Who is to blame for child obesity? The answer is not simple  --  lately, there has been much controversy surrounding this topic. Finger pointing and heated arguments arise when the question of who to blame for this growing predicament is asked. Parents accusing food companies' advertisements, fast-food companies accusing school systems; no one wants to take the fault for increasing child obesity rates. The percentage of obese children in America has increased tremendously over the past decade, and unfortunately, no one is taking a stand to decrease this problem. The main culprits of childhood obesity are faulty upbringings and influential advertisements. Due to today's continuously increasing rate of obesity in children, actions need to be taken promptly to eradicate this significant problem. 

Childhood obesity starts at the core of the child, which is the upbringing; more specifically the family's income, type of lifestyle, and the discipline that the child receives. Let's Move (America's Move to raise a Healthier Generation of Kids) states that, "more than 23 million Americans, including 6.5 million children, live in low-income urban and rural neighborhoods that are more than a mile from a supermarket. These communities are known as "food deserts" since they lack access to affordable, nutritious food. Lack of access is one reason why many children are not eating recommended levels of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains."  So many children are affected by the lack of income and are resulting in the increase of their weight. Awareness for these 6.5 million children is nowhere close to what it should be, it honestly seems invisible.  According to Isabella Gonzalez, author of "Childhood Obesity: Do Parents Have the Right to Point Fingers?" she states, "Childhood obesity is caused by the parent's lack of awareness and responsibility." Gonzalez believes that child obesity is an action by a free will individual and for small individuals; they are being influenced by a more mature, older individual (upbringing). A family's income can definitely affect a child's weight. A study associating between family income and children's physical fitness and obesity took place in California from 2010 to 2012. The results of their study showed that 56% of children having lower family income was associated with lower fitness scores and a higher prevalence of obesity. Low-income families lack access to healthy, affordable foods. According to FRAC (Food Research & Action Center), low-income neighborhoods frequently lack full-service grocery stores and farmers' markets where residents can usually buy a variety of high quality fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products. On top of that, when grocery stores are available, healthy foods may be a lot more expensive. FRAC states, " ... the potential for waste, whereas refined grains, added sugars, and fats are generally inexpensive, palatable and readily available in low-income families." "Waste" is cheaper than fresh, and so parents are feeding their children the cheap side of food. Having a little budget means that the parents will stretch to go the cheap way. Fast food such as McDonalds, Taco Bell, KFC, and Wendy's, typically has lower nutritional quality and absurd amount of calories that eventually links to obesity and bad eating habits. This falls back on the upbringings, as they need to step up and be able to feed their children in the best nutritionist way that they can; yes, I know this can be hard with low income families but this goes for every income. Finding ways to supply nutritional meals and avoiding the cheaper way will help the children in the long run.

Solutions can come in all sorts of ways. There are many solutions for low-income families that can help their children receive healthier foods. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is offered by the Department of Health and Human Services, also known as Welfare can help low income families receives some extra money to out food on the table. Food stamps are another source of money to help buy nutritious necessities for the family. The smallest things like coupons and a lookout for sales can make a difference. According to Coupon Statistics, the average value of a coupon in 2012 was $1.53 overall and that in 2012, coupon distribution amounted to $1,535 savings potential per person in the U.S. This just proves that the use of coupons and government ran programs for low-income families can make a difference between putting a quick and easy, unhealthy meal and a nutritious meal for their children. 

The type of lifestyle that the upbringings live in can also affect their children. US National Library of Medicine states, "Mealtime structure is important with evidence that families who eat together consume more healthy foods. Furthermore, eating out or watching TV while eating is associated with a higher intake of fat." Living in the 21st century, I know all of us can agree that life is fast; Always on the go and time can be cut tight. Couch potato lifestyles set in. After a long day at work or a lazy feeling to cook, fast food is the easy way out. Becky Sorensen, author of "Obesity in America and its children: Affecting the Lives of Millions" states," One can call to have a greasy, large pepperoni pizza delivered to his door, or spend three minutes in the Wendy's drive thru and grab dinner for the whole family. People can even order food over the phone and go pick it up. Americans love convenience, they are willing to pay a little extra money for it." This fast lifestyle is affecting children in the long run as they are not receiving the full nutrition that they need.. St. Rosemary Educational Institutional article "Who is to Blame?" states that, " Children are helpless with the type of food their parents and families provide." Upbringings need to take the responsibility to slow down this lifestyle and focus on healthier solutions for their children. 

