Obesity in Youth

Essay by malicious August 2004

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Obesity in Youth

Obesity in youth is an ever growing problem. Over a 20 year period it has tripled. Obesity in youth refers to overweight children or teenagers. There is no easy fix for this problem. Statistics show that 1 out of every 8 kids aged between six and nineteen are obese. Although the public may not realize, overweight kids are seriously jeopardizing their health, putting them at risk for heart disease, stroke, arthritis, and even certain kinds of cancer, in fact, it is the second leading preventable death next to smoking. There are a lot of eating disorders around that may increase the person's chance for obesity, though 80% of the time the reason behind obesity is eating incorrectly or lack of exercise. How healthy are you?

Scientists use a measure called Body Mass Index, or BMI, to take height as well as weight into account. A BMI of 25 or more is considered overweight and one of 30 or more reflects obesity.

Today we live in a fast paced society. With all the current technological advances in phones, cars, and electronics the world is always on the move. With society always on the move people need to eat quickly and for a good price. Hence the creation of the fast food chains such as McDonalds, KFC, or Hungry Jacks. With the creation of these restaurants came the convenient idea of the drive through. So now consumers don't even have to get out of their car to order food. They wait in their car for there super-sized burger, fries, and diet soft drink with the only energy burnt is by their foot pressing on the gas or brake.

Nowadays kids are just too lazy to make themselves a healthy meal or eat fruit, they want something straight...