Childhood obesity and adolescent obesity is crippling the United states. Obesity in children has double, and obesity in adolescents has quadrupled in the past thirty years see some more statistics here https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/obesity/facts.htm. Obesity in children can be crippling to self-esteem as well as overall well-being. It isn’t surprising that childhood obesity has increased in such a rapid rate since adult obesity has increased as well, and the adults are typically the ones feeding the children. Lots of things can cause obesity in children. Typically, unhealthy behaviors are to blame and the environment that they are in. If the children are used to watching tv all day instead of playing outside and eating junk food instead of fruits, vegetables, and lean meats then they are more likely to be overweight and obese.

Advertising can also be blamed for some of this because fruits and vegetable don’t get as much as airtime as the big macs and whoppers do. Exercise isn’t advertised either because these are things that used to be taught in the home.

Living in bad neighborhoods can contribute as well. Poorer neighborhoods are more likely to be in a food desert than the wealthier communities. There are also less clean safe places to play in neighborhoods like these. Also for the average person junk food is much more affordable since they are overall cheaper, and they have a longer shelf life than healthy food that goes bad much more quickly.

In general childhood obesity can be caused by many things and causes a $14 billion dollar increase in healthcare each year read more on how this affects healthcare costs here http://www.healthycommunitieshealthyfuture.org/learn-the-facts/economic-costs-of-obesity/.