Obesity In Children
In 2003-2004 a survey from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey indicates 17% of children and adolescent ages between 2 and 19 are over weight. The following statistics are obtained as below. The children (2-5 years) who are overweight rose from 7.2% to 13.9%. For 6-11 years overweight children increased from 11% to 19%. For 12-19 years the statistics show an increase from 11% to 17%.
One of the deadly diseases in our society is obesity and these frightening statistics provide evidence that our children are very unhealthy. Many states are implementing actions to reduce obesity such as banning trans fat, but children do not have a proper nutritional diet and still consume vast amounts of fast food and sugary snacks.
Kids today don’t get enough exercise because they spend too much time watching TV, surfing the Internet, or playing video games. TV advertisements focus on children and teenagers, taunting them with images of fast food. Despite this, our children’s health poses more risks than ours.
Two of the most significant factors contributing to obesity among children are having overweight parents, or families who lead a sedentary lifestyle. Studies seem to indicate that children who have a problem with obesity may be influenced by genetic factors which cause them to have a greater body mass. Recently, the hypothalamus gland has been linked to obesity in children and adults. Studies to limit and cure obesity are ongoing.
The country with the highest obesity is the U.S.A. Japan’s diet of high fiber and lean meat makes obesity almost unheard of. Obesity can cause you to lose your life. It is the foremost reason for heart disease among both kids and grown ups.
You may know that life expectancy is increasing. In contradiction, a recent survey revealed that 77.5 is the average life expectancy while other countries have higher life expectancy rates. Our rank is around the 20th position. This tells us a lot about our lifestyle, and how we value our nutrition as well.
Your children are very important and being overweight is a serious risk to their health. Rise in diabetes, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and other chronic illnesses are a direct cause of obesity in children, pediatricians are very concerned about this epidemic. Obesity is a social problem as well as a health problem. Portion control is a recommended action for overweight children in addition to exercise activity.
It is our sincere wish that our children have a healthy lifestyle that allows them to live a very long time.
