According to the Centers For Disease Control And Prevention (CDC), Childhood Obesity is increasing every year:
Learn More: http://cdc.gov
THE TOULMIN MODEL:
Claim:
“the argument you wish to prove“
Important concepts pertaining to living a healthly lifestyle should be enforced in schools by government in order to help control the uprise of childhood obesity.
Qualifier:
“any limits you place on your claim”
This enforcement, and more importantly information, of eating healthy should be provided by the schools.
Evidence:
“underlying assumptions that support your claim”
-
Many physical education classes, which used to be four years, have been cut to two years in high school settings.
-
Children aren’t as active as they used be. They aren’t living a healthy lifestyles ⇒ lack of physical activity and exposure to poor food choices being major contributors.
-
The lack of exercise is especially due to technology such as TV, Video Games, and Smartphones
“Every little boy wants a computer in his pocket …”
– Brooks Neilson, The Growlers Lyric
-
-
Habits learned as a child continue on to adulthood.
-
Continuing with such an unhealthy lifestyle can cause several health problems, such as high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, etc.
-
-
Parents are accustomed to forcing their children to finish their meals even when the child complains thy’re “full.”
-
Students’ food choices at school, such as breakfast and lunch, are actually quite high in calories. The children are fed these meals at the school, making it difficult for parents to have a say in what their children eat at school.
Warrant:
“underlying assumptions that support your claim”
Due to the fact that schools aren’t implementing a plan proper nutrition and physical activity; students are not obtaining a balanced nutrition, in turn, childhood obesity is on the rise.
Backing:
“evidence for warrant”
Childhood obesity has risen in the past fewdecades.
“The percentage of children aged 6–11 years in the United States who were obese increased from 7% in 1980 to nearly 18% in 2012. Similarly, the percentage of adolescents aged 12–19 years who were obese increased from 5% to nearly 21% over the same period.” (CDC.gov, 2014)
Warrant 2:
Since schools have a lack of such classes that can educate students about the favorable aspects of being healthy and the negative associations of being obese, children do not have adequate information about nutrition and physical exercises.
Backing 2:
Kids with high awareness are more likely to grow healthier by avoiding all reasons that can negatively impact them.
Warrant 3:
Government should take initiative establishing efficient programs around the entire country in the sense of achieving the desired goals.
Backing 3:
Let’s Movet, he campaign which has been created by Michelle Obama in order to vanish children obesity. “In the end, as First Lady, this isn’t just a policy issue for me. This is a passion. This is my mission. I am determined to work with folks across this country to change the way a generation of kids thinks about food and nutrition.
Rebuttal:
“potential objections to an argument”
Counterclaim:
The school and government can only do so much.
Parents do not have the sufficient time.
There are healthy choices available but children want fast food or junk food.
Response:
1. Educate the parents on childhood obesity.
A. Send home information about childhood obesity.
1.Give Facts, statistics, figures.
2.Explain nutrition and physical activity are factors.
3.Tell how parents can help.
B. Provide a workshop for parents concerning childhood obesity.
1. Give ideas of healthy meals.
2. Plan out days for physical activity for the whole family.
C. Allow a parent’s day.
1. Come to school and have a physical education day with children.
2. Children should be a parent’s number one priority.
A. Child’s Health.
1. Short term: Health problems.
“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.” (CDC,2014)
“Children and adolescents who are obese are at greater risk for bone and joint problems, sleep apnea, and social and psychological problems such as stigmatization and poor self-esteem.” (CDC,2014)
2. Long-term health effects: obesity goes to adulthood.
“Children and adolescents who are obese are likely to be obese as adults 11-14 and are therefore more at risk for adult health problems such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, several types of cancer, and osteoarthritis. One study showed that children who became obese as early as age 2 were more likely to be obese as adults.” (CDC,2014)
B. Child’s self-esteem.
“A recent University of Minnesota study reveals that children who were teased about being overweight were more likely to have poor body image, low self-esteem, and symptoms of depression. The study found that 26 percent of teens who were teased at school and home reported they had considered suicide, and 9 percent had attempted it. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among adolescents.” (Eisenberg,2003)
“While it can be more difficult to diagnose child depression than depression in adults, a survey of more than 1,500 9- to 10-year-olds found that 20% of those who were obese often felt sad, compared to only 8% of their healthy-weight peers.” (Webmd,2014)
C. Child’s future.
“Obese children between the ages of 10 and 13 have an 80 percent chance of being obese adults. Children are considered obese when their weight is at least 10 percent higher than recommended for their age and height.”(Facts for families,2014)
3. Don’t tempt children.
A. Eliminate bad choices.
1. Fruits, vegetables, and nuts are encouraged to be used for snacks.
2. Water is supposed to be used instead of soda.
B. Provide healthier meals when cooking.
1. MyPlate
Variety of fruit and vegetables
Whole-grain products
Low-fat/non-fat milk products.
Variety of protein.
Water.
Limit sugar intake.
4. Set an example.
A. Be active as a family.
B. Chose healthy foods.
Works Cited:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 13 Aug. 2014. Web. 08 Oct. 2014.
“Depressing Eating: Child Depression and Overweight Children.” WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 03 Oct. 2014.
Eisenberg, M. E. “Associations of Weight-Based Teasing and Emotional Well-being Among Adolescents.” Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine 157.8 (2003): 733-38. Web.
“Obesity In Children And Teens.” Facts for Families. American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, n.d. Web. 04 Oct. 2014.
Visual Argument - Child Obesity 