Food and childhood obesity - Research Paper Example

? FAST FOOD AND CHILD OBESITY It has been examined by many renowned researchers that there is a close link between obesity and fast food. Many researches have been conducted through out the world by different organizations which came with similar conclusions that fast food and obesity are inter-linked with each other and continuous consumption of fast food could give rise to many diseases with its adverse effects on overall health in the long-run. Fast foods contain high calories, fats and carbohydrates that can cause obesity and other unhealthy symptoms on overall health. There is a need to create awareness in the minds of people that they should know about what they are consuming and what is the real meaning of a balanced and healthy diet. Similarly, we know that children are the biggest consumers of the fast foods therefore; it is the need of the hour that children should be fed with proper, healthy food that contains all the required nutrients and basic components needed for their growth and physical and mental development. With changing shift in lifestyles and attractive advertisements by fast food chains or restaurants, families and their children are becoming more inclined toward fast food which is a very unhealthy way of living. Therefore, parents should know that what they are adding to their child’s meal and how they can make their child adopt the healthy eating pattern without putting an extra weight and how they can contribute to creating awareness in the minds of their children related to the benefits of healthy and simple homemade food and disasters of fast food which is unhealthy for them. FAST FOOD AND THE CHILD OBESITY: Fast foods and child obesity are strongly linked with each other. Fast foods are considered as highly unhealthy and dangerous especially for growing children. It has been observed that children are the biggest consumers of the fast foods that make them “couch-potatoes” thus resulting in a high rate of obesity in children and making them mentally and physically low as compared to other children. They are also known as “Junk Foods” because they contain high calories, fats, starch and carbohydrates in large quantities which are harmful for health. Child obesity is becoming a growing problem in developed countries especially in United States. It has been found out by the researchers that almost one third of the children between 9-14 years of age eat fast foods on a regular basis with an average increase in their weight up to 6lbs per year which is giving rise to a grave situation related to healthcare in children < http://healthfood-guide.com/fastfoodeffectsonchildhoodobesity.aspx>. Child obesity can lead to a series of health complications in a child if this problem is not addressed with care and proper attention by the parents. It is imperative for the parents to know that fast foods are loaded with extra and large amounts of sugar, fats and carbohydrates which can cause diabetes, blockage of arteries and could result in heart attack in their children. These young children are less exposed to healthy and balanced diet, fruits and cereals as compared to burgers, pizzas and French fries. Malnutrition is another problem associated with these junk foods as percentage of such foods is much higher in an average child’s diet as compared to its parents. Majority of the parents are of the opinion that child obesity due to fast foods is the result of increased number of fast food restaurants and food chains that have left their deep impact on children from around the world through their heavy marketing and advertising on media. It is the duty of the parents to prevent the intake of junk foods from their child’s diet and should force them to eat healthy and balanced food that contains all the necessary nutrients required for their growth and development as well as that helps them to keep active and energetic rather making those children into couch-potatoes. Secondly, parents should also encourage their children to indulge themselves in various activities and exercises to maintain a healthy living and create awareness on the benefits of healthy food< http://www.weightlosswand.com/child-obesity/fast-food-consumption.html>. Effects of Fast Food on Children Fast foods contain higher amounts of fats, sugar and calories than other food; which makes them low on nutritional value. Fast food and childhood obesity are very strongly related with each other for the reason that they are highly popular in children and also because of the huge variety available on fast food menus. Both parents and their children are not very conscious of the following fast food facts. Sugar: High intake of sugar results in the development of type 2 diabetes. Children getting affected by diabetes at a very early age get a low or a complete stoppage of the production of insulin in their bodies which can be very harmful and alarming. Fats: Saturated fats in the fast food are really very harmful for a child’s health, which can lead to high levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) and triglycerides, thus resulting in many early- childhood problems related to heart and many other cardiovascular diseases. Salt: Extreme salt levels in fast food results in high blood pressure which causes damage to arteries and veins and it gets impossible for the body to repair these blood vessels because during the process of repairing these blood vessels the body builds up lipoprotein and converts it into cholesterol that results in high cholesterol level in the blood. Other Effects: It is a known fact the children during the phase of their growth, require a lot of vitamin and iron in their diet which can only be possible through a proper and well balanced diet. When talking about other effects on the health of children caused by fast foods it is important to know for the parents that high intake of fast food makes the children more open to various diseases like weight gain, constipation, tiredness, dull, lack of attention and diseases like anemia and other illnesses that are caused mainly due to the deficiency of several vitamins. These diseases are caused by high consumption of fast food and malnutrition. It has been observed that fast foods contain high concentrations of starch which increases the fast food cravings in the children thus making them eat more which results in them gaining more weight. This high consumption of fast food causes the healthy foods like vegetables, fruits and dairy products to almost disappear from the daily diet of the children which further results in more complications related to their overall health for example calcium deficiency can affect the health of nails, bones and teeth. . BAN ON MEDIA ADVERTISING OF FAST FOODS: It is necessary to put a ban on media advertising of fast foods that focuses mainly on children and increase the urge for junk food in them. This action would help parents and doctors to get a significant decrease in the percentage of obese children that are attracted by the media advertisement of such fast foods on television. Some countries including United States have taken a strong stance on such advertisements which has sponsored the children programs < http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/11/081119120149.htm>. CONCLUSION: It has been concluded from the above facts and figures that child obesity is directly linked with the high consumption of junk foods in children. Junk foods or fast foods contain a high percentage of unneeded food components that are not required by the body in heavy amounts as is contained by these foods. It is equally important for the parents to encourage their children to adopt a healthy lifestyle and to exercise daily. It is the duty of the parents that they should indulge their children in healthy activities that keep them active and energetic as well as parents should also make their kids to eat a healthy balanced diet which is very important for their growth, development and nourishment. Secondly, governments should take strong actions against television media advertising of these fast foods that attract children and compel them to eat these unhealthy foods. Child obesity is becoming an alarming dilemma all around the world, especially in the United States. It is very important for parents to educate their children on the benefits of a healthy and well balanced diet as well as they should provide guidelines to their younger ones on how to keep themselves fit and healthy, whereas on the other hand, parents should also limit the fast food diet of their kids because ignorance on this issue could result in more severe situation in the long run ultimately leading to obese children on the verge of health destruction and prone to various diseases. Therefore, this is the right time for the parents and children to adopt a natural healthy living for a better life. LIST OF REFERENCES: “FAST FOOD AND CHILD OBESITY”-< http://www.buzzle.com/articles/fast-food-and-child-obesity.html> viewed 10 May 2011. “FAST FOOD EFFECTS ON CHILDHOOD OBESITY”-< http://healthfood-guide.com/fastfoodeffectsonchildhoodobesity.aspx> viewed 10 May 2011. “FAST FOOD CONSUMPTION LEADS TO CHILD OBESITY”-< http://www.weightlosswand.com/child-obesity/fast-food-consumption.html> viewed 10 May 2011. “BAN ON FAST FOOD TV ADVERTISING WOULD REVERSE CHILDHOOD OBESITY TRENDS”-< http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/11/081119120149.htm> viewed 10 May 10, 2011. Image1 viewed 10 May 10, 2011. Image 2 viewed 10 May 2011. Read More