Replied to Obesity in America

I definitely agree that America's Problem Obesity is a huge problem in America today.  The reason there are so many obese children is actually two fold.  One, they learn their eating habits at home.  If one eats high calorie meals which are also high in fat content and then sit on the couch and watch television or play on the computer, it is not hard to understand what the outcome will be.  If the parents continue to eat fast food and take their children to eat the same, then there will never be a change.  But first the parents have to be willing to do is to change their habits if they expect their children to do the same. 

Children learn by example, and what kind of example are we setting?  If the child started out their life eating more fruits and vegetables, and fewer snacks and fast food items then the problem would slowly start to resolve itself.  The other contribution to childhood obesity comes from too much television, too many video games, too much time on the computer and not many outdoor activities.  What ever happened to going outside to play ball, ride a bike or other out door activities with neighborhood friends after school?  It is a struggle as some families are trying to be more creative in their activities but are countered by the children stating that their friends are allowed to play video games, etc.  So it will take a greater effort on the parent’s part to plan family activities that are fun for everyone and still get the job done. 

Perhaps if the children see their parents doing more and eating correctly then it won’t be such a struggle to follow along.  Something definitely needs to be done, or the problem is only going to continue to increase, both for the children and the adults.