More children in developed countries are becoming overweight. This is a serious problem for wealthy countries. Discuss some causes and effects of this problem. Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

In virtually all developed countries around the world, rates of overweight and

obesity

Use synonyms

have been rising alarmingly.

This

Linking Words

trend can be seen in all age groups

,

Remove the comma

apply

show examples

but is particularly worrying where

children

Use synonyms

are concerned. Before looking at the consequences of childhood

obesity

Use synonyms

, it is necessary to examine the various interconnecting causes. There is no one cause of

obesity

Use synonyms

in

children

Use synonyms

, but

instead

Linking Words

a variety of contributing factors. There is a growing body of evidence that certain genes predispose young people to be obese.

However

Linking Words

, environment and lifestyle still play a major role.

Children

Use synonyms

today lead far more sedentary lives than those in the past;

instead

Linking Words

of playing sports and games

outdoors

Add a comma

outdoors,

show examples

they are more likely to spend their time sitting in front of a television or computer screen. Even though they use little energy, they consume large numbers of calories in the form of junk food and soft drinks, and these excess calories are likely to manifest as weight gain. Whatever the causes of juvenile

obesity

Use synonyms

, the effects are extremely serious. People who have weight problems when they are

children

Use synonyms

will in all likelihood have a lifelong struggle with their weight, which in turn can lead to serious health problems

such

Linking Words

as diabetes and heart disease. In some extreme

cases

Add a comma

cases,

show examples

they might not even make it to adulthood. There have been cases of

children

Use synonyms

as young as eight suffering from heart Access --DELETED LINK-- for more

practices

Change the noun form

practice

show examples

page 3 attacks linked to

obesity

Use synonyms

.

To sum up

Linking Words

,

it is clear that

Linking Words

obesity

Use synonyms

in

children

Use synonyms

is one of the major health issues facing developed nations today. Unless governments make a serious investment in examining and dealing with both the genetic and environmental causes of

this

Linking Words

problem, it is one

that is

Linking Words

likely to grow.