Argumentative Essay

Li 1
Jacky Li Ms. Weiss College Preparatory Writing December 5th 2014

Childhood Obesity
Child Obesity is a condition where extra body fat affects a child's health and wellbeing negatively. Determining body fat directly is difficult, the diagnosis of obesity is usually based on Body Mass Index (BMI). Due to the rise in obesity in children and its many adverse health effects it is being recognized as a serious public health concern. Who is to blame for this problem that has affected us as an society for almost over century? Is fast food industry the ones to blame for this whole mess, or is childhood obesity the parent’s fault for not being careful enough of what they are exposing their kids to at a very young age. The normal range for BMI in children vary with age and sex. While a BMI above the 85th percentile is defined as overweight, a BMI greater than or equal to the 95th percentile is defined as obesity by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It has published tables for determining this in children. The US Preventive
Service Task Force reported that not all children with a high BMI need to lose weight though.
High BMI can identify as possible weight problem, but doesn’t determine differences between fat or lean tissue. Regardless, fast food is not to blame for childhood obesity, poor eating habits in childrens home are. Parents are the ones to be blamed because they are the ones who are deciding what to put in their kids mouth.

Li 2
With more than 42 million overweight children around the world, childhood obesity is increasing worldwide. Although the rate of childhood obesity in the United States has stopped increasing, the current rate remains high and as a parent of a child there should be concerns regarding to these high numbers. In 2010, 32.6 percent of 6 to 11yearolds were overweight, and 18 percent of 6 to 9yearolds were obese. The greatest risk factor for a child to become obese is the obesity of both parents. This may be reflected by the family's environment and genetics. Kids are more appeal to things they think taste good, but often forgets or in some cases do not know what is healthy for them. So as parents, what is healthy and unhealthy should be taught to the kids at a young age so they can develop a habit of not eating the unhealthy foods. A
2010 review stated that childhood obesity likely is the result of society with easy access to energy dense cheap foods and less energy requirements in daily life. Childhood obesity is often the result of an exchange between many genetic and environmental factors. Over 200 genes affect weight by determining activity level, food preferences, body type, and metabolism. The first problems to occur in obese children are usually emotional or psychological. Childhood obesity can also lead to lifethreatening conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, sleep problems, cancer, and other disorders. These conditions should not be occurring to a seventeen and eighteen years old kids. Schools also should play a large role in preventing childhood obesity by providing a safe and supporting environment with policies and practices that support healthy behaviors. At home, parents should help prevent their children from becoming overweight by changing the way the family eats and exercises together. The best way children learn is by example, so parents need to lead by example by living a healthy lifestyle.
Being Physically inactive as a child could lead to being physically inactive as an adult. In a

Li 3 fitness survey of 6,000 adults, researchers discovered that 25% of those who were considered active at ages 14 to 19 were also active adults, compared to 2% of those who were inactive at ages 14 to 19, who were now said to be active adults. Staying physically inactive leaves unused energy in the body, most of which is stored as fat. Researchers studied 16 men over a 14 day

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