Journal of Undergraduate Research
Keywords
childhood obesity, food consumption, food choices, cause of death
College
Family, Home, and Social Sciences
Department
Economics
Abstract
Over the past three decades, there has been a significant increase in the percentage of obese persons in the United States. Among adults, rates have more than doubled, while nearly tripling for children over the same period (Anderson, Butcher, & Levine, 2003). Now the second leading cause of death in the United States, obesity contributes to heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, and many types of cancers (Rashad, Grossman, & Chou, 2005). Economic costs, in the form of health care and lost productivity, amounted to $12.7 billion in 1994 alone (Tomson, Edelsburg, Kinsey, & Oster, 1998). It is worrisome, considering these costs, that more children are becoming obese. Such costs are likely to follow the children throughout adulthood, especially as habits formed early in life can make it difficult for people to reduce their weight to a level more pleasing to them (Bednarek, Jeitschko, & Pecchenino, 2003).
Recommended Citation
Done, Stephen and Eide, Dr. Eric
(2013)
"The Economics of Childhood Obesity,"
Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2013:
Iss.
1, Article 179.
Available at:
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2013/iss1/179