Is there actually an association between childhood obesity and fast food? The answer will change depending upon whom you involve in the question. Obviously the fast food industry would like to deny such a connection. But parents had best consider the facts. Obesity isn't merely a problem of how a child looks. It also means many dangerous and often deadly health conditions. Being overweight is associated with asthma, arthritis, joint damage, heard disease, diabetes, many types of cancer, gout, sleep apnea, respiratory distress, and chronic pain. So, considering whether or not childhood obesity and fast food are linked can mean preserving a child's health. Let's look at this matter a bit closer.
One reason to believe that there's a connection between childhood obesity and fast food is that obesity is a modern-day problem. Doctors have never encountered as many cases of it in the past as they do nowadays. It looks as if it's no happenstance that we also have more fast food restaurants today than ever before! These restaurants are on just about every street corner in the U.S. They are even inside of many other businesses such as retail stores, libraries, office buildings, and even schools. But the number of restaurants and the number of cases of children being overweight doesn't itself prove that there's a connection between childhood obesity and fast food.
Nonetheless, you would do well to look at the types of foods served at fast food restaurants. With this in mind, the connection between childhood obesity and fast food may be more conspicuous. Just about all items on a fast food menu are very calorie-dense. This means that they have a lot of calories for the amount of food you're consuming. Most medium sized hamburgers have about 500 or more calories. Liken that to a turkey sandwich made of wheat bread which might have around 200 calories. And, of course, along with the hamburger comes fries and a soda, and maybe even a milkshake or dessert.
The connection between childhood obesity and fast food becomes obvious when you think about how frequently children consume these types of meals. Simply one fast food meal can contain an entire day's worth of calories. A youngster that eats these meals several times per week or more than one per day can mean they're literally consuming thousands of extra calories per week.
The quantity of calories that a person will typically devour at a fast food restaurant is an obvious connection between childhood obesity and fast food. If a child is active sufficient to burn the extra calories it might not be a problem. But many children today live very inactive lives, sitting in front of the boob tube during their spare time rather than being outside playing. Even though the association between childhood obesity and fast food is obvious, fast food isn't the only perpetrator or cause to the problem. A parent had best get their child up and active in order to preserve his or her health. - 33373
One reason to believe that there's a connection between childhood obesity and fast food is that obesity is a modern-day problem. Doctors have never encountered as many cases of it in the past as they do nowadays. It looks as if it's no happenstance that we also have more fast food restaurants today than ever before! These restaurants are on just about every street corner in the U.S. They are even inside of many other businesses such as retail stores, libraries, office buildings, and even schools. But the number of restaurants and the number of cases of children being overweight doesn't itself prove that there's a connection between childhood obesity and fast food.
Nonetheless, you would do well to look at the types of foods served at fast food restaurants. With this in mind, the connection between childhood obesity and fast food may be more conspicuous. Just about all items on a fast food menu are very calorie-dense. This means that they have a lot of calories for the amount of food you're consuming. Most medium sized hamburgers have about 500 or more calories. Liken that to a turkey sandwich made of wheat bread which might have around 200 calories. And, of course, along with the hamburger comes fries and a soda, and maybe even a milkshake or dessert.
The connection between childhood obesity and fast food becomes obvious when you think about how frequently children consume these types of meals. Simply one fast food meal can contain an entire day's worth of calories. A youngster that eats these meals several times per week or more than one per day can mean they're literally consuming thousands of extra calories per week.
The quantity of calories that a person will typically devour at a fast food restaurant is an obvious connection between childhood obesity and fast food. If a child is active sufficient to burn the extra calories it might not be a problem. But many children today live very inactive lives, sitting in front of the boob tube during their spare time rather than being outside playing. Even though the association between childhood obesity and fast food is obvious, fast food isn't the only perpetrator or cause to the problem. A parent had best get their child up and active in order to preserve his or her health. - 33373
About the Author:
For a free guide to healthful cooking, visit Facts About Childhood Obesity. For more information about some of the causes of childhood obesity visit Facts About Childhood Obesity.
