Childhood Obesity A Problem For Years - 1342 Words

In the United States, childhood obesity has been a problem for years. The increase of the disease is becoming more rapid as time goes by. More than 23 million children and adolescents are being diagnosed with overweight or obesity in the US. Virginia has been ranked 23rd in America with the highest overweight or obesity in children. In Virginia, children ages two to five 16.5% were considered overweight and 15.5% were considered obese. Childhood obesity can cause serious health and physical problems, not only now, in the future if not carefully taken care of before or when it is obvious to the eye. The fact that fast food restaurants are becoming more convenient, lack of physical activity, and parenting methods are some main reasons why†¦show more content†¦Children that are already obese can have high blood pressure or high cholesterol. â€Å"Obese youth are more likely to have risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure. In a population-based sample of 5- to 17-year-olds, 70% of obese youth had at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease.† (Center for Disease Control, 2015) They also can develop prediabetes; this is a condition when the blood sugar is higher than average, but not high enough to be considered diabetes. Not only health effects but self- esteem issues and being bullied are a major concern, as well. Children who are obese are more than likely to be obese as adults. Adult obesity can lead to heart disease, stroke, multiple cancers, and arthritis. Sometimes genetics has a big factor to do with a child’s physical appearance, steps toward preventing overweight and obesity can be taken. Fast food restaurants have been blamed for years for the obesity rate sky rocketing up. Although I do not ultimately agree that it is the restaurants fault, I do think it is a little ridiculous that a double cheeseburger at McDonald’s costs a dollar, but a salad cost over five dollars. The nutrition value compared from a double cheeseburger and a chicken salad at McDonald’s are pointless. The calories in a chicken salad is 480, and the calories for a double cheeseburger is 437. You might as well just spend less money and consume less calories with a double

Nicholas victor or victim Essay Example For Students

Nicholas: victor or victim? Essay I have read Sredni Vashtar, The Lumber-Room and The Holy War and have noticed that they have many similarities. Religion is a theme in all three stories. In The Holy War the title itself has religious connotations, suggesting a conflict over a very important issue, and the hooting of owls is described as Vespers. In Sredni Vashtar Mrs De Ropps Christianity is contrasted with Conradins fierce and impatient religion, while in The Lumber-Room the aunt exploits Christianity in an attempt to frighten the children into obedience. Saki does not deny life a spiritual dimension, but he does not seem to have doubts about the value of conventional Christianity. Nature often seems a more important force in his short stories. In The Holy War the garden and its animals represent nature. Thirza makes improvements, introducing order, monotony and profit, and is appropriately, killed by a wild swan. In Sredni Vashtar, Conradins only companions are a Houdan hen and a polecat-ferret. Nature also takes revenge in this story, Mrs De Ropp being killed by Sredni Vashtar. In The Lumber-Room, depictions of nature- an embroidered hunting scene on a fire-screen and a book about birds- are important elements in the story. Nature seems to be of particular significance in these stories because it appeals to the imagination of males. In The Holy War, Revil Yealmton regards the house and garden as an earthly paradise and his desired land. Conradins imagination, rampant under the spur of loneliness, converts a simple brown ferret in a hutch into his wonderful god. Nicholass imagination gorges itself on the many objects of delight and interest that he discovers in the lumber-room. Imagination helps the males to endure and gives meaning to their lives. All three stories are based on a single struggle between a male and a female, which the female loses eventually. The Holy War is an exception because the struggle there is between husband and wife. As the story is set in the Edwardian period, it is not surprising that Revil, the husband, gets his own way. The other two stories centre on conflicts between male children and female adults who are not their parents. Despite having authority, resources and privileges, the females are deflated and Saki clearly invites us to enjoy the victories of the male underdogs, Conradin and Nicholas. There are, however, major differences between Nicholas and Conradin. Conradin is ill and has only five years to live. He hates his guardian and is desperately lonely. His only two companions are the polecat-ferret and the Houdan hen. He is used to suffering defeat and definitely does not expect to triumph over his guardian. The ending and victory are a major surprise to him and the reader. Nicholas, on the other hand, is not ill or lonely and does not hate his aunt. Victory is not a matter of life and death to him, but he is bored and mischievous and enjoys outwitting his bossy aunt. He is cleverer and more resourceful and resilient than Conradin. The latter is extremely fortunate to receive victory; the former plans and achieves a deserved victory. Despite Nicholass cunning, he is still an underdog and is victimized by his aunt in many ways. She exploits Christianity in an effort to frighten him into obedience and when this fails she punishes him by excluding him from hastily inverted treats. He is also denied small pleasures such as strawberry jam merely out of spite. More important is the lack of stimulation for Nicholass imagination. The house is dull and bare and the aunt does not realize how important it is for childrens lives to be varied and interesting. If the children behaved perfectly all the time, they would never get a special treat. In some ways, then, Nicholas is a victim, but his aunt has not managed to break his spirit.