America is known for so many wonderful things. It is a country that citizens take pride in and one for which they are many great things about. Amidst many great things about the country, there are some negatives as well. One such negative is the fact that America happens to have the fattest population in the world. It’s not hard to see why when you take a close look, but this is discouraging to many who live and dwell there. Unfortunately this trend has carried onto the children of the country. American children are the fattest in the world, and this is very upsetting to think about for many parents. So what is it that makes the kids of America so fat?
A Sedentary Lifestyle
Many people will argue that a sedentary lifestyle is to blame for the children of America being fat. Though other kids may spend some time playing video games each day, they don’t spend nearly as much time as American kids do. A sedentary lifestyle develops quickly and very young with kids these days. They spend their days in front of a TV, computer screen, video game monitor, or cell phone rather than getting outside to play. When they aren’t burning calories, they are getting fat very quickly. So the sedentary lifestyle that is created through so much time spent on these activities is a big contributor to a growing population of overweight children.
They Simply Eat Too Much
The portion size is out of whack in America as compared to other countries in the world. This is true for adults but really hits close to home when it comes to kids. The reality is that kids are eating far more calories than they really need. Therefore the more that they eat, the fatter that they get. They become accustomed to these bigger portions and just accept them as the norm, and these habits develop into adulthood as well. So while kids in other countries are used to smaller portions to fill them up, American kids are eating far more than their little bodies really need.
They Eat a Terrible Diet
While kids in other countries are eating fish, veggies, and other wholesome foods, American kids are eating a ton of empty calories. They are eating far too many fried foods, and those that are lacking any real nutritional content. Rather than sitting down and eating a healthy dinner, they are often served up fast food on the run. They don’t get used to vegetables or fruits as snacks, but rather a whole lot of processed foods instead. The diet that American kids keep is just terrible and a big reason why they are fatter than any other kids in the world. Some simple adjustments in the diet would fix the problem, but unfortunately parents don’t often have or make the time needed to create a healthy meal for their little ones. If this continues, kids will inevitably stay fat and perhaps even get fatter as time goes on.
Mary Frederick blogs about why you should consider getting an online Master`s in Public Health.