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Obesity Prevention Obesity is a condition that is characterized by having an excessive accumulation and storage of fat in the body. This condition is associated with increased risk of chronic diseases such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes, stroke and certain cancers (Chen, 603) To date, obesity in the United States has reached levels comparable to an epidemic despite signs of hitting a plateau. Obesity affects those of all ages from young children to older adults. Efforts to combat this disease have become difficult and have now become intertwined with social, environmental and governmental structure. Obesity in children in the United States has been on the rise over the years. In a study conducted by Sarah E. Gollust, Jeff Niederdeppe, and Colleen L. Barry, the causes of childhood obesity were questioned. Many people attribute childhood obesity to village responsible for raising the child. Schools and communities, along with parents were seen as causes of children being overweight. The governmental contribution to the obesity of the nations children comes from the policies that protect the food and beverage industry. The research suggested that messages that put obesity into context in terms that are broader than society-families, schools and communities- may be effective in increasing public support for obesity policies such as soda taxes and stronger food marketing regulations that experts consider critical for public health improvement. Children who are obese are more likely to become obese and they are 70% more at risk for many life threatening diseases. In order to preserve life the life of those who are affected by obesity, measures have been taken in order to prevent obesity. On a governmental level, tighter food regulations have been enacted to ensure that the food that the masses are consuming is really what it should in. Also the

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physical fitness program Play60 popularized by the NFL and NBA encourages children to play at least 60 minutes a day outside. Public support for governmental intervention in efforts to prevent child hood obesity has grown over the years (Gollust). The obesity epidemic that is sweeping the nation has a plethora of causes and many efforts are being taken to lower the numbers of those who suffer from it. With the public backing efforts by the government, individuals taking responsibility for their own health, and society influencing people to become a bit more healthy, the nation is moving towards shedding those few pounds that it takes to loosen the belt around their waist.

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References Barry, Colleen L., Niederdeppe, Jeff, Gollust, Sarah, Framing the Consequences of Childhood Obesity to Increase Public Support for Obesity Prevention Policy., Nov. 2013, American Journal of Public Health, February 3, 2014. Chen ZA, Roy K, Gotway Crawford CA, Obesity prevention: the impact of local health departments, July 20, 2012, Health Services Research, February 3, 2014. N.I. Larson, M. M. Wall, M.T. Story, D. R. Neumark-Sztainer, Home/family, peer, school, and neighborhood correlates of obesity in adolescents, May 31, 2013, Obesity A Research Journal, February 3, 2014. Katherine M. Flegal, PhD; Brian K. Kit, MD; Heather Orpana, PhD; Barry I. Graubard, PhD, Association of All-Cause Mortality With Overweight and Obesity Using Standard Body Mass Index Categories, January 2, 2013, JAMA, February 3, 2014. Romy Gaillard, Busra Durmus, Albert Hofman, Johan P. Mackenbach, Eric A.P. Steegers, Vincent W.V. Jaddoe, Risk factors and outcomes of maternal obesity and excessive weight gain during pregnancy, June 20, 2013, Obesity A Research Journal, February 3, 2014.