Child obesity has become a serious
problem in the United States and is growing. According to Stanford Hospital
& Clinics, “obesity rates among children in the U.S. have doubled since
1980.” DOUBLED. This disease is clearly a concern in our country and while there
have been many attempts to prevent the progress of the problem, it still
remains an issue. To aid in preventing and combating childhood obesity, it is
critical that we take steps to take care of our bodies by eating healthy diets
AND exercising; one is simply not enough.
Eating a healthy diet is key in the fight against obesity and also necessary in staying healthy in general. Lee Fulkerson’s documentary, Forks over Knives, follows individuals who replace their poor diets with a healthy one consisting largely of fruits and vegetables. The documentary shows that those who began to eat healthy foods not only lost weight, but saw significant reversal in disease and other health-related issues. It is imperative that people make an effort to consume a healthy diet because it could save your life, as well as your children’s lives. According to the Center for Disease Control, obesity causes a myriad of consequences including coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. Many diseases and problems follow obesity, but eating a healthy diet can prevent them.
Telling others to make the healthy choice and place the right foods on the dining room table is all good and well, but following through with it is harder than it seems. The reality is that junk foods cost far less than their healthy alternatives and are far more readily available to consumers. Overall, most unhealthy foods look more appealing to the common consumer. However, the long-term benefits of choosing the healthier, though slightly more expensive and less sweet, foods outweigh the shallow benefits of the cheap bag of chips or tray of cookies. In an interview by Dr. Hetal B. Gore, it is explained that eating healthy foods like fruits and vegetables can help you to lose weight and actually reverse chronic diseases, like diabetes, that can be results of obesity.
A healthy diet is certainly important, but it is simply not enough. It must be consumed in conjunction with a consistent exercise routine. One of the main reasons for obesity in adolescents is an absence of physical activity. Simple things like walking to school or to the grocery store can constitute physical activity and are helpful. If you cut back on some of the hours spent watching TV, playing video games, or using other electronics and replace them with an hour or two of exercise, then you’re already on your way.
While yes, schools already do have physical education and exercise programs to help promote physical activity and healthy living, research shows that these programs aren't sufficient. A study by University of Georgia professor Bryan McCullick shows “only six states nationwide require the recommended 150 minutes of elementary school-based physical education.” Instituting more vigorous exercise programs in schools would help resolve this problem. If schools expanded and intensified their P.E. programs, then obesity could potentially be significantly decreased among children and teenagers.
Child obesity is a pressing issue here in our country, but the good thing is that it can be prevented. Through a combination of healthy eating and exercise, we can all maintain a healthy and balanced lifestyle. Although it is not always easy to do so, at the end of the day it is more beneficial if you eat healthily and incorporate physical activity into your life. It is your choice to make. Will you choose the right one?
Eating a healthy diet is key in the fight against obesity and also necessary in staying healthy in general. Lee Fulkerson’s documentary, Forks over Knives, follows individuals who replace their poor diets with a healthy one consisting largely of fruits and vegetables. The documentary shows that those who began to eat healthy foods not only lost weight, but saw significant reversal in disease and other health-related issues. It is imperative that people make an effort to consume a healthy diet because it could save your life, as well as your children’s lives. According to the Center for Disease Control, obesity causes a myriad of consequences including coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. Many diseases and problems follow obesity, but eating a healthy diet can prevent them.
Telling others to make the healthy choice and place the right foods on the dining room table is all good and well, but following through with it is harder than it seems. The reality is that junk foods cost far less than their healthy alternatives and are far more readily available to consumers. Overall, most unhealthy foods look more appealing to the common consumer. However, the long-term benefits of choosing the healthier, though slightly more expensive and less sweet, foods outweigh the shallow benefits of the cheap bag of chips or tray of cookies. In an interview by Dr. Hetal B. Gore, it is explained that eating healthy foods like fruits and vegetables can help you to lose weight and actually reverse chronic diseases, like diabetes, that can be results of obesity.
A healthy diet is certainly important, but it is simply not enough. It must be consumed in conjunction with a consistent exercise routine. One of the main reasons for obesity in adolescents is an absence of physical activity. Simple things like walking to school or to the grocery store can constitute physical activity and are helpful. If you cut back on some of the hours spent watching TV, playing video games, or using other electronics and replace them with an hour or two of exercise, then you’re already on your way.
While yes, schools already do have physical education and exercise programs to help promote physical activity and healthy living, research shows that these programs aren't sufficient. A study by University of Georgia professor Bryan McCullick shows “only six states nationwide require the recommended 150 minutes of elementary school-based physical education.” Instituting more vigorous exercise programs in schools would help resolve this problem. If schools expanded and intensified their P.E. programs, then obesity could potentially be significantly decreased among children and teenagers.
Child obesity is a pressing issue here in our country, but the good thing is that it can be prevented. Through a combination of healthy eating and exercise, we can all maintain a healthy and balanced lifestyle. Although it is not always easy to do so, at the end of the day it is more beneficial if you eat healthily and incorporate physical activity into your life. It is your choice to make. Will you choose the right one?
Bibliography:
Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention. "Causes and Consequences." Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 27 Apr. 2012. Web. 15 Dec. 2013.
Fulkerson, Lee, dir. Forks Over Knives. Monica Beach
Media, 2011. DVD. 21 Jun 2013.
Gore, Dr. Hetal B."Healthy Living Thru Plant Based
Diet." Interview by Dr. Hetal B. Gore, M.D. YouTube.
N.p. 24 Apr. 2013. Web 19 June 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBquiUyL9Ks>
N.p. 24 Apr. 2013. Web 19 June 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBquiUyL9Ks>
Kuczynski-Brown,
Alex. "Physical Education Programs In School Not Enough To Combat Obesity
In Most States: Study." The Huffington Post.
TheHuffingtonPost.com, 09 July 2012. Web. 5 Dec. 2013.
Stanford.
"How to Prevent Obesity." - Stanford Hospital & Clinics. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Dec. 2013. 
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