Causes of Childhood Obesity; Parents and Prevention

Welcome: Causes of Childhood Obesity; Parents and Prevention
Description: One in three children and adolescents are suffering from obesity in the U.S. The National Institutes of Health estimate 300.000 deaths per year are a result of obesity. Obesity is the second most common cause of preventative deaths in the U.S. Childhood obesity is linked to the rise of premature deaths, particularly before age 55. Obesity most often starts in childhood and worsens into adulthood, causing heart disease, diabetes, heart attack, stroke, hypertension, cancer, and psychological disorders. The rapid increase in obesity is not the product of changing biology or genes; it is the product of an obesogenic environment that promotes inactivity and overeating. How did this happen? As a society, we have changed the types and quantities of food we eat, reduced physical activity, and engaged in more passive leisure-time pursuits (Johnson, 2012).
Grade Level: College / Adult
Curriculum: Science
Keywords: childhood obesity, inactivity, overeating
Author(s): Lauren Richardson