Over the last ten years, western societies have seen close to a 20% rise in the number of children who are overweight. This essay will discuss some reasons why this has occurred and examine the consequences of this worrying trend.
The main cause of this problem is poor diet. Over the last decade there has been a prolific increase in the number of fast food restaurants. For example, on nearly every high street there is a MacDonald’s, Kentucky Fried Chicken and Pizza Hut. The food in these places has been proven to be very unhealthy, and much of the advertising is targeted at children, thus ensuring that they constitute the bulk of the customers of these establishments. However, it is not only due to eating out, but also the type of diet many children have at home. A lot of food consumed is processed food, especially with regards to ready-made meals which are a quick and easy option for parents who are working hard.
The effects of this have been and will continue to be very serious. Firstly, there has been a large increase in health related diseases amongst children, especially diabetes. This debilitating illness means a child has to be injected with insulin for the rest of their life. Not only this, very overweight children often experience bullying from other children, which may affect their mental health. The negative stigma of being overweight may also affect self-esteem.
To sum up, it is evident that there are several causes of obesity amongst children, and a variety of negative effects. Society must ensure steps are taken to prevent this problem from deteriorating further. 
Over the last ten years, western societies have  
seen
 close to a 20% rise in the number of  
children
 who are overweight. This essay will discuss  
some
 reasons why this has occurred and examine the consequences of this worrying trend.
The main cause of this problem is poor diet. Over the last decade there has been a prolific increase in the number of  
fast
  food
 restaurants.  
For example
, on  
nearly
 every high street there is a MacDonald’s, Kentucky Fried Chicken and Pizza Hut. The  
food
 in these places has  
been proven
 to be  
very
 unhealthy, and much of the advertising  
is targeted
 at  
children
,  
thus
 ensuring that they constitute the bulk of the customers of these establishments.  
However
, it is not  
only
 due to eating out,  
but
  also
 the type of diet  
many
  children
 have at home.  
A lot of
  food
 consumed  
is processed
  food
,  
especially
  with regards to
 ready-made meals which are a quick and easy option for parents who are working  
hard
.
The effects of this have been and will continue to be  
very
 serious.  
Firstly
, there has been a large increase in health related diseases amongst  
children
,  
especially
 diabetes. This debilitating illness means a child  
has to
  be injected
 with insulin for the rest of their life. Not  
only
 this,  
very
 overweight  
children
  often
 experience bullying from other  
children
, which may affect their mental health. The  
negative
 stigma of being overweight may  
also
 affect self-esteem.
To sum up, it is evident that there are several causes of obesity amongst  
children
, and a variety of  
negative
 effects. Society  
must
 ensure steps  
are taken
 to  
prevent
 this problem from deteriorating  
further
. 
11Linking words, meeting the goal of 7 or more
11Repeated words, meeting the goal of 3 or fewer
1Mistakes