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Obesity In Children Obesity Is Term Paper

Television viewing needs to be controlled because this is a major source of weight gain. With children engaging in less physical activity and merely dumping themselves in front of the TV in their spare time, obesity is bound to rise. Major studies have found a correlation and now lesser TV time is considered one of the biggest weight management tools. In 1985, Dietz and Gortmaker first discovered a link between television viewing and obesity. This led to many studies and NHES also found it to be a major contributor. Authors Dietz and Gortmaker concluded that, "only prior obesity had a larger independent effect than television on the prevalence of obesity."[Dietz: 810] and then in 1993, they reiterated the claim saying that, "29% of the cases of obesity cold be prevented by reducing television viewing to 0 to 1 hours per week." [Dietz, 1993: 499-500]

We can thus conclude that obesity is indeed a major problem facing our children today. In order to prevent this or reduce it to certain extent, we will have to take proper measure which would include dietary management and physical activity enhancement. Children who consumer enough calories that can be burned easily or who expend excessive energy due to vigorous physical exercise are not at risk of developing obesity. Parents must thus make a conscious effort to introduce their children to sports and other forms of physical exercise while offering them more nutritional and preferably home cooked food.

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Sources used in this document:
Dietz, Gortmaker, 1990

Golden, 1979

Crister, 2003: 32
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