Obesity: The Silent Killer
The Real Threat to Children in America
Food has dominated our American society, and it definitely shows through the consumers. Each year, millions of people are affected by this deadly disease. Studies show that 60–70% of chronic illnesses are caused by obesity. Unlike other diseases, we know what causes obesity. By having the needed knowledge to cure this problem, we can drastically decrease the percentage of Americans who suffer from this illness. Specifically, the percentages of childhood obesity have tripled since 1970. If the eating patterns kids are adapting to continue, this nationwide problem will become uncontrollable.
Fast food has become part of the American daily routine. It’s a quick, cheap, and a “delicious” meal that kids love. It is the perfect counterpart to a busy life. However, it’s not surprising that six chicken nuggets, french fries, and a Sprite lack the basic nutrients that children need for proper growth and development. Jennifer Harris is an allied health science professor at the University of Connecticut. She states that “We know for children, on days that they consume fast food, they eat about 120 more calories that day. They also consume more sugar and sodium and fat on the days they eat fast food,” Increased levels of sugar and sodium can add unneeded fat to the body, and ultimately lead to heart disease and diabetes. Liji Thomas, M.D. talks about the missing nutrients in junk food. “Lack of vitamins such as A and C, and minerals such as magnesium and calcium, encourage the development of deficiency diseases and osteoporosis, as well as dental caries due to higher sugar intake.” Children are constantly in a state of development, so it is crucial they get the required vitamins and nutrients that come from fruits and vegetables. Fast food is not brain food!
The recent generation of kids has been bombarded with junk food. It’s no secret that unhealthy meals and snacks will affect the growth of children. A daily fried food, carb-filled dinner can leave detrimental results on a child’s health in the future; possibly even sooner. “An unbalanced diet fails in maintaining hemoglobin levels, leaving the child anemic,” says Dr. Jamshed Gulzar, who is a child specialist in Rawalpindi. Anemia leads to consistent feelings of fatigue. This condition could negatively affect schoolwork, and lessen the chances of proper exercise needed for a kid. Previously mentioned, obesity is an obvious result from an unhealthy lifestyle. Obesity adds unnecessary additional weight on the body and leads to joint problems. Once you are caught up in the trap of addictive junk food, the effects snowball on top of each other. Changing one’s eating habits are extremely difficult; food is a powerful manipulator. Once you escape the downward spiral of junk food and diabetes, the rewards are life saving!
To bring change in America’s childhood obesity percentages, people need to be made aware of the effects of the “normal” eating habits. Everyday citizens can have a strong impact if we put our voices together. Elementary, middle, high school, and universities can offer healthier, more delicious alternatives. The schools can inform students about the effects of consuming large amounts of junk food. The Millennial generation, currently ages 22–37, needs to be aware of the obesity epidemic in kids. These children are going to replace the Millennial group and will be the forefront of our country. If the Post- Millennial group, currently ages 0- 21, continues their habits in poor eating, the future of our country will not look strong. America is a country with a lot of influence. Let us use our powerful influence to make a positive impact on ending childhood obesity.
