Since 1960, the incidence of childhood obesity has increased fifty percent, and about one fifth of American youngsters weigh more than they should. ... It doesn't help that "only about one-third of elementary children have daily physical education, and fewer than one-fifth have extra-curricular physical activity programs at their schools (Ross & Pate, 1987). ... Parental influence is very important to any child, and the overweight child is no exception. ... Every social situation is potentially embarrassing for the child with excess weight. ... Perhaps the most important consequenc...

• Word Count: 2601
• Approx Pages: 10
• Has Bibliography

Caloric needs vary for each child depending on amount of growth, physical activities, and level of maturation (Backgrouder, web). ... The US Department of Agriculture's Healthy Eating Index shows that today's adolescent diet "needs improvement- and that the overall HEI score declines as a child matures to an adult. ... Each day the average child sees more than 82 television commercials, many advertising trendy or quick but not nutritious foods and drinks. ...

• Word Count: 2703
• Approx Pages: 11
• Has Bibliography

If a family has high expectations, the child might want a way to cope with all the pressure. ... Forty-seven percent of girls in fifth to twelve grade reported wanting to lose weight because of magazine pictures, sixty-nine percent said magazine pictures influenced their idea of the perfect body image. ...

• Word Count: 2943
• Approx Pages: 12
• Grade Level: High School