Child Obesity

Childhood obesity is an epidemic in America. What is the relationship of poor nutrition and childhood obesity to disease? Based on the information in the Week Five NGS video, "Teen Obesity and Exercise," what role does exercise play, if any, in combating childhood obesity? What is the role of government, if any, to prevent this epidemic? Provide a rationale for your answer.

Poor nutrition may lead to medical problems in adulthood for children who suffer from obesity. Children that have a poor diet that consist of huge amounts of sugar saturated fat, and cholesterol, it might alter the method the way the body responds to the glucose that is existing in the bloodstream. In a healthy body, insulin is released into the blood to break down the sugar in the bloodstream. Due to a poor diet or obesity, the body may possibly stop reacting to the insulin, which in turn might produce type 2 diabetes. Consuming foods that are high in cholesterol and saturated fat may place a child at risk for high blood cholesterol, and high blood pressure both of which can cause heart disease later on in life. If a child consumes food that contains a great deal of bad cholesterol, or low-density lipoprotein, it might build up and harden in the arteries. Merging high blood pressure with high cholesterol can be a disastrous combination, since it intensifies the danger of a stroke and heart attack. Children who are overweight might have a bigger risk of dying at around age 55 or younger. Children that are overweight may have breathing difficulties and lung problems. Because of the pressure and extra weight on the airways and lungs, obesity can hinder the child's ability to breathe effectively. Obesity can also put a child at risk for sleep apnea, where the breathing is irregular and might even stop occasionally while sleeping.

The government can begin with targeting obesity in the school settings. This can be done by eliminating vending machines that sell unhealthy foods and soda machines, such as Coke and Pepsi products. This will impact the vendors. However, there are much more healthy items that can continue to be sold in vending machines, for example: baked and sun dried potato chips, Fig Newton's, and granola bars. Healthier foods offered in school cafeterias should also be provided with low calories, sodium, carbohydrates, which are a major cause of unwanted weight gain, and sugars. Children between one and three years old need 1,200 calories a day. Children between the age of three and five need 1,500 calories a day. And children that are between the age of five and thirteen need 1,900 calories per day. Teenagers need the most, 2,300 calories per day according to the recommended daily intake pyramid. The government can also target obesity in the school settings by encouraging schools to provide students with plenty of time for recess. At least 20 minutes of recess allows children to run around and play freely, opposed to be in their