Television and video games are the main culprits for making America’s children obese, however there are most certainly other culprits as well that may be more prevalent than many may think. Parents and peers are the two most influential people in the lives of American children today, meaning that they will follow their examples without much consideration of the consequences. Parents are the ones who drive kids to the fast food places, parents are the ones who choose what their children eat for dinner, and parents are the ones who control how much television their children watch. It's not the television that we need to control, it is the amount of discipline that parents use on their children. So what should we do about it? Should all parents have to be governed on what to do for their children before they have them? I think the best option would be for parents to be given counsel on the amount of television that is healthy for their children to watch, and the importance of keeping to this amount. Television is slowly killing our future generation, so if parents would step in and take some control of their children's lives, then a lot of lives could be saved and children would lead much more wholesome lives.
Peers also affect children in their choices of what to eat and how much television to watch. Since most children want to feel included and be in the "popular" crowd, they will eat what the popular kids eat and do what the popular kids do. Unfortunately fast food and processed foods are becoming very common in this "popular diet" as well as a new trend to follow certain t.v. shows and play certain video games. So is there any way to harness this trend? Somehow we need get kids to become advocates for health, rather than walking McDonalds commercials. Something that could really help this would be to put more commercials on television advocating making healthy choices, and less fast-food commercials. These will slowly, but surely get into the heads of children in one way or another, and in this way they can influence one another to make good, healthy choices rather than negative, destructive choices.
Good thorough look at parents and peers affecting obesity. I like that you ask questions about "what should be done about this?" even just in your counterargument. Nice work.
ReplyDeleteI agree, parents are ultimately responsible for their children's health and obseity. Obviously as children get older, they lose control as kids drive themselves and buy food with their own money. I think parents need to take more responsibility for their children. Parents know what is healthy for their children, often times they just don't take the initiative.
ReplyDelete