What Causes Childhood Obesity? – Part 47

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As many of my regular viewers to this web blog know, there are many factors contributing to childhood obesity. I post daily here about it, whether news print articles, opinions, feedback, or just personal opinion.

Recently, I wrote an article for Yahoo! (click here) about childhood obesity. I started searching for sources for this article, and received over 100 responses to the question, “What do you think caused the rise in childhood obesity?” Responses came from professional and Olympic athletes, fitness experts, health experts, nutritionist, and parents.

I was unable to use everyone’s feedback, but thought it would be great to post some of their responses on my blog in a new web series, “What Causes Childhood Obesity.” I hope that you enjoy the opinions here from various individuals. Please remember, my including their posts does not necessarily mean I agree or endorse their opinion, rather, a place to share other people’s thoughts.

Keeping Kids Fit
Opinion: Anna Renderer

Childhood obesity has been on the rise mainly because of the technology advances! Anything from bigger and better video games, faster computers with more software programs and handheld entertainment making it possible to watch movies, play games and talk to friends even outside the home.

There is hardly a moment in the day that goes by that kids cannot watch TV, play video games, or surf the internet. The only time that kids are forced to be active is during PE at school or with an after school sport. The PE programs are being cut in many school programs due to lack of funds and many parents cannot afford to put kids into after school programs. Therefore, these kids are not getting the activity they need to be healthy.

So in summary, it’s the combination of our technology boom and the decrease in the concern for PE programs in schools.

One change in a child’s life that could lead them to living a healthier lifestyle would be to have one activity they commit to each day. This could change by season, month, week or day. If every child had either one sport activity, one home activity, or one PE activity that they did once a day then they would be on the track to a healthier life. To ask a child what they do for activity each day and get an answer would be the key to a healthy generation of kids.

Anna Renderer