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Brittany Martinez
Professor Aaron Tolbert
English 123
24 November 2015
Obesity in America’s Youth
One of the biggest epidemics our country is facing is youth-obesity. Approximately seventeen
percent (approximately thirteen million) of America's youth between the ages of two and nineteen are
obese (Childhood Obesity Facts). Adolescent obesity has been on a steady rise over the last three
decades in the U.S. and many other developing countries (Child Obesity). This is a cause very near and
dear to my heart because I struggled with obesity for most of my adult life.
Around thirty years ago people were living very active lifestyles as well as eating home cooked,
properly portioned and healthier foods. Kids were walking to school, played outside instead of inside
playing video games or watching television, eating of fast food was a rare occasion and snacking
between meals was an occasional treat. Now, kids live more sedentary lifestyles, staying inside to play
video games, watching more television which in turn shows several ads for sugary beverages and
unhealthy snacks, are less active at school because of budget cuts, eating fast food on a very regular
basis, and snacking up to three times a day is a necessity. One in five children has up to six snacks a
day (Let’s Move). This is laying a foundation for youth to continue their journey with obesity into adult
hood. To understand the impact of obesity and why we should prevent it, we have to look into how
people become obese and what keeps them obese. The first step is to look at youth obesity.
The primary factors for youth obesity are parental influence in unhealthy eating habits, schools
influences in unhealthy food choices, the amount of physical activities children partake in and genetics
(ASPE Childhood Obesity White Paper). Registered Dietician and International Food Information
Council Foundation Senior Vice President, Susan T. Borra, states, “Parents indicated that they have
tools to deal with other risk behaviors, such as drug use and sexual activity, but not over weight. They
also don’t see themselves as good role models” (Parents, Kids Don't Perceive Obesity as a Health
Problem, page 1). Studies have shown that obesity can be inherited. A child’s chances of being
overweight or obese are increased by twenty five percent if their parent or parents are overweight or
obese. The latest study from Stanford University has found that having overweight parents is the
biggest risk factor for childhood obesity (Childhood Obesity Facts). Though it’s not the easiest choice,
