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The Impact Of Obesity On Youth
By Linda Rogers

Everyone who is an adult knows that the best and worst times in life can be during the teen years. As teenagers, individuals face extreme changes in their bodies, their minds, and in the expectations placed on them by their peers and society.

When obesity in youth is added during these years, the impact can be overwhelming. The first thing the obese youth will become aware of is the way they are looked at by society. People who are obese face many prejudices from society. These prejudices include people believing that obese individuals are lazy, unmotivated people who lack self-control.

However, obese people have no more problems with these issues than the general population. Obesity is caused by many factors. Obesity in youth may be caused by a lack of education, a lack of self-assuredness or a poor home and family situation.

If young people are not educated about good diet habits and good exercise habits, they will probably have problems with weight control. As we have become a media and computer oriented society, youth spend less and less time doing physically active events.

It is important that these youngsters are taught how to have a good balance in their lives, which will lead to healthier living. As youth become educated on healthy lifestyles, they will develop better self-confidence, which will enable them to maintain a healthy weight.

How Poor Family Life Causes Youth Obesity

Young people used to learn how to eat, how to work, and how to live from their parents and families. With the decay of the family, children in today's society have to learn on their own how to function and live.

Mothers used to cook meals for their families and parents used to be involved in all aspects of their children's lives. Dads used to be available to coach sports for their sons and daughters, encouraging physical activity.

Now, many homes only have one parent and that parent is busy working to keep the rent paid. Kids eat whatever they want and spend time watching TV and instant messaging friends on the computers. This leads to youth obesity.

Once a young person develops a weight problem, that person can find it increasingly hard to overcome the behaviors leading to it. This leads to the youth facing criticism and low self-esteem. Youth obesity easily becomes a lifelong problem that is, in turn, passed on to the next generation.

Author Details:
Linda Rogers writes for various websites about obesity and weight loss with a special interest in the growing problem of child obesity.

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See also: Obesity & Weight Loss