The Weight of Our Children

    Children are the future of our nation. Their future of the United States will soon rest on their shoulders with our children becoming doctors, police officers, government officials, etc. However, given their current state, these children will not be suitable to run our country. Growing up, kids are usually allowed to eat whatever they want. Despite how unhealthy many kids snacks are, parents give into their kids and feed them more. Childhood weight issues is a serious problem in the United States and needs more attention to it.
    According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), obesity made up 19.7% of children whose age ranged from 2-19 and affected about 14.7 million adolescents from 2017-2020. As a result, health problems can develop leading to bone and joint problems and asthma. Children are also exposed to an increased risk for diabetes and other diseases as they age. While moderate obesity can reduce life expectancy by 3 years, severe obesity can reduce it by 10 years. Problems rise not only within the body but affect society as well causing discrimination, lower wages, lower quality of life and eventually depression.
    Obesity can be identified as a real issue, but how did the problem arise? Compared to decades ago, our children are less physically fit with less stamina and less strength. The reasoning behind the decline in physical activity is due to technological advancements. Many mainstream video games appeal to children and in turn are popular among them. Rather than playing outside getting exercise, kids stay inside and play video games on top of eating unhealthy snacks. In the past, kids could eat unhealthy foods but exercise to stay fit; however, poor diets paired with lack of physical activity has led to increased obesity in regards to children.
    The food industry is another factor to blame. They specifically produces snacks and advertisements to appeal to and target young children. The market cares on making as much money as possible and therefore lacks any regard for the health of society. Using toys, popular television shows, social media influencers and other various methods, fast food companies promote their food products to young audiences and take advantage of their incapability to consider long-term health consequences.
    There are many factors contributing to the nation's increase in obesity, but it is not too late to begin preventing further growth. Experts suggests parents to establish daily meals and eating together as frequently as possible. Children should have a healthy diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and low-fat or fat-free dairy. They should also participate in daily 60-minute physical activities during childhood as it reduces the risk of depression. Less sugar, reduced screen time and at least 8-10 hours of sleep helps as well.