Lifestyles are definitely hard to change around and solutions can be tough to find but there are some such as meal preparation, budgeting/ recognizing the amount of money you are spending on food (eating out), and setting time aside to participate in physical activity with the children. Meal prep is a way for people to save time in the kitchen, money in your pocket, and helps keep you and your family on track with eating healthy. What is meal prep? It is planning and prepping your meals in advance for the week; taking time to cook items in bulk and eating leftovers for the week. This can adjust to the family's lifestyle while still serving a great nutritious value to the kids. Going more in depth with another solution is budgeting/awareness of how much money is really being spent on eating out and on the go foods. According to Trent Hamm, author of "Trimming the Average Budget: Eating Out", the average American family spends $225 a month eating away from home. Hamm states, "Much of this spending comes about simply because it's convenient. For example, I don't have time to make lunch, so I'll stop at Mickey D's and pick up a sandwich to go or It's been a long day, let's go out to eat.  Budgeting the amount of eating out and making it into a "treat" would be a great first step. That $225 can go towards groceries and healthy substitutions that fast food.  Lastly, setting time aside for the children to go outside for a physical activity will really help. Jeffery Tanji from UC Davis Health Systems states, "Think of activity as your family's "medicine". If you had to take a pill each day to keep yourself healthy, you would make it a priority to remember to do so."  Setting time to do physical activity as family could not only reduce the health risks but it also builds a bond in the family that can never be broken. 

Disciplining a child can set them up for success, especially with eating habits and healthy choice making. VicHealth research conducted by the Centre for Physical Activity at Deakin University, researches on how levels of childhood obesity increases due to lack of discipline from the upbringings. According to the leader of this research, Associate Professor Anna Timperio, she states," Parents, say they are concerned about kids who sit for long periods of time without moving, but they may also allow these devices in their child's bedroom, and we know having television in the bedroom is associated with having a higher body mas index." Upbringings are allowing children to be lazy and allowing them to also eat whatever they please which is usually junk food. The research found that the family environment is the most important factor in determining children's physical activity levels, with upbringing habits greatly impacting their children. Set limits and stick to them. 

As I go on Google and search  "How to discipline a child", I encountered 194,000,000 results popping up; I was easily overwhelmed. What to do? The three top solutions to this problem are starting healthy decisions early with the child, leading by example, and setting up a system to award the child. Starting healthy decisions early can really benefit a child in the long run, but it all starts with the parent's knowledge of food. We Can, a organization for ways to enhance children's activity and nutrition, takes time to create handbooks and videos for parents to provided the right balance for their children. After parents get the knowledge they can start their children on the right road of being healthy which can low the risk for the child to become obese or any other health problems. Also being a good role model for the child can turn things around. Making sure that you are making healthy food choices and incorporating activity into your life can greatly influence the child to be more like you. EatRight Ontario, a group of dietitians, states, "As a parent, you have an important role in shaping your children's eating habits. By creating a positive eating environment and being a good role model, you can help your children develop healthy eating habits that can make a lasting impact on their health." Lastly, set up a system or in other words, a game/tradeoff. For instance, for every 3 healthy meals you eat you can have one peanut butter Reese cup. Have a balance between healthy eating with a reward of a small, tasty treat. Disciplining a child means teaching them to obey rules or a code of behavior, if not followed then using a punishment to correct disobedience. Again, set limits and stick to them. 

