Is Junk Food Responsible For The Obesity Epidemic?

Due to the busy lifestyles of two income households, the demand for quick and easy microwaveable food, fast food and snack foods have increased drastically. It is estimated that 22 million of the world's children under 5 are overweight or obese and approximately one in four American children are overweight.

Fast Food And Weight Gain is there a definite link?

Whether child, teen, or adult, frequent fast food eaters are more susceptible to obesity. There are long term studies that show a link between fast food and weight gain. The rapid rise in obesity over the last 3 decades coincides with the rise and popularity of the fast food industry. Child and adult obesity have reached epidemic proportions in the US and in many other countries. Does fast food cause obesity - it probably isn't the only cause, but people who choose fast food as a meal three or more times a week do run a higher risk of obesity.

Making a shift from the Fast-Food Lifestyle

A fondness for fast food due to ever-busier lives and our tendency to "supersize," fast food meals is the crux of the obesity problem. Along with our lack of physical activity comes the convenience of fast food. It's important to move away from all those ready-to-eat processed foods which contain almost no nutritional value and are actually breaking the body down and head instead to fresh, healthy foods.

A simple idea that works with obese children is to ensure your child finish his or her healthy meal before any "treat" type food is made available. Stock your refrigerator with low-fat milk, water, or fruit juices made from real fruit. A healthy breakfast of milk with wholemeal wheat biscuits and a fruit is a good start for the day.

School lunches and snacks can be made healthier by packing baby carrots rather than chips, fruit cups, turkey sandwiches cut in fun shapes on whole grain bread. It's simply not an option to choose those refined sugar-loaded gummy bars when gummy fruit juice snacks in every shape and size are a mere isle or two away. Bring vegetables and fruit back into your child's life. Does your family have five servings of fresh fruit and vegetables daily?

Are your children drinking right?

In the mid-90s, it was recorded that young men and women only consumed 12-30% of the recommended intakes of dairy on a daily basis, and only 14-18% of the recommended intake for fruit.

The amount of carbonated soft drinks that are consumed by children and young adults increased dramatically throughout the course of the previous decade. Nearly half the adolescent population of the United States consumes more than three cans of soda pop a day. Kids as young as seven months old are now drinking cola products.

Indeed, whereas milk used to be the beverage of choice for young kids, now it's those sweetened carbonated beverages. Milk consumption in the 1990s decreased nearly forty percent from the average for adolescents in the late 1970s. That means that children today drink twice as much soda pop as they do milk!

Education, the key to good nutrition

The excessive weight of one third of children in the US is a problem that goes beyond just the extra calories, fat and sugar from fast foods. What is happening is the key nutrients children need for health, growth and brain development are not being consumed. Many children today substitute fries for fruits, snack food for vegetables, and sodas for milk. On top of that, all of the processed foods have less fiber. The problem is compounded since the absence of fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains can make the effects of burgers and fries that much more severe.

Parents need to better understand child obesity causes and educate their children about the ill effects of fast food. In truth, obesity can be prevented in children by allowing fast food in moderation - you don't have to eliminate it entirely. But you need to cut way back on it.

It is difficult to calculate exact statistics behind childhood obesity as it relates to the consumption of fast food. What can be confirmed, however, is that changing trends in the way we eat have indeed contributed to the general obesity epidemic, particularly in children and young adults. Children absorb more calories and less nutrition on those days that they consume fast food.

Prevention of obesity ultimately begins at home. For children and young adults dealing with obesity, it is best to evaluate the individual's situation, taking in to consideration environmental, genetic, and metabolic concerns while treating the arising physical and psychological damage that has arisen. An obese child's eating plan should also come with an exercise plan. Long term counseling is often needed to deal with self esteem issues relating to obesity that can effect the child's performance in the real world.