Teen Obesity In High Schools

Words: 883
Pages: 4

If one were to compare the weights of teenager today in comparison to a teenager 40 years ago, the differences would be astonishing. In the present, teen obesity has grown to become a problem bigger than it has been the past. Teenagers are not exercising as much, the consumption of junk food is growing intensely and lastly, schools are failing to remove unhealthy options from their cafeteria menus. As a result, there needs to be action. America’s high schools need to help fight against teen obesity as it lowers a student’s performance in school, endangers an individual’s health, and decreases one’s confidence in his or her self.
The presence of teen obesity will only cause students to do worse in school and lower the concentration of individuals.
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In the past, studies have shown that teen obesity links to various diseases such as diabetes II, heart diseases and circulation diseases. For example, researchers have found that teen obesity prompts “fat tissue [to press] against [one’s] breathing passage”, leading to “sleep apnea… a condition in which normal breathing literally stops for a few moments until the brain reacts to ‘jumpstart’ the respiratory system” (Obesity). Another example of the effects of teen obesity found was that it can also lead to early sexual maturity which can affect a young woman’s menstrual cycle. These consequences are some of the many health problems that come from teen obesity and harm an individual, potentially shortening one’s life. As teen obesity continues to flourish, it will trigger more illnesses that will only stack on top of each other and affect teenagers as they grow into adulthood. In fact, studies report that “adolescents who are overweight face a 77 percent likelihood of becoming overweight adults” (Obesity). If schools would educate students on teen obesity, such as promoting exercise or teaching what is good to eat, this will help lower the amount of unhealthy people in this country and potentially save lives from this growing