The other culprit of childhood obesity is influential advertisements. Advertising to children happens every second of the day, and you probably don't even realize it. Referring back to the St. Rosemary Educational Institutions article "Child Obesity: Who is to blame?" it states that "[w]ith the average American child watching 19 hours and 40 minutes of television per week, they are getting a constant exposure to junk and fast food ( ... ) When these numbers are calculates together it means that over a span of a week a child can be viewing over 500 commercials just alone about sustenance." Fast food companies such as McDonalds and Taco Bell take full advantage of children when they watch television by shoving advertisements in their faces. Statics say that 80% of commercials on children televisions are junk food The number of commercials presented in a 30 minute span is shocking. For example, a study shown on a children show on YTV: ""[B]etween 5:00-5:30 there were 13 commercials ranging from fast food, sugar drinks, and unhealthy snacks that bombarded the screen." This example is a primes reason why people need to take off the blindfold, as they are oblivious to just how many commercials we are exposed to. Aleathia Cezar, author of "The Effects of Television Food Advertising on Childhood Obesity" says, "Thirty percent of children 0 to 3 years of age and 43% of children 4 to 6 years of age have televisions in their rooms, which is factor that increases the children's likelihood of weight problems." Not only are advertisements taking place on the television but also on the Internet, children books/magazines, toys, and signs on the street. Inescapable. The Institute of Medicine of the National Academics found that the food marketing influences children's food preferences, consumption, and health.  Advertisements have branded many children's' minds and are a huge influence on obesity rates for children. 

Advertising is a huge business that can truly never be stopped but can be affected by the adult's decisions. The solutions to the amount of advertising that children are exposed to are cable restrictions, parental locks on TV, and supplying better resources that embrace healthy eating lifestyle/ positive vibes. Cable restrictions, meaning limiting the hours that the child watches television and the types of shows that are being watched. Going to Netflix, and only allowing the child to watch movies with no to very little exposure to unhealthy influences. Parental locks is very similar to cable restriction but the parent is putting a lock on the TV till the parent can supervise the child while being exposed to certain advertisements. Locking certain channels and certain times can stop bad habits and equal less risk for their child. Lastly, supplying better resources to the children such as a cookbook or shows of healthy eating to push out the bad habits of unhealthy decisions and eating. Advertisements have been greatly exposed to this century's children and many unhealthy decisions have taken place to due to the mind games that these companies play. Advertisements need to be held responsible. 

Growing up in exercise and competing in softball at a high level has given me a strong stance against child obesity. I have always lived my life around healthy decisions as these decisions have helped me to perform at my optimum level. Because of my healthy lifestyle, I have reached my long time goal and gained the opportunity of a lifetime to play division one softball at the University of South Carolina. I have gotten the backstage education on eating healthy and instructional exercising that most kids and adults do not have the opportunity to learn. Being healthy at a young age was not easy for me, though the more time I dedicated to softball, the more I realized the importance of being healthy. I became more aware of the advantages that the healthier, fit kids had over me in my sport. It was time to make a change. Someone is responsible for child obesity and it is time to bring out the truth; influential advertisements' and faulty upbringings need to be held accountable.  

Childhood obesity has increased tremendously over the years and little to nothing is being done to decrease this problem. Excuses and not taking responsibility is what is holding back the culprits from making a change. According to a scholarly article, Health Affairs, a city called Somerville, Massachusetts is a prime example of potential success. With the leadership from the mayor, Somerville combines a series of school-based interventions with healthy food labeling program in restaurants, engagement of medical providers to the lower income and any one that was in need, and community infrastructure improvements to support physical activity. These initiatives slowed the rates of increase in the number of children coming obese. Imagine if the community as a whole came together just like mayor took action for his community, and put a stand to make a difference in our children's lives. Solutions are possible but the only thing stopping them from working is a determined mindset. Low-income families, fast lifestyle, discipline children all have solutions but it is now up to the parent to take the stand and make it right for their children. Advertising is a huge impact on today's world but by doing the little things such as setting in cable restrictions or parental locks can be less exposure for children. Childhood obesity is a disease and the main culprits increasing the rate of this disease are the upbringings and advertisement. 
