Overweight Children

By Lee Bo-Duck

<boduck2@hanmail.net>


        As we are well fed, clad and housed, we no longer pay careful attention to seeking things we need. Recently, because people have too many things, it raises new issues. Among them, children's fatness is very serious.
        First of all, as much as being well-to-do, modern children's eating habits raise many discussions. Most children prefer delicious foods rather than food with nutritional balance. Also as their parents are busy, they look for simple and convenient foods. After all, they buy precooked foods and  processed foodstuffs. Processed foodstuffs are most harmful to children. These include cakes, snacks, hamburgers and Chinese noodles. These foods are hard to digest and low in nutritive value.
        Second, more and more children today lack activity and exercise. They sit in front of desks and computers without activity most of the time, so they can't easily digest the foods they eat. This phenomenon has caused the number of overweight children to increase ten percent over last year. This is a very serious problem. It is not an overstatement to say that children's fatness causes diseases like diabetes. Eating too many processed foodstuffs also has other negative effects. By a professional's diagnosis, these children lose their temper for nothing, become excited easily and use violence on impulse. To make a long story short, an unbalanced diet makes children's bodies and minds very sick. If children act impulsively and are unconcerned, public order cannot be maintained.
        Like this, children's dietary life habits are  important not only in the present but also in the future, and they affect not only themselves but also all of the society. What are important factors to become a perfect adult with a  balanced diet? Fist of all, nutritious meals, especially a regular breakfast, is very important. Regular breakfast is of help to normal development of body and mind, as well as studying ability and control of weight. Also, it is important that intake of processed foodstuffs be limited and regular exercise be encouraged.
        Finally, most important is that children's parents look at children's eating once more. It is necessary that children's parents pay more careful attention to the menu at home for children's health. In addition, parents should help their children to get some exercise and  think affirmatively.


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