America's #1 Cause for Obesity

As technology advances, so does the percentage of overweight kids in our nation. Video games like Halo, Call of Duty, and World of Warcraft--all which can be played online against people from all over the world--have won the hearts of children and adults alike. They find themselves glued to the television for hours upon hours, addicted to the competitive violence these games provide. Not only are video games an issue, but games and programs found on the World Wide Web are also causing problems. Applications on Facebook, such as Farmville and Fish World, become top priority in some young adults lives--as they have to check on their farms and fish tanks every few hours in order to assure no crops or fish are withering away or dying. Kids are no longer entertaining themselves with interactive games of tag, hide-and-seek, or capture the flag. Instead, they find entertainment in the media and in technology. Not only is this causing kids to become overweight, but also putting a damper on their social lives. Some children would rather sit at home on the couch and play games than go out and join in a neighborhood game of kickball, or join a sports team. Parents are as guilty as anyone. They need to teach their children the importance of physical activity, encourage them to get out of the house and play, and limit their time on the computer and television.