K
kmack
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More than 60 percent of Americans are overweight.
source: This is a problem we must address as a nation. We have become a nation of fat, unhealthy people. In fact we are the fattest nation in the whole world. As starvation ravages dozens of countries around the world, we collectively down another sleeve of oreos and continue to grow wider. As we spend more and more time in front of the T.V. and cut spending on schools physical education programs and youth sports, our children are following in our fat, wheezing, unhealthy paths.
Health Risks
source:
It is simple, if you are fat, you are at risk for dozens of health risks including, but not limited to:
- Heart Disease
- Cancer
- Stroke
- Diabetes
- Fatty Liver Disease
Fat Youth of America
Fat kids become fat adults so part of the solution must be to target the nations youth. ( Source: )
A recent study has made a list of the Fittest and Fattest states for children. The states which are fittest have a lot of youth sports programs, physical education in schools, and other programs to keep kids in shape (MA for example has the largest youth soccer organiztion in the US). By following the example of the healthy states, the fatter states can help stem the flow of unhealthy children into adulthood, but only once they recognize the problem.
Fattest
- Alaska
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- Mississippi
- Kansas
- South Dakota
- Alabama
- Idaho
- Wyoming
- Iowa
Fittest
- Connecticut
- New York
- Vermont
- Massachusetts
- Missouri
Youth Solutions
With the new report on childhood fitness state legislatures are going to start pushing for ways to create a healthier atmosphere for the nations youth. Governer Schwarzenagger is pushing for the removal of junk food vending machines in California schools. An effort is underway in Tenesse ( Source) to ban junkfood, weigh children, and promote physical activity, but the school board brings up a major concern that would face a national "Healthy Kids" program: money. They say that the staffing and money would prevent such a campaign which is why this needs to be met at a national level. Increased funding for sports, physical educations programs, and healthy meals is a necessity to help cure this epidemic.
To continue to ignore this problem will only result in an even unhealthier America. What measures can be done to help stop our nations children from growing up with a plethora of health risks? Heart disease has become the leading cause of death in our nation (surpassing the once dominant cancer) and logic denotes that it can be attributed to an increase in unhealthy adults. To ignore the problems facing our nations youth, is to condemn them to a life of health problems and overall difficulties.
Adult Solutions
Once an adult has become overweight, it becomes much harder to control their weight and even more difficult to lose it. They become stuck in poor trends since childhood. To stop the problem we must focus on the youth, for the majority of overweight adults, it is simply too late.
Face it, being fat is disgusting, it is unattractive, and extremely unhealthy, we need to do something about this problem. If you are fat, you are going to face increased health risks. On a social level, fatness is common, but not really acceptable. Physical attractiveness is limited to those who are physcially fit, and there aren'y many "fit jokes" around.
Is it time to bring a fitness campaign to the national level (think no-smoking campaigns)? Will other states try to follow Californias ideas of removing unhealthy foods from schools? Should we explore other options, such as a tax on high fat foods? Is it too late for adults in the U.S.?
Put down that sleeve of Oreo's and go for a jog...if you still can.
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