Big Kids

Obese, as defined in the dictionary is: excessively fat. The excessively fat individual can be that due to his or her own wanting or truly because of medical reasons. The medical condition of obese is defined as: medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and/or increased health problems, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obesity). Other than it being a growing medical condition among Americans, it is majorly affecting the younger generation of Americans. The rate of obese children has gone up over the years.
The status of being over weight is figure out based on an individuals BMI (body mass index), which the persons height and weight are compared. “In 1999, 13% of children aged 6 to 11 years and 14% of adolescents aged 12 to 19 years in the United States were overweight. This prevalence has nearly tripled for adolescents in the past 2 decades.” (http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/topics/obesity/calltoaction/fact_adolescents.htm). Amazing how much of the younger children are already preparing themselves for a life filled with health problems, in the end shortening their life spans. We thought narcotics and such were the worst thing that could happen to our children, but the food that we are given is almost as bad in the long run. Due to this fast pace society we live in today, the best way to get a meal is to go through a drive thru and eat out of a paper bag. No one truly eats a healthy fulfilling meal any more. The choices now a days are either a taco from taco bell, greasy cheesy pizza from a pizza place, a burger made with meat from god only knows where and fries on the side dipped in nothing but pure fat oils. If parents truly loved their kids they would never allow their children to eat this way, but because they are too busy working that’s all they have the time to give/offer to their children. Another thing that the younger generation lacks is physical activity. Now days what do kids think as hanging out? To come over play video games, watch a movie or just watch TV. You never hear “ lets play a game of soccer, basket ball or go to the park and just walk” it is partly because of the technological advances we have as well as the safety rates have decreased over time as well. So basically the only treatment for obesity is to eat healthier and more physical activity in ones life.