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Francesca Roger
Massey/ENC1101
December 6,2015
Childhood Obesity
Obesity amongst children has increased over the past years which is leading to serious
health and social issues. There are many roots that has caused this endemic such as the
environmental structure, poor diets, and lack of physical activity. Our society has tried different
ways to alleviate the harsh damages this condition leaves behind but as the days goes by it seems
to get worse. Researchers found that childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and
quadrupled in adolescents in the past 30 years (usa.gov). This paper will deliberate the causes,
effects, and the variety of possible resolutions to childhood obesity.
The environmental structure can have a massive effect on what type of outcome a child
may have. Lowersocioeconomic status neighborhoods are at higher risk, as these communities
often have limited access to recreational facilities and food stores with healthful, affordable
optionsthough the neighborhoods themselves may be designed in ways that promote physically
active transportation (Rahman 51). Families with lower income usually have a greater
possibility to be overweight since they can only afford the cheaper value items. Fast food

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restaurants tend to be everyday meals for these families since thats really all they can manage to
pay for.
Additionally, fast food chains advertise to people who are financially insufficient creating
bad habits leading to obesity. A high density of fast-food restaurants, convenience stores, and
bars, along with concentrated media marketing, all promote unhealthful food choices and hinder
good nutrition (Rahman 51). Usually, the proportions of fast food places are larger but tend to
be more convenient because the difference between a small and large is merely one dollar. This
produces unhealthy propaganda leading consumers to a corrupt nutrition pattern.

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The core of obesity is bad nutrition and poor dieting generating the beginning stages of
threatening health conditions. Nearly half of U.S. middle and high schools allow advertising of
less healthy foods, which impacts students' ability to
make healthy food choices. In addition, foods high
in total calories, sugars, salt, and fat, and low in
nutrients are highly advertised and marketed through

Figure 1. This image is representing

how fast food chains target children,
eventually leading to childhood
obesity.

media targeted to children and adolescents, while

advertising for healthier foods is almost nonexistent
in comparison (cdc.gov). The advertisement on

junk food and fast food restaurants seem to get more promotion than healthy food that can
benefit us as humans. They mainly target children because theyre more vulnerable to get what
they want.
Parenting styles can also have an effect on this immense situation. Various failures on the
part of parents also played a significant role (e.g., parents obese, parents too busy to prepare
healthy home-cooked meals for their children, parents too busy to engage in recreation with their
children) (Hawkins 714). Usually, parents are so caught up with work they do not have enough
time to make a decent healthy meal for their families. To take the easy way out, they simply
order pizza or stop by a fast food chain around the corner and pick up dinner. These places

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purposely have many fast food restaurants in low income neighborhoods knowing exactly that
theyll always have costumers and will never go out of business.
Lack of physical activity refrains from burning fat and maintaining healthy. Highly
urbanized areas have led to diminished access to sporting activities and other means of physical
exercise. As there are no suitable walking and play areas, families living in inner city areas do
not send their children outside but prefer them to stay indoors playing on a computer or watching
television (Pigron 165). When living in certain areas there may not be a park nearby to exercise
or take a stroll because of the urbanization. This makes it difficult to uphold a healthy and active
lifestyle for certain people.
Furthermore, such as Pigron said Obese individuals are found more often in
communities with low economic structure and insufficient socialization/play areas as they do not
have an active lifestyle. In contrast, if there are walking areas and parks where physical activity
and exercises can be undertaken in the residential area of a child, it is easier for the child to lose
weight. This can take a toll on how the child can continue a stable form of physical activity on
the daily basis. Some areas may be too unsafe to walk around the corner considering high
criminal rates in the community.
Our society has come up with solutions that can possibly prevent and help obese children.
Teachers receive curriculum, training and equipment that outlines how to get the most out of

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each physical activity that their classes participate in. Emphasis is placed on proper nutrition for
students, as well as the positive effects activities have on academic performance (Sparkepe.org).
Schools are making an effort to prevent obesity amongst kids by making physical education
mandatory in all schooling. Teachers must also be correctly educated on the proper forms of
nutrition to educate the children about it.
Changes in school lunch has also played a big role in preventing this problem. Most
studies in this field have aimed to create an awareness of correct nutrition to the students as well
as to the school administration. Changes in school lunch programs have resulted in significant
improvements in diet and eating behavior (Pigron 166). Lunches have become more health
conscious along with a wide variety of nutritional food and wise alternatives to dessert. The first
lady herself has played a big act in keeping kids fit by promoting different campaigns that
advertise a healthy lifestyle for children and teens.
In conclusion, the source to this problem can be changed mainly by a societal approach
within our civilization. Studies on childhood obesity shows the significance of keeping childrens
health sustained throughout the early stages of adolescence. The health risks that come with
obesity at a young age will carry out into adulthood with further severe cases. This condition has
many different effects on people and society itself and should be taken into consideration of how
in depth this has changed humanity worldwide.

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Works Citied
"Childhood Obesity Causes & Consequences." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 19 June 2015. Web. 08 Dec. 2015
Davis, Sheila P., et al. "Childhood Obesity Reduction By School Based Programs." ABNF
Journal 13.6 (2002): 145. Academic Search Complete. Web. 30 Nov. 2015.
"Fast Food NOT the Cause of Childhood Obesity." Fast Food NOT the Cause of Childhood
Obesity. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Dec. 2015.
Hawkins, Katherine W., and Darren L. Linvill. "Public Health Framing Of News Regarding
Childhood Obesity In The United States." Health Communication 25.8 (2010): 709-717.
Academic Search Complete. Web. 30 Nov. 2015.

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Dr. Mollen, Art "Mollen Foundation Preventing Childhood Obesity." Mollen Foundation
Preventing Childhood Obesity RSS2. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2015.
Pirgon, zgr, and Nagehan Aslan. "The Role Of Urbanization In Childhood Obesity." Journal
Of Clinical Research In Pediatric Endocrinology 7.3 (2015): 163-167. Academic Search
Complete. Web. 30 Nov. 2015.
Rahman, Tamanna, Rachel A. Cushing, and Richard J. Jackson. "Contributions Of Built
Environment To Childhood Obesity." Mount Sinai Journal Of Medicine 78.1 (2011): 4957. Academic Search Complete. Web. 6 Dec. 2015.
Regan, Roland J., Jr. "Childhood Obesity: National Childhood Obesity Foundation (NCOF)."
Childhood Obesity: National Childhood Obesity Foundation (NCOF). N.p., n.d. Web. 30
Nov. 2015.
"SPARK Physical Education Curriculum." SPARK Research-Based PE Programs, Physical
Education Curriculum & More. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Dec. 2015.