GAZELLE MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2017 | Page 92

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Childhood Obesity on the Rise

By Vicki Bennington

Childhood obesity is a common health concern for parents in the United States .

In fact , one in three American children is overweight or obese . That is more than double the rate of childhood obesity 30 years ago . And it can cause shortterm and long-lasting negative effects – physically , psychologically and even socially .
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , obesity affects about 17 percent or 12.7 million children and adolescents .
September is designated as National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month in an effort to bring the growing problem to the attention of people of all ages across the nation , in the hopes of changing the contributing factors .
The Alliance for a Healthier Generation lists a number of causes as to why childhood obesity is increasing .
Television and Media Screen time takes away from the time that children spend being physically active , leading to increased snacking in front of the TV , and influencing children with advertisements for unhealthy foods .
Marketing of Unhealthy Foods Nearly half of U . S . middle and high schools allow advertising of less healthy foods , which impacts students ’ ability to make healthy food choices . Foods low in nutrients and high in calories , sugars , salt and fat are often advertised and marketed toward children and adolescents , while advertising for healthier foods is almost nonexistent in comparison .
Limited Access to Healthy Affordable Foods Some people have less access to stores and supermarkets that sell healthy , affordable food such as fruits and vegetables , especially in rural , low-income neighborhoods and communities . Supermarket access is associated with a reduced risk for obesity . Choosing healthy foods is difficult for parents who live in areas with an overabundance of unhealthy options like convenience stores and fast-food restaurants .
Lack of Daily Physical Activity Most adolescents fall short of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommendation of at least 60 minutes of aerobic physical activity each day . Daily physical education in school can help students meet the guidelines . However , in 2009 , only 33 percent of students had access to and attended daily physical education classes .
The AHG states that childhood obesity can lead to a number of serious health problems like :
Type 2 diabetes , which at one time was called adult-onset diabetes , is on the rise in children .
Asthma is increasing . Sometimes extra weight can make it harder to
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