Our Generation vs. Our Parents
For the first time in centuries children in America have a shorter life expectancy than their parents. We're losing five years our parents have. The question is why. How can a generation of people stop the life expectancy of humans from growing? We've pinpointed two main reasons. Obesity and Technology. "Obesity is such that this generation of children could be the first basically in the history of the United States to live less healthful and shorter lives than their parents," said Dr. David S. Ludwig, director of the obesity program at Children's Hospital Boston
Overweight or Obese
Being overweight means you have excessive body weight compared to set standards and the excess body weight can come from either muscle, bone, fat, and/or body water. Being obese means you have excessive body fat. Everyone needs a certain amount of body fat. Men with more than 25% body fat and women with more than 30% body fat. 17% of the children and adolescents of America are obese which is triple the rate of one generation ago.
Technology
According to a New York Times article, children ages 8-18 spends over 7 1/2 hours in front a screen. This includes hours of music, tv, movies, internet, and video games. Adding up to over 75 hours a week. According to a Stanford University of Medicine study, elementary kids consume 20% of their daily calories while watching tv which mainly happens because of advertisements for junk foods and boredom.