| The rising prevalence of obesity in children has | | | | their children. Families eat prepared pre-packaged |
| become a concern of many people in this nation. | | | | dinners, which contain a lot of salt and fat. Studies |
| Public health officials are alarmed at the increase in | | | | show that in the past few years' milk consumption |
| the numbers of children who are becoming | | | | has declined, and the consumption of sugar |
| overweight or obese. These are due to many | | | | sweetened beverages are on the rise. Children are |
| causes, but it is believed that lack of physical activity | | | | just eating too many calories from the wrong source. |
| and unhealthy eating patterns are two of the main | | | | Physical Activity |
| causes. | | | | Children are not engaging in enough exercise in school |
| Diet | | | | or at home. In some schools physical education is not |
| Frequent snacking can contribute to obesity. Statistics | | | | offered during the school day. Some children hardly |
| show that billions of dollars are spent on snacks on a | | | | participate in neighborhood activities like skating, |
| daily basis. Vending machine dispensed drinks and | | | | skipping, running races etc. They spend their time |
| snacks have a tendency to have a high calorie count, | | | | doing stationary activities, such as using the |
| and these are made accessible to children in many | | | | computer, playing video games or watching television. |
| locations. In the home children are drinking too many | | | | It is a proven that children who watch the most |
| sugary drinks. With the rise in popularity of KFC and | | | | hours of television have the highest incidence of |
| McDonalds many meals are eaten away from home. | | | | obesity. When children are physically inactive, most of |
| Fast food is low in nutrition, and high on the calorie | | | | the unused energy in the body is stored as fat. |
| count. Studies have shown occasional consumption of | | | | If parents become more health conscious, prepare |
| fast food is not harmful. However if the majority of | | | | healthy food for their children, lessen the amount of |
| the meals consist of fast food, it can cause weight | | | | sugar in their diets, and give them opportunity to get |
| gain. Many mothers work outside the home, and do | | | | more physical exercise, they should retain their |
| not prepare well-balanced meals on a daily basis for | | | | normal weight. |