Childhood obesity is not an issue to be taken lightly. Indeed, it has proven to be a very serious health problem not only in our state, but in the United States as a nation. Just as the size of our residents has increased, the obesity problem has become much larger than before. It is debatable what can fully be attributed to this lifestyle. In fact, I personally don't believe that the obesity problem is an issue that can be attributed to any particular problem. At this point in human history, we have become unfortunate enough to see this result due to genetics, overeating, inactive lifestyles, or just poor self-care in general. The most unfortunate but most undeniable aspect of obesity is that it is a problem that our children have been unfortunate enough to inherit. Even as the nation faces this problem, it is a problem that both medical professionals and the general public have already recognized to the point of taking action against. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay This is not to say that obesity will affect everyone. Municipalities across the country have different statistics regarding obesity rates. Additionally, children, regardless of their genetics, should have the same opportunities to become who they want to be while they are still young. To prevent future obesity in children, West Virginia, among other states in the union, has implemented legislative plans to partner with NPAP. (Abildso, et. al, 2016) This plan recognizes the growing rate of obesity among our nation's children, as well as the need to make some significant changes. In West Virginia, the lack of college degrees and physical activity is significantly higher than the U.S. average. Furthermore, the population is predominantly rural. (Abildso, et. al, 2016) This leads me to believe that the lack of adequate education and resources can be attributed to West Virginia's extraordinarily high childhood obesity rate. Furthermore, those who live in the countryside have less access to healthcare resources than in densely populated areas. According to a study conducted in Charleston, West Virginia's largest city, 78 percent of children surveyed met the criteria to be considered obese or have hypertension. (Co, et. al, 2015) Due to the large number of homeschooled students and students in rural communities, a five-year plan was implemented in the state of West Virginia. (Partington, et. al, 2015) This plan focuses specifically on children. From an early age, West Virginia children will be educated about physical activity and eating habits. Unlike a traditional physical education class, children participating in programs that follow this plan will be taught the meaning of the lesson material. The goal is to encourage children to pay attention to their fitness in order to avoid the many outlets for obesity that are promoted to them and their parents. The main contributors to these results have been academic minds. In the case of children, it is hoped that a nurse or other medical professional will never be able to give them news of a negative health condition that they do not have the ability to understand. However, it was those in the medical field who conducted the studies necessary to reach these conclusions. In turn, this has made it easier to pass the legislation needed to encourage children to pay attention to their health, in the hope that they can avoid obesity from.
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