The rate of childhood obesity in our country is rising. According to World Health Organization, more than 40 million children under the age of 5 were overweight in 2011.

Childhood obesity leads to developing type 2 diabetes during childhood, and having overweight problems and cardiovascular problems, such as stroke and heart disease, later in life.

There are many factors contributing to the development of this problem. The most common are poor nutrition and lack of physical activity. Many families struggle financially and cannot afford to provide their children with fresh food; they often have to choose cheaper canned or fast food with very high sodium content and many preservatives.

Kids menus in most restaurants lack healthy options; fried or processed food is the most common choice. Lack of physical exercise often occurs because of the excessive use of electronic gadgets and gaming systems. Also, many families are unable to afford the high costs associated with sports participation.

Childhood obesity is largely preventable. Educating the community about healthy dietary choices (such as limiting fats and sugars, and increasing fruit, vegetables, and whole grains in the diet) and the importance of regular physical activity is a key step towards reducing childhood obesity rates. All health-care professionals need to be involved in promoting health-education strategies.

It is also crucial to make healthy food and physical activity available and affordable to low-income families. The food industry can participate in reducing obesity rates by improving the ingredients of food targeted for children. If childhood obesity rates continue to rise, our nation will face an increase in chronic illness in the years to come, early morbidity, which in turn will create a significant strain on our health-care system.

It is in our hands to make it stop.


UMass Lowell