peer critique of two students

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Ada Oyeka

Professor Crystal Johnson

English 1302

December 5, 2017

Childhood Obesity

Did you know that childhood obesity is an American epidemic affecting more than 12

million children in the United States? Childhood obesity is on an annual increase nationally.

This enormous number in reference to obese children is one child too many and the latest

data indicates that the national childhood obesity rate which ranges among 2 to 19 year-olds

is 18.5 percent. Obese children are the most likely to grow up to become obese adults and

suffer all the health problems associated with being obese.

Obesity is a condition of being overweight or fat. It could lead to increased health

risks in any individual, as well as result in laziness, and lack of energy. Obesity affects

everybody, with a large percentage affecting children from newborns to adolescents.

Childhood Obesity is mainly caused by eating unhealthy food and lacking the physical

activities that help burn calories. The invention of products that ease activities is also a major

cause of obesity in children as well as adults.

Childhood obesity targets infants and teenagers. It can affect a child in several ways,

by causing health related problems such as heart diseases, diabetes, sleep apnea, asthma, and

high blood pressure. It could also lead to depression, make the child a victim of bullying by

peers, and cause bone and joint problems.

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This is further compounded by the digital age which makes children lead sedentary

lifestyles. There are a couple of ways to determine if a child is obese. Children body mass

index (BMI) can be used. It is calculated by dividing a child’s weight in kilograms by the

square of height in meter. In some cases it is easily recognized in a child, when the child is

overweight or appear fat.

The digital age presents such a convenient type of fun which engulfs the attention of

children thereby keeping them docile with an increase in sedentary behavior. According to

Johnson-Taylor et al, “there is increasing evidence that TV viewing is an important influence

on overweight in childhood. As a behavioral target, TV seems to affect both inactivity and

dietary intake, the latter through advertising and snacking” (931).

While children watch television, they tend to snack a lot to keep themselves awake

and in the moment, hence being in a state of inactivity for so long, tends to make children put

on weight. Johnson et al also says “Children are particularly vulnerable to dietary

manipulation. They tend to have primitive tastes, especially when they are young, preferring

foods that are sugary or with a fatty or salty taste. Viewing ads that spotlight these types of

food may increase their consumption” (931).

Children also learn about more things to eat and get fat when they watch the

appealing and sumptuous advertisements placed on televisions and the internet by companies

responsible for making these sugary and fattening products. The solution to this issue, is that

daily screen time exposure for children should be completely erased or limited to a bare

minimum of about thirty minutes. When they do have their screen time, the videos games,

internet activities and TV programs during this time should be educational. They should

watch programs that will keep them active and up on their feet. Like dancing and singing

along children programs. Screen time can be increased as the child gets older.

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Kent et al in a research conducted, with regards to causes of childhood obesity

reported that, “In the United States, children between the ages of 8 and 18 years are spending,

on average, 1 h and 29 min per day on the computer and data from Canada shows that 30% of

children in grades 6 to 12 are spending more than 2 h per day of their leisure time on

computers” (800). From this report, the time of exposure for these children are too much and

should be limited for the good of the children.

Kent et al also added that, “In the United States and Australia, it has been recently

reported that food and beverage websites target children extensively through the use of

advergames, spokes-characters, contests, and tie-ins with other products. Few have been

found to promote healthful messages” (800). Considering how much time is spent on the

computer that is ample time for the various advertisements to take effect and register in the

minds of the children who view them.

To prevent childhood obesity, children should be made to understand that not

everything they see in the media is good for them. They should also note that these

companies go silent on the adverse effects those food items they promote have on human

health. The companies on the other hand should be forced to tell the truth about their products

when they advertise them due to the fact that children could be gullible.

Parents should expose their children to fun and physical activities through which they

can exercise their bodies. This involves taking walks, running, or riding bicycles as opposed

to driving a car. Making important choices like opting to go physically to a store to walk

around the various aisles and shop as an opportunity to stay active, rather than stay at home

and shop online.

Children should eat healthy by having balanced diets. They should eat at least a

serving of fruits or vegetables daily as well as lean meat and poultry products. They should

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go for low fat or non-fat dairy products. Limiting high-fat and high-sugar or salty snacks to a

bare minimum can help children develop healthy eating habits.