Fast Food and Childhood Obesity

Recently the childhood obesity has taken a form of endemic in the United States. Rate of childhood obesity has increased by five fold from 1970s to the present time. Consumption of food rich in calories and fats are the major culprits for this growing trend in the childhood obesity. A major component of this increase calorie intake by children comes from consumption of fast food.

In 1970s fast food constituted only 2 percent of the daily meal of a child and by mid 1990s this has increased to 10 of the daily meal of our youngsters. These days 1 tenth of our young children aged between 2 and 5 years and 15% of children between ages 6 and 19 are overweight.

A recent study conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture looked at the food intake data of young children in the United States. These researchers analyzed information from 6,212 school kids with ages ranging from four to 19 years. The study discovered that young children who ate quickly food consumed drastically greater number of calories compared to those youngsters who did not consume fast food. They found that those youngsters who ate quickly food had considerably higher consumption of fat, saturated fat, and carbohydrates. Also those kids who consumed quickly food added far more sugar to their meals, drank a lot more of sweetened beverages and ate much less milk, fiber and vegetables.

This study has shown that consumption of fast food on a regular basis does not provide the necessary nutrients and had much more fat, and calories. Lack of essential nutrients could have a negative effect on the kids specifically at the growing years. Consumption of excessive calories, unless balanced by physical activity would lead to increased body fat and obesity. Growing trend towards consumption of quickly food is a significant contributor to childhood overweight and obesity.

Parents and teachers of kids need to make each and every effort to make our kids recognize the dangers of quickly food. They ought to be briefed about the negative health implications of quick food consumption. The parents really should value nutrition and make healthy diet plan a family priority therefore passing the great message to kids.

In 1970s young children spent a lot time in outdoor activities. In our modern lives youngsters do not get as a lot physical activity they ought to be finding. Our kids invest a lot more time on the computers, tv and video games. Our youngsters and youth do not eat healthy meals and do not meet recommended levels of physical activity. Higher emphasis on very good nutrition, avoidance of quickly food and increased physical activity are the corner stones of a healthy childhood. Each parent and teacher ought to contribute toward the goal of bringing up our kids healthy.