America’s youth may be perplexed as to why the extra pounds are packing on around their waist. However, the National Center for Health statistics shows that over 38 million of America’s youth are obese and the number is consistently rising.

 

A typical day involves consuming many high-calorie snacks throughout the day.

A typical day for today’s young adults consist of rushing off to class before breakfast while consuming their mid-morning coffee paired with some munchies from the local convenience store, a quick lunch and a television dinner after four hours of part-time work.

    Young Americans have become too busy to pursue a healthy lifestyle. Unhealthy weight gain due to poor diet and lack of exercise is responsible for over 300,000 deaths each year, according to the America Academy of Child and Adolescence Psychiatry website.

    Technology has enabled America’s young adults to push exercising and proper eating to the back burner and accept obesity. Most college or college-bound students are not only overweight but also just a few pounds away from obesity, according to a 2006 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  Studies also show that computer technology, for example, has allowed a welcome reduction in mind-numbing tasks that were previously performed manually.  It has also encouraged laziness, which is very common among our country’s “technology savvy” youth.

    Generations who lived prior to the 21st century associated obesity with wealth and success.  America’s youth are making unhealthy life choices, believing that if they are successful then their health is unessential.   
    
    Mia McWilson, 23, a registered nurse in Arizona, said, “It is extremely complicated to weigh out the importance of eating healthy or having a successful, demanding career.” Wilson admits to being one of America’s young adults who snack throughout the day instead of eating a balanced meal.  

    Years ago, Americans were unaware of the dangers of obesity but now it is among one of the leading preventable causes of death worldwide. Researchers are working everyday to find cures to the diseases caused by obesity such as heart disease, type-two diabetes, osteoarthritis and various cancers. Over 20 years ago, 8 percent of young adults were obese. Currently, that number has tripled to 24 percent, according to National Center for Health Statics website.
   
    “I have seen a dramatic increase in obesity amongst the youth, the youth are no longer interested in living a healthy life style and enjoy the constant availability of convenience store eating,” said Valerie Wimms, director of Pittsburgh’s Healthy Hearts and Soul youth department.  Healthy Hearts and Soul is a non-profit organization that was created to promote healthy lifestyles amongst the youth.

    America’s youth are at risk of becoming one of the more than 40 million obese. Obese youth will spend over 5.7 percent of the National Health Expenditure on the disease, according to predictions done by National Institutes of Health website.
Life may take its toll; the question is will America’s youth pay the price with their lives.