WHAT SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT CHILDHOOD OBESITY

What Should Be Done About Childhood Obesity

What Should Be Done About Childhood Obesity

The growing obesity rate in American children is a serious problem that needs to be recognized . In to address and begin solving the problem of childhood obesity the government needs to begin taking steps that will influence parents or guardians and educators . By closely monitoring the advertising and labeling of foods , the government can begin to make progress . Through promotional campaigns the government can encourage parents to act as role models . The government will also need to

enforce public school systems to overhaul their food services and recreational facilities

The government and its agencies , such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA ) and Center for Disease Control (CDC , are the primary element in solving the childhood obesity problem . According to an article published by News Target

According to Dr . Robert Lustig , it is unfair to entirely blame the U .S population -- two-thirds of which is overweight -- when the cookies potato chips , yogurts , white breads and other processed foods that make up most of America 's HYPERLINK "http /www .newstarget .com /food_supply .html " food supply are packed with HYPERLINK "http /www .newstarget .com /sugars .html " sugars that fool the body into thinking it is hungry , even after food has been consumed (Adams , 2006

According to this article , individual food choices are not to blame due to the food supply provided . The government agencies are responsible for ensuring the foods supplied and effects on health therefore , a stronger role needs to be taken by these agencies in educating on the effects of eating unhealthy foods on a daily basis . The American Obesity Association has also found that economic status could also be the cause of obesity in the household . These families have a limited income therefore , they are more prone to purchase convenience foods due the expense is lower

Exercise , along with a healthy diet , plays a vital role in weight management . As kids spend more time in front of television , computer and video screens , their physical activity levels have decreased . And their body weights have increased (Torgan , 2002 . The American youth is attracted to visual media , in other words television , video games and the internet . This sedentary lifestyle promotes these three effects , which lead to obesity : (1 ) displacement of physical activity (2 ) increased calorie consumption while watching or caused by the effects of advertising , and (3 ) reduced resting metabolism (National Library of Medicine [NLM] , 2001

The government currently sponsors the Presidents Council for Physical Fitness however , information on the program is only available through their internet site and handouts at schools . Economic status of a household may also be a cause of lower activity levels . There has also been a website designed by the CDC called Verb Now , which promotes children to build an animated character that completes different activities . The idea is good however , while the child is playing with the animated character they should be exercising their own body instead Most...