Abstract
This speech will throw light on the relationship between childhood obesity and sustainability. In particular, it is possible to say that the increasing prevalence of overweight children can be one of the factors which can eventually threaten the economic sustainability of the country.
Furthermore, this issue can adversely affect the psychological well-being of many children who may be stigmatized by their peers or siblings. Finally, this trend can eventually endanger the environment since the production of fast food can lead to various forms of pollution influencing millions of people. These are the main questions that should be examined more closely.
Main Body
The rate of childhood obesity in the United States continues to grow, and in the long term, this trend can threaten the health of the entire nation, even though the dangers of this phenomenon may not be immediately noticeable. In this speech, I would like to discuss the relationship between childhood obesity and the sustainability of the country.
This topic has long been of great interest to me, and I have examined various books, scholarly articles, and governmental websites that help readers better understand this question. Overall, I would like to focus on the economic, environmental, and psychological aspects of this issue that can influence millions of people.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2014), approximately 17 percent of children in the U.S. suffer from obesity. This percentage is very large in other developed countries as well. Moreover, in the future, these people can develop such disorders as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and high blood pressure.
It should be mentioned that the annual costs of treating obesity-related illnesses equal to more than $ 147 billion (Arundel Street Consulting, 2011, p. 41). In the future, the economic impact of the issue will only increase (Arundel Street Consulting, 2011, p. 41). Therefore, the burden carried by the healthcare system will become even more onerous. This is one of the reasons why this issue cannot be easily dismissed by policy-makers and medical workers.
Additionally, I want to mention other risks related to this problem. In particular, overweight children tend to be bullied or stigmatized in schools, and many of them can encounter various psychological difficulties such as the complex of inferiority or anxiety (Hawdon, Ryan, & Lucht, 2014, p. 156). In the long-term, their social skills can be significantly impaired. This is one of the details that parents and educators should take into account to help children.
Moreover, it is important to mention that the production of fast food, which is related to childhood obesity, results in significant environmental challenges. For example, one can mention the pollution resulting from various plastic containers that are necessary for the storage of such products. Furthermore, fast food chains make excessive use of paper, and in the long-term, their activities can lead to deforestation (Smith, 2006). This is one of the risks that should be taken into account.
Hopefully, these examples demonstrate that childhood obesity can endanger the sustainability of society. In particular, much attention should be paid to the economic costs of healthcare, environmental pollution, and psychological problems encountered by many children. In the long term, this trend can adversely affect the entire community. In this case, it is critical to focus on the needs of individuals, families, and the environment.
Reference List
Arundel Street Consulting. (2011). America’s Health Rankings, 2013 Edition: A all to action for individuals and their communities. New York, NY: United Health Foundation.
Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014). Childhood Obesity Facts.
Hawdon, J., Ryan, J., & Lucht, M. (2014). The Causes and Consequences of Group Violence: From Bullies to Terrorists. New York, NY: Lexington Books.
Smith, A. (2006). Encyclopedia of Junk Food and Fast Food. New York, NY: Greenwood Publishing Group.