Teen obesity is among the major global health challenges of the 21st century, and fast-food consumption is contributing to it, according to research led by Dr. Mary Story and published in the September, 2009 "Journal of Adolescent Health." Teen obesity nearly quadrupled in four decades, from 1966 to 2006. Although many factors, including genetics, play a role in obesity, arguably one of the biggest influences is extra calories. Story's study noted teens' average surplus of only 165 calories per day has led to an extra 10 lbs. in the average weight of normal-weight teens.
Statistics
Obesity is an epidemic in America among every age group. One in every three children is overweight or obese, according to the 2010 White House Task Force on Childhood Obesity (WHTFCO), and roughly 17 percent overall are obese. Specifically, the prevalence of obesity among teens ages 12 to 19 jumped from 5 percent in 1980 to 18 percent in 2008. Mexican American boys and African American girls have higher rates, at 26.8 percent and 29.2 percent, respectively..
In the decades 1966 to 2005, cverweight teens have consumed an average excess of 700 to 1,000 more calories, resulting in an average weight gain of 58 extra pounds. Given that Americans' top-five sources of calories include items like soda, desserts and pizza, fast food certainly is feeding teens some of the extra calories fueling their obesity rates.
Control
A major factor in adolescents' obesity is their natural, growing level of independence. That is, teenagers have more control over what they eat. What younger children eat is governed more by what parents and schools are willing to provide. However, teenagers spend more time away from home and as a consequence, make more choices about what they eat. With a little bit more finance and social magnetism of some restaurants, it's no wonder teenagers often choose cheap, fatty, greasy foods that contribute to their weight and body fat.
Proximity
Teens who live and go to school within a short distance of a fast-food restaurant are more likely to be obese than those who are farther away. The "New York Times" reported this is in a March 25, 2009 article based on the research of two economists affiliated with the National Bureau of Economic Research. The research especially highlighted that in central urban locales, the density of pizza, burger, convenience stores and take-out establishments well outnumber the availability of supermarkets with fresh food. But even with reasonable distribution, teens who leave campus for lunch can often double-back for an afternoon snacks, meaning they consume excessive amounts of calories in fast-food meals.
Ingredients and Calories
Perhaps the biggest factor contributing to adolescent obesity is the caloric content in fast food. One combo meal containing a sandwich, fries and soda, can provide a day's worth of calories and days' worth of saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol and sugar. The WHTFCO reports that 13 percent of all calories youths consume comes from sugar-sweetened beverages. That's soda, fruity and sports drinks. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans says these drinks are the third-largest calorie provider of children in this country, trailing just behind desserts and pizza. Add to that a report by the Institute for Social Research that chronicles the "disturbing" downward spiral of teens consumption of breakfast, fruit and vegetables.
Less Physical Activity
Counterbalancing the cheap and ubiquitous fast food is reduced physical activity. Obesity is caused by an energy imbalance that allows body fat to grow to excess. Physical activity can keep body fat in check. However, many schools have cut back on recess and physical education, in some part due to budget issues, according to the WHTFCO. In addition, fewer children are walking or biking to school. Moreover, time viewing "screens" -- televisions, computers, game devices, and portable music players contributes to reduced physical activity. Add to that the time-crunch that cause working families to cook fewer meals and eat out more because work, school and other activities crowd out potential exercise time.
References
- CDC; Prevalence of Obesity Among Children and Adolescents: United States, Trends 1963--1965 Through 2007--2008; Cynthia Ogden et al.; June 2010
- White House Task Force on Childhood Obesity; Solving the Problem of Childhood Obesity within a Generation; May 2010
- "New York Times";Proximity to Fast Food a Factor in Student Obesity; Roni Carin Rabin; March 25,2009
- Institute for Social Research; Obesity Among American Adolescents: Tracking the Problem and Searching for Causes; Lloyd D. Johnston and Patrick M. O'Malley; May 2003
- "Journal of Adolescent Health"; Adolescent Obesity: Towards Evidence-Based Policy and Environmental Solutions; Mary Story et al.; Sept. 2009
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