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
.