affected childrens health? In a study conducted by Schazenbach,