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Weston Wrzesinski Synthesis Paper English Composition 101 Childhood obesity has developed into a major health issue

in the US. Poor eating habits have slowly been integrated into the American diet since the invention of fast food in the 50s. The upbeat rhythm of the lifestyles of American children in the modern day makes buying fast food and processed foods extremely convenient. In addition, school lunch programs do not often present the best circumstances or health information for children to develop good dietary habits. Another aspect of root causes of obesity focuses on parental practices towards family eating. This is usually influenced by several factors, namely the cost of various types of food, fast food advertising methods, and most importantly the eating habits of the parents themselves. Not only fast food, but the habits developed in the household towards nutritional discipline also antagonize the issue of childhood health problems caused by sedentary lifestyle. Debate over the causes and solutions to obesity issues continue today. The health status of a parent can have significant effects

on the health related habits of the child. A study from The Annals of Behavioral Medicine describes a few of these effects. The study, taken from 368 samples of parent and child groups, clearly illustrates that poor meal practices of parents, particularly obese parents, are emulated by their children. Not only are obese parents more likely to raise obese children, but they are also more likely in incurring higher rates of depression alongside members of their family. Obesity brings on a plethora of other problems (not all of which are physical). for example, obese children often have noticeable insecurities and issues with social development in school scenarios. Adults that have unhealthy eating habits also tend to approach parenting with less discipline and concern for health than healthy adults. Poor food habits can arguably also stem from household financial situations. The cost of buying fresh food and preparing it in the home for a family just doesnt compare to purchasing fast food, which has a lower cost due to marginalized production. Furthermore, parents who are busy with work all day may find it difficult to make time to cook. In low income urban areas, where these problems characterize what most of the population experiences, there is also the growing issue of food deserts. Addressed in his article Farmer In Chief, Michael Pollan describes food deserts as areas in which fresh, healthy

food is not even available for people to buy and eat in their neighborhoods. Allowing children to feed from a bottle after age two can be devastatingly harmful to their health. Studies show that not only does bottle feeding cause tooth decay after age one, but it also shows that children who bottle feed at, or after, age two are much more likely to be obese by age five. Almost 23% of children who remain bottle fed after age two are obese at age five. It isn't harmful in any way to drop the bottle by one, and most certainly 18 months, as a child can receive their proper nutrition without it. We still digest calories when we drink, but it doesn't fill up the stomach like food does. Jennifer Shu, a pediatrician from Atlanta says, It's so easy to drink the calories, but people often are still going to eat the same amount of food. In the words of Kathleen Barker of Buffalo News, The same strategy that created pariahs out of smokers now is being aimed at people who eat unattractively. Her article, entitled Eat, drink and watch out, strongly emphasizes the lack of willpower associated with bad eating habits. Government intervention can have an influence on the way we eat, and regulating nutrition can be very important to create a healthful society. However, the absence of personal willpower is the key difference in todays society in relation with childhood obesity. The apparent

lack of household rules created by parents to maintain nutritional soundness, is the number one cause of kids being overweight. The household habits created by parents encourages the weak willpower. As Barker says, As with most problems, the solution is family. It is fair to say that the causes and influences of childhood obesity are numerous, but the solution is nearly always the same. A high sense of value in ones health and the ability to create the discipline necessary to maintain a healthy lifestyle is important. As we move forward in our modern age, it is apparent that harboring a sedentary lifestyle creates not only unhealthy habits for oneself, but also for the children of that individual. The availability of fattening food, and the ingredients required to integrate food into our society to allow such easy access, helps attribute to the obesity of our youth. To end childhood obesity, the answer is very clear. Where hard work can gain success, it can also attribute to the hard work of others, namely the ones we raise who can learn the most from us.

Bibliography

Eat, drink and watch out Kathleen Parker. Buffalo News. Buffalo, N.Y.: May 24, 2011. pg. A.7

Examining the Relationships Between Family Meal Practices, Family Stressors, and the Weight of Youth in the Family Leslie A Lytle, Mary O Hearst, Jayne Fulkerson, David M Murray, et al. Annals of Behavioral Medicine. Mahwah: Jun 2011. Vol. 41, Iss. 3; pg. 353

Pollan, Michael. "The Food Issue - An Open Letter to the Next Farmer in Chief - Michael Pollan - NYTimes.com." The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia. 25 May 2011. Web. 25 May 2011. <http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/12/magazine/12policy-t.html>.

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