obesity is a big threat to the health of our children

It use to be just material for an anecdote that we had as a classmate an obese child or teenager and we may get along with those in that conditions very well as some other people may even make jokes at them and do some bad things. But the fact is that it was just a few people being obese and that's why they called our attention by being kind of different.

But those days are long gone. Child obesity is no longer the characteristic of a few children but it has become an extended condition that is affecting an important percentage of the youth population in America and many industrialized countries.It is widely documented that obesity is a big threat to the health of our children in many ways.

For example:

- It affects their cardiovascular system
- It can affect the lungs
- Posture and bone mal formation during the growing period can result from being an obese child
- There can also be Gastrointestinal problems cause by obesity

But why is that our children are becoming so obese at a record rate? The answer, as you may already know, comes directly from the high consumption of calories, and where do these calories come from? They mainly come from junk food, particularly the excessive consumption of junk food against more healthy and natural food options. However that's not all, junk food may be the primary cause but there is a second and equally important factor that has helped to spread the obesity pandemic among our youngsters.

 This is the dramatic absence of physical activity in many cases of obese children, due to long hours in front of the tv playing video games or simply watching tv programs. This doesn't mean that we should confiscate all video games and throw the tv out the window but all things must be done wisely and not in excess. We all must remain ourselves that we have a body too and that it needs maintenance and activity to function in optimal conditions. Specially children and youngsters that are in the growing stages of their physical development and can't forget about their bodies.