If You Read One Article about Childhood Obesity – Read this One

Why is There a Rise in Childhood Obesity?

There’s no one reason that childhood obesity has grown so significantly in the past decade, but there are several factors that contribute to this change. These factors include:

• Increase in Technology. Television, smart phones, tablets, computer and video games – all of these forms of technology have increased in the past decade and lead to more sedentary lifestyles. Children who get a lot of “screen time” tend to be less physically active, snack more often on less healthy foods, and are exposed more often to marketing for unhealthy foods. This sedentary lifestyle is directly related to obesity and heart disease.
• Increased Marketing for Unhealthy Food. Many middle school and high schools in the U.S. allow marketing for unhealthy foods. Unhealthy foods are also marketed towards children and adolescents using fun mascots and child-centered language.
• Lack of Physical Activity. Only 33 percent of children have access to physical education classes and only 21 percent of adolescents in 9-12th grade are active for 60 minutes a day, which is the recommended amount for children and adults by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
• Change in Eating Habits. Over the past two decades, portion sizes have grown substantially with large sizes becoming normal. Plates and cups are larger and large portions are expected at restaurants. Sugary drinks are more highly consumed than before. In fact, one fifth of teens consume an extra meal’s worth of calories daily in just sugary drinks alone.