 
In 1999, 13
percent of children age six to eleven years of age in the United States was overweight. This prevalence has nearly tripled
for young people in the past 2 decades. Overweight children have a 70 percent chance of becoming overweight or obese as adults.1 The most immediate consequence of being overweight perceived by children themselves is social discrimination.
Lack of exercise and eating habits
This is associated with poor self-esteem and depression. Obesity
in children and adolescents is generally caused by lack of physical activity, unhealthy eating patterns, or a combination
of the two, with genetics and lifestyle both playing important roles in determining a childs weight. Whatever the cause may
be, the Stanford University School of Medicine believes parental weight and lifestyle is the factor that most increases the
likelihood of childhood obesity.3
Who and what was involved
We surveyed the children on whether they participated in
a sports of dance team after school, if they bought ice cream at lunch, is playing video games is a habit for them, if they
drink soda pop on a regular basis, and how often they eat at fast food restaurants a week.
The surveys
were done at School A in SLC, UT. The population of students at the school is about 405 children. The school offers breakfast
and lunch. The income of the families that attend the school is very diverse. The new University Village which houses families
of college students, who attend the University of Utah, is one income range. Next you have the kids whose parents have their
career jobs, and have higher incomes. The ethnicity of the school, the majority are Caucasian.
As reported by the students in the survey three students said that they ate out at a fast food restaurant four times during
the week. Nine students stated that they only had gone out once during the week. Five students reported eating out 3 times
during the week and five also said they did not eat out at all.
As stated genetics and lifestyle both
play important roles in determining a childs weight. Our findings show that the population was active but their eating habits
and other activities have heightened the risk of obesity in the United States.
2 www.news-medical.net
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