By DELANEE BOGAN
McDonald’s and other fast food restaurants are major contributors leading to obesity. In America, 31 percent of the population suffers from obesity. According to nationmaster.com, the United States has the highest obesity rates in the world. Obesity is when a person’s weight is 20 percent or more above average standards. There are different standards for each body types. Anyone who is more than 100 pounds overweight is morbidly obese.
“I think [obesity rates in the future] will keep getting worse and worse. Portions will continue to get bigger and bigger, along with the people eating it,” sophomore Hanna Sekenski said.
Celebrities are helping fight and raise awareness of obesity by informing the importance of keeping in shape and eating healthy foods on a regular basis. Michelle Obama developed the campaign “Let’s Move” to try to eliminate childhood obesity. Obama has inspired Wal-Mart to lower prices on fruits and vegetables. Walmart brand is developing a healthy seal to help customers make the right food choice.
Eating fast food is known to show negative effects on students when participating in a sport.
“Every day I drink about three gallons of water so I can stay hydrated during football. Keeping a balanced diet provides me with good endurance so during games I don’t get tired,”sophomore Kyle Wilmoth said.
Fast foods can have higher levels of sodium which dehydrate or cause nausea to athletes. Not only does one’s performance level decrease, it affects one’s organs negatively too. After the food is digested, it enters the blood stream, circulates to main organs and can clog arteries.
Eating unhealthy foods is not the only contributor to increasing obesity rates, according to the article “If Your Kids are awake there probably Online” published on Jan. 10, 2011 from The New York Times, kids ages 8-18 spend 7.5 hours a week on technology related devices. Lack of proper exercise leads to weight gain and obesity.
“Because of obesity, American hospitals are full of patients who do not need to be there. Major diseases are directly linked to obesity. You can solve many health problems by eliminating obesity,” HOPE teacher Paul Katauskas said
Students can prevent obesity by exercising on a regular basis, and choosing to eat healthy foods filled with protein and nutrients. Eating healthy foods will improve performances in athletics and overall health and fitness. This will lead America into a brighter future with less health problems.
According to kidshealth.org, both kids and adolescents are advised to work out at least one hour a day. The NFL Play 60 is the National Football League’s campaign aimed at encouraging kids to be active for 60 minutes a day in to reverse childhood obesity.
“I think it is horrible [that people are becoming obese]. Like the Bible says, our ‘body is a temple’ and we should treat it with respect,” junior Ashley Muse said.
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