Does Fast Food Cause Obesity? It Certainly Does Not Help

The excessive weight of one third of children in the US is a problem that goes beyond just the extra calories, fat and sugar from fast foods. What is happening is the key nutrients children need for health, growth and brain development are not being consumed.

Many children today substitute fries for fruits, snack food for vegetables, and sodas for milk. On top of that, all of the processed foods have less fiber.

Fast food meals are extremely high in fat, sugar, and salt which leads to the rise in child obesity and the start of serious long term health problems like diabetes.

Look at the calories in a typical fast food meal:

Food Item.............Calories.....Nutrition Grade
Big Mac.................. 560............. D+
Medium Fries........... 380............. C-
20 Ounce Coke......... 250............. D-
Baked Apple Pie....... 260.............. D-
Total Calories....... 1,450

Children require an average of 1,600 calories/day - this one meal is 90% of his/her daily requirement.

Teenage girls require an average of 2,200 calories/day - this one meal is 66% of her daily requirement.

Teenage boys require an average of 2,800 calories/day - this one meal is 52% of his daily requirement.

One 20-ounce bottle of soda is the equivalent of consuming 17 teaspoons of pure sugar! What's more, those 250 empty calories can set you up for weight gain, mood swings, and energy dips.

If your child or teen gives up one daily 20-ounce soda, then at the end of the year he or she will save:

o 91,000 calories
o 6,205 teaspoons of sugar
o Potentially lose up to 20 to 25 pounds of fat

Preventing kids from becoming overweight means adapting the way your family eats and exercises, and how you spend time together. Helping kids lead healthy lifestyles begins with parents who lead by example. Plus, parents shop for the family's groceries - they are responsible for bringing home healthy foods and leaving the unhealthy foods in the store.

Parents have a high degree of control to what children eat in the home. They are the ones who buy the food, cook the food and decide where the food is eaten. Even small changes towards good nutrition can make a big difference in your child's health.

Childhood obesity treatment needs to involve the entire family. It will be tough for your child to do it alone so make weight loss a family affair.

Talk to your kids about the importance of eating well and being active, but make it a family affair that will become second nature for everyone. Evaluate your child's eating and activity habits and make suggestions on how to make positive changes.

Parents need to better understand the cause of childhood obesity and educate their children about the ill effects of fast food. In truth, obesity can be prevented in children by allowing fast food in moderation - you don't have to eliminate it entirely. But you need to cut way back on it. So will fast food cause obesity? Yes it can but it doesn't have to when eaten occasionally.

See how Overcoming Childhood Obesity will help you help your child or teenager out of obesity.

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