Advocate Childhood Obesity
Obesity and the issue of Childhood Obesity, specifically, in the United States has been a topic on the increase over the last few years. Many thoughts and perspectives about this issue have been brought up; however none have seemed to work. In relevance to this issue, First Lady Michelle Obama has proposed the “Let’s Move!” initiative but despite the year it had junk food is still dominating the pallets of young children. However there are a few things that have changed, though, including School nutrition the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act passed, authorizing $4.5 billion for school nutrition changes. Among other provisions, the law gives USDA the authority to set nutrition standards for all foods regularly sold in schools such as lunch lines and vending machines and increases the number of low-income children enrolled in school meal programs. Fresh food access, Wal-Mart partnered with Let's Move! for a five-year initiative in which the grocery giant pledged to offer more nutritious products, as well as lower the cost of fruits, vegetables and other healthy foods for its 140 million weekly customers. When dealing with physical activity the first lady has acknowledged that not all kids have safe places to run and play. According to her office, the campaign is working with mayors and community groups to leverage funds for more parks, playgrounds and community centers. Just 19 more years to go toward Michelle Obama's lofty goal of ending childhood obesity in a generation or, more specifically, returning America to a childhood-obesity rate of 5 percent by 2030. Currently about 31 percent of American children are overweight, with 17 percent identified as obese. Black children are 30 percent as likely to be overweight as their white counterparts. Obviously it'll take more than the first lady's platform to reach the 2030 goal, as parents make their own choices. Mrs. Obama visited an Atlanta elementary school to highlight its healthy eating programs and spoke at North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, Ga. encouraging parents to advocate for a healthier nation. If parents can control what they’re children take in we could make a dent in the national demographics of obesity in children. Since childhood is what is called “the window of opportunity” then that’s the best time to act. However parents don’t seem motivated until the very end where it is too late to counter anything. Therefore, I argue parents need to heed more attention in there children’s health by putting a limit on junk food and advocating maybe even enforcing nutritious dieting.