Child Obesity

Child Obesity Brad Benzing

04/06/05

Today in America there is a lot of obesity in kids. The obesity rates increase every year. Eating to much and not exercising enough is the reason that kids gain so much weight. It is estimated that 10% or 155 million children are obese and at least 30% are overweight. This child obesity is causing diabetes to the children. If that child gets diabetes before the age of 14 he/she is shorting there lifespan by 17 to 27 years. Some of the other reasons people believe that children are so obese is because of the physical educations classes in the United States. There is only one state and that is Illinois that requires a class of physical education every day for kindergarten through 12th grade.

Children are no longer walking or riding there bikes to school they are driving themselves or getting rides from the bus/parents. They spend anywhere from 25 to 35 hours watching T.V, playing video games, and sitting on the computer. It is estimated that 49 million Americans eat fast food everyday on a regular basis. 57% of parents that have obese children think that there kids are at a normal weight. Some recommendations for children so they don't become obese are cut back on juice drinks, pot and other high sugar drinks. Don't eat when your watching T.V. Children who eat in front of the T.V seem most likely to have bigger waists and be more obese. Parents should keep healthy foods in the house instead of junk food so the kids will eat more healthy stuff.

Another study shows that kids have higher blood pressure than before. It said when kids are under 3 years old they should not watch T.V because it causes them to eat more. I don't have to worry about any of this because I am if anything under weight and no one in my family is obese and I should stay fit when