How has childhood obesity increased over the past ten years?
Over the past ten years childhood obesity has increased. There are many different reasons why it has increased but the two main reasons Shape it Up believe led to the big increase is because the wrong food choices were made and the development of technology.
In todays society children are being more exposed to unhealthy foods such as fast food restaurants, vending machines and school canteens. Foods that are found in these places are very high in fat and sugar. Children love eating these types of food instead of consuming healthier options especially when their parents aren't around to stop them. Some children may not understand what these types of foods can do to them so it is the responsibility of the parents to make sure their children are not consuming more unhealthy foods than healthy foods. Moreover parents in todays society are very busy due to work and do not have time to prepare healthy home cooked meals therefore they purchase prepared meals such as fast food and frozen foods that are not healthy. In todays society the cost of food has gone down which allows people to spend more money on purchasing foods and some of these foods are considered unhealthy. Some parents do not have a choice and see it as being convenient for them. Furthermore children that do lots of physical activity will need to consume the food groups that are high in energy such as carbohydrates and fats. This is because the energy will be used and will be burnt off. Other children that are not as physically active will need to consume less of these food groups as it will store as fat. This is another reason that has contributed to childhood obesity. Some children and parents are unaware of this. Parents need to make sure their child is consuming the correct amount of each food group that is suited for their level of physical activity.
In todays society children are being more exposed to unhealthy foods such as fast food restaurants, vending machines and school canteens. Foods that are found in these places are very high in fat and sugar. Children love eating these types of food instead of consuming healthier options especially when their parents aren't around to stop them. Some children may not understand what these types of foods can do to them so it is the responsibility of the parents to make sure their children are not consuming more unhealthy foods than healthy foods. Moreover parents in todays society are very busy due to work and do not have time to prepare healthy home cooked meals therefore they purchase prepared meals such as fast food and frozen foods that are not healthy. In todays society the cost of food has gone down which allows people to spend more money on purchasing foods and some of these foods are considered unhealthy. Some parents do not have a choice and see it as being convenient for them. Furthermore children that do lots of physical activity will need to consume the food groups that are high in energy such as carbohydrates and fats. This is because the energy will be used and will be burnt off. Other children that are not as physically active will need to consume less of these food groups as it will store as fat. This is another reason that has contributed to childhood obesity. Some children and parents are unaware of this. Parents need to make sure their child is consuming the correct amount of each food group that is suited for their level of physical activity.
The other factor that has made a contribution to childhood obesity is the development of electronic entertainment devices such as televisions, computers and game consoles. Many years ago children did not have access to many of these resources and made their fun by playing outside in the fresh air where physical activity was completed. In todays world technology continues to develop and children are now being brought up with these resources which are making them lazy. Children have access to entertainment in their homes by watching their favourite shows on t.v's, playing online games on computers and also playing on game consoles such as xbox, playstation and wii. Children can get addicted to these resources which gives them no interest to do anything else. They would rather stay indoors where they can be entertained by electronic devices rather then going outside and playing which would benefit their health and body. When children consume food it needs to be burnt off, children that play outside will be able to burn it off and no weight will be gained, other children that have no interest to exercise and would rather stay inside with their electronic devices will gain lots of weight as none of their food is being burnt off which leads to childhood obesity.