In the last 30 years obesity rates in children and teens have quadrupled. Obesity will soon surpass smoking as the number one cause of death throughout the world. Obesity is easily recognizable but it’s also very hard to treat and if it is not treated in a timely manner than it can have long term and even fatal effects.

Obesity is no longer an appearance concern it grown so much that it now is a major health concern. In the last six years obesity rates throughout the world have quadrupled from a mere 5 percent to a large 21 percent. In the article “Obesity in Children and Teens” by Sutter Health Palo Alto Medical Foundation, researchers find that nearly 300,000 people die each year due to complications associated with being obese. In the article “Childhood and Teenage Obesity” by ABC news, studies show that in 2016, 124 million people died due to the results of obesity. Also an ABC news article was released showing how “obesity rates have increased from 11 million in 1975 to 124 million in 2012.” This article shows the rapid increase in children and adolescents that are not only overweight but are obese.

Obesity is soon to be the number one cause of death throughout not only the country but the entire world. We must stop this from happening; to do so we can: promote exercise in daily activities along with healthier eating habits and school-sponsored health events.

BBCHS sophmore Zane Ortega shares his ideas in which ways to treat and prevent obesity. He states, “I think obesity is a bad thing, and kids are not making good decisions, they are choosing not to exercise due to the progression in technology. I believe that people should go to the gym a few days a week and ride a bike or walk to help stay in shape. When it comes to eating healthy I think you should balance your plate, a snack here or there is no problem but someone should not over or under eat.”

There are many things we can do to help prevent obesity in our children like, such as changing school lunches, enabling recess, and even increasing levels of exercise in PE. If schools started giving out carrots instead of french fries, and apples instead of a bag of chips, it could reduce the chances of obesity. Each of these ideas will truly help the nation’s youth withstand obesity and its harsh effects. With just a few changes throughout our society we can get the world’s obesity rates below current alarming levels, creating a better life for the world.