Obesity has been a growing problem for adults in the United States for decades, but it is only recently that people are starting to take note of just how obese our children and teens have become. They now estimate that over 67% of the population is obese, with 33% of children also considered to be overweight or obese.
Obesity is one of the leading causes of morbidity, disability, discrimination, and employment problems. Bad eating habits are not the only culprit. Environment, attitudes to food, and genetic diseases that can predispose children to become overweight cannot be forgotten.
Diseases such as Bardet-Biedl syndrome and Prader-Willi syndrome are common in obese children, for example. Howver, for most children, the main culprit is overeating and a lack of exercise. School curriculums have all but cut gym in favor of more academic subjects without having to lengthen the school day, and most families park on the couch together and eat snacks rather than head to the park for games and activities that can help them all stay slim.
Many health educators, and medical professionals, from psychologists to medical doctors, hope that increased public awareness and preventive policies will eventually improve the situation. Professionals are treating this as a major public health concern that is threatening to damage our most precious resource, our children.
Introducing healthy play, better food choices, and recreation that promotes physical activity are all on the top of the list of ways to battle this epidemic, but everyone needs to get involved.
Having good role models in their parents, who will be prepared to take pro-active measures to keep their child on the right track, will be amongst the best ways to keep children slim and healthy. But with so many Americans overeight or obese, is this even possible?
Continued in Part 2
