CHILDHOOD OBESITY: ARE WE KILLING OUR CHILDREN?By: Sally Grimes

STORY

Childhood obesity in America has become an epidemic over the recent decades. Nearly one in three children in the U.S. is considered obese. Growing up, I was always overweight compared to my peers, and I was often bullied and teased as a result. Unfortunately, I grew up in a lower income family and my mother could only afford cheaper foods. As a result, my diet consisted of many processed and packaged foods, rather than lean meats, fresh fruits and vegetables. I have made it my mission to learn as much as I can about this disease and to help children who may experiencing the same issues I had growing up. I am starting at home, making it fun for my son to pick out his favorite fruits and vegetables at the grocery store and finding fun ways to incorporate them in our meals together. We talk about the “fun for you” foods, which are the junk foods that we eat in moderation, and the “good for you” foods, which are the nutritious items that are the main staples of our diet. I also plan on becoming involved with my community, to help educate children and families on how to incorporate healthy foods into their diets in a fun and affordable way.

INTRODUCTION

Childhood obesity in America has become an epidemic over the recent decades. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines obesity as excessive storage of fat in the body which is greater than what is considered healthy for a person’s height and which could increase health problems. According to Centers, obesity now affects 17% of all children and adolescents in the United States - triple the rate from just one generation ago. The increase has been attributed to many factors including poor dietary habits and a lack of exercise. The issue of obesity is especially alarming because it affects all types of people, including those of different races, and socio-economic backgrounds. There are many steps that can be taken to live a healthy lifestyle. The current obesity epidemic affecting American children can be curtailed if more people become aware of its reasons, risks, and solutions.

CARTOON: WHERE IS OUR FUTURE HEADED? Nearly 1 in 3 children is

considered obese among ages 2-19.

Almost 40% of African-American and Hispanic children are overweight or obese.

U.S. ranks 20th in childhood obesity rates

PUBLIC ADVERTISEMENT

This advertisement provides an alternative perspective to parents of overweight children. Obesity is a more serious issue then they may realize, and can result in physical and emotional consequences for their children.

SPEECH:

This is a speech given by Michele Obama in which she discusses that childhood obesity isn’t just a individual issue, it is a national security threat

Michele Obama uses language like “threat to our national security” to grab the audiences attention. She becomes more relatable as a parent when she says, “..child hunger and child obesity are really two sides of the same coin, both rob our children of the energy, the strength and the stamina they need to succeed in school and in life and that in turn robs our country of so much of their promise..” Her speech gives the audience the feeling that she truly cares about the childhood obesity epidemic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyj34-ZJioY

SURVEY: “AMONG BAY AREA ADULTS: SHOULD FAST FOOD BE ALLOWED IN SCHOOLS?”

This supports the need for service outlined in Michele Obama’s speech because the adults of the Bay area who were surveyed are expressing that they don’t feel like fast food should be in schools.

REASONS FOR OBESITY

Lack of exercise Availability of junk food in school Sedentary lifestyle Lack of nutritional education Prevalence of processed foods Advertising

EFFECTS OF CHILDHOOD OBESITY Physically Socially Emotionally

PHYSICAL EFFECTS

High cholesterol High blood pressure Asthma Sleep apnea Type 2 Diabetes Nearly 16% of children ages 12 to 19 were shown to be pre-

diabetic.

SOCIALLY

Ostracized by peers Target for bullying 65% more likely to be

bullied than normal weight children

EMOTIONALLY• Surveys of overweight

children asked to rate their quality of life yielded results that were similar to young cancer patients receiving chemotherapy

• Depression• Anxiety• Low academics

performance• Of 6,250 elementary

children studied overweight children scored lower on tests

PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO HELP PREVENT CHILDHOOD OBESITY

• Federal government’s ban on junk food in school

• Michele Obama’s Lets move!

• NFL’s Play 60

BAN JUNK FOOD IN SCHOOLS

New Jersey participating Additional funding from

government to provide nutritional meals for children

Kids gained 2.2 pounds less after the ban

MICHELE OBAMA’S “LETS MOVE!” PROGRAM

• Nutritional education• Physical education• Increase the availability of fresh foods

in low income areas• Curb childhood obesity• 2,862 schools have now met the

HealthierUS School Challenge, surpassing the goals of this key component of her Let's Move! Initiative in the first 2 years of the program

GET INVOLVED WITH “LETS MOVE!” Take our Pledge Join a Let’s Move! Meet up in your area Join the partnership for a Healthier America preventobesity.net

NFL’S PLAY 60

Goals:• Encourages children to be

active for at least 60 minutes a day

• Reverse obesity

Get involved:• School programs

• Contests

• Community events

CONCLUSION

In a society where junk food in schools and restaurants have become readily available, and children have become increasingly sedentary, childhood obesity is quickly becoming the primary health concern for many Americans. Children who are overweight put themselves at a greater risk for various health issues, such as heart disease and diabetes. Many of these ailments are a direct result of poor nutrition and lack of exercise. However, there are countless resources available to assist in educating families, and to help prevent childhood obesity, such as Michele Obama’s Let’s Move! program. In addition, many states are implementing strategies to promote a healthier lifestyle. Until the necessary changes are made in regards to nutrition and physical activity, a preventable disease like childhood obesity will continue to affect many Americans.

BIBLIOGRAPHY American Heart Association. 15 Dec. 2011. Accessed 9 Dec. 2012.

http://www.heart.org/idc/groups/heart-public/@wcm/@sop/@smd/documents/downloadable/ucm_319588.pdf

Harris, Gardner. A Federal Effort to Push Junk Food Out of Schools. The New York Times. Accessed 10 Dec. 2012. 7 Feb. 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/08/health/nutrition/08junk.html?pagewanted=all

Lets Move! Accessed 9 Dec. 2012. http://www.letsmove.gov/learn-facts/epidemicchildhood-obesity

Lin, Joanna. Childhood obesity linked to poorer academic performance. The Bay Citizen. Accessed 10 Dec. 2012. 14 June 2012. http://www.baycitizen.org/health/story/study-links-childhood-obesity-poorer/

Marcus, Lauren. Childhood Obesity: The Effects on Physical and Mental Health. NYU Child Study Center. Accessed 9 Dec. 2012. http://www.aboutourkids.org/articles/childhood_obesity_effects_physical_mental_hea

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BIBLIOGRAPHYNational Heart and Blood Institute. 25 Oct. 2012. Accessed 9 Dec. 2012. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity/wecan/healthy-weight-basics/obesity.htm

“Obesity.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 13 Sept. 2011. Accessed 7 Dec. 2012. http://www.cdc.gov/obesity

Ranking America. 4 March 2010. Accessed 9 Dec. 2012. http://rankingamerica.wordpress.com/2010/03/04/the-u-s-ranks-20th-in- childhood-obesity-rates/

San Jose Mercury News/Kaiser Family Foundation. Accessed 10 Dec. 2012. http://www.kff.org/kaiserpolls/upload/Survey-on-Childhood-Obesity-Summary- and-Chartpack.pdf

USDA. 21 Nov. 2012. Accessed 9 Dec. 2012. http://www.fns.usda.gov/cga/pressreleases/2012/0049.htm