Outline for 2000-5 Obesity in Children Specific Purpose: To inform the audience on the current epidemic of childhood obesity.

Childhood obesity is a serious threat to our society yet it is not being given the importance and priority to combat it as should be given. Topical Introduction In the 80s Whitney Houston said it best in her song The Greatest Love of All: I believe the children are our future, teach them well and let them lead the way the children Whitney Houston was referring to are now adults with children themselves. Only this time, they have strayed from Ms. Houstons vision. Since then, we have seen the dramatic increase in childhood obesity leading not only to the deterioration of childrens health but has also made children a target of industry. Body I. Obesity is defined as accumulating so much body fat that it might have a negative effect on the persons health (Overweight and Obesity). A. There are two main ways to determine whether a child is obese. 1. If a person is 20% or more than it should be, then the person is considered obese (Overweight and Obesity). 2. The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a widely used chart by most doctors that compares a persons weight versus height to determine whether the persons body shape is in a healthy range (Body Mass Index). There are many causes of obesity in children. A. There are some causes that are not by choice, such as by illness, medication or genetics (Child Obesity in America). B. We will however focus on the aspects of obesity that can be prevented.

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C. In this era of modern life, children are less inspired to be physically active. 1. The tendency in children of sedentary lifestyles has increased over the last 30 years due to the advancements of personal computers, gaming consoles, and 24/7 television programming. D. Children being a target of marketing from the food industry has also led to this increase in childhood obesity. 1. On average, children are exposed to 10,000 food advertisements per year (Super Size Me). a) 95% of these commercials were for sugared cereals, fast foods, soft drinks, and candy. b) Millions of dollars are spent in advertising by the food industry. (1) In 2004, McDonalds spent $1.4 million dollars in advertising, as well as the Pepsi company spending $200 million. (2) The 5-a-Day campaign that is known for urging people to eat five fruits and vegetables a day had a mere $2 million media budget. Compared with the food industries $200 million its a modern day David and Goliath. III. The complications caused by childhood obesity should be a cause for alarm. A. Heart disease, high blood pressure, type II diabetes, breathing problems, and trouble sleeping are only some of the possible repercussions of having an obesity problem. B. One-third of children in America are overweight, about half of those obese. 1. A major paradigm shift is occurring in America, these health related problems specific only to adults are now taking no prejudice towards age, affecting our children as well. IV. In order to avoid this epidemic from expanding any further, preventative actions must be taken. A. Parents play a key role in the nutrition and well being of the child. Parents need to educate themselves as to what they are feeding their children. Physical activity must also be encouraged in order to create a systematic healthier lifestyle. Both nutrition and exercise go hand in hand. (Super Size Me) B. Government is also playing a role through legislation to diminish this ongoing epidemic. 1. The city of San Francisco is attempting to pass an law which bans the inclusion of toys in childrens meals being offered at fast food restaurants. 2. California banned the sale of sodas in public schools.

3. Michelle Obama is also declaring a war on childhood obesity. Conclusion In conclusion, childhood obesity is taking a larger toll on our children than wed like to believe. Once we accept these facts and bring childhood obesity to the limelight is when well take action. Children are our future, and it is up to us to help them lead the way.