Child Care and Obesity

Obesity is a problem in America that most likely everyone is familiar with. The reason for this epidemic is mainly two things; lack of physical activity and bad food choices. With the growing number of video games and reality TV, kids are going to choose to play those instead of going outside and being active. And with the rise of McDonald's and Burger King on almost every corner of every street, it's no wonder that kids are forgoing vegetables for chicken nuggets. What parents don't realize is that kids aren't going to change themselves. They grew up like this and fast food and video games at an excess amount is the norm to them. Playing a sport or going outside and being active is optional and not a necessary part of their lives, according to children. They don't know the dangers that can arise from lack of physical activity and bad food choices. Therefore it is up to the parents to guide kids in the right direction. Teaching your kids the healthy lifestyle can save their lives in the long run. There are many useful tips for parents online about how to get your child to live a more physical lifestyle. Schools are cracking down and eliminating vending machines from their cafeterias. Some schools are going organic and will only sell healthy items on the menu. Gym class is also mandatory for every student. However, the extent of physical exercise in gym class is low, so kids are encouraged to include more physical activity in their day.

Studies were done to show how much physical activity kids get each day and also the eating habits of kids were observed as well. Results of these studies can be seen here.