Nydia Gonzalez (FGCU) Childhood Obesity

Childhood obesity is an ongoing epidemic in the United States with many consequences that often continue into adulthood. An important factor in controlling the childhood obesity epidemic is to implement prevention programs and for society to have a better understanding of treatments for children. Childhood obesity refers to both children and adolescents. Generally between the ages of six and seventeen. There are numerous factors that contribute to childhood obesity, some can be monitored and others such as thyroid problems are sometimes undetectable.  According to the American Obesity Association some of the factors of childhood obesity that can be monitored include physical activity, and inactive behavior. An unchangeable cause could be genetics. Education of what causes obesity and how to live a healthy lifestyle are imperative to prevention of childhood obesity. Teaching healthy behaviors at a young age is the best time to begin preventing childhood obesity. As you get older it becomes more difficult to change your habits such as physical activity and nutrition. Eating healthy and staying active should be taught and reinforced often, at both home and in schools.

This entry was posted on 28. April 2009 at 23:17 and is filed under Social Problems. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.