Child Obesity From Fast Food

Allow me to detail this topic. Take a couple of minutes from your time to read this paper.

In a report given by CBS News, they stated that nearly one-third of the children in the United States today between the ages of 4 and 19 eat fast food, this culprit contributes to packing on the pounds and resulting in a society that now has to deal with obesity in children.

It’s not surprising though, as billions of dollars are spent each year by the fast food industry on advertising directed specifically towards children. Consumption of fast food has increased five times over the last 35 years.

Studies have shown that the highest amount of fast foods were consumed by children who lived in families with higher incomes, older children, boys, children living in the south and blacks. The smallest amount of fast food consumption were found in children living in the West, Hispanics, rural areas, and children between the ages of 4 to 8 years, but it also showed 20% of children in this group did participate in the eating of fast food when they could.

Children who consume fast foods eat more sugar, fats, and carbohydrates as replacements for fruits and vegetables compared to children who do not eat fast foods at all. This results in consuming more than 167 calories daily, which in turn can add up to six extra pounds per year.

As the fast food restaurant industry increases, so does the consumption of fast food, resulting in higher consumptions of fast foods even as we speak.

Fast foods have a high energy density, which allows you to eat more by fooling your appetite, by the time your brain tells you you’re full, you’ve consumed more food and calories than your body really needs.

Studies have shown that an average of 15 percent of children that are overweight become one-third of the adult population that is dealing with obesity.

Breaking the fast food addiction is not as easy as you think. Everywhere you look you see fast food restaurants. Fast foods can also be found in the schools as well along with vending machines where students can get sodas and candies during breaks. It’s hard to break the habit. Fast foods are quick, easy, and convenient, not to mention they taste good too.

While some of the fast food restaurants are trying to incorporate healthy alternative into their meal selections by adding fruits, fruit juices, and yogurt as substitutes for French fries and sodas. It’s not always that easy to sway your children from that ¼ pounder with cheese, super-size French fries, chocolate shake, and sodas.

It’s hard to control what your child eats when they are out of your sight. Fortunately there are policies that are trying to be made to protect children from fast food overload, starting in the school systems.

By educating parents and children at school on the facts of proper nutrition and the results that can happen through poor eating habits, hopefully children today will be more equipped to make better choices in foods that they consume.

Copyright 2007-2009 Janice J. Sterling - All Rights Reserved

This article was written to provide you with knowledge about the subject I appreciate you taking your time to read it.

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