Effective Speaking

Persuasive Speech

Jocelyn Tumolo

Have you ever noticed the size of the children around you? Think about the last time you were at an elementary school or the, mall did you notice or suspect issues with the weight of the kids? Whether or not you noticed, you are looking at a new normal. A normal way of being that is referred to as childhood obesity. Childhood obesity is quickly becoming a problem that all of us will have to deal with in some way. The severity of this epidemic will complicate the lives of our younger generation. Overweight and obese children are at risk for serious problems related to their physical and emotional well-being.

The next time you are at the school, the mall or the ballgame, take note of what you see. Do you see the new normal? How do you think it will make you feel?

I have personally experienced elementary children who are overweight and obese. Over the last 5 years, I have helped develop and manage a program for elementary aged children called Irun4Life. The program is designed to encourage kids to be active in life and stay healthy through running and eating right.

So, with that as our backdrop, we will explore the problem of childhood obesity, some of the factors that contribute to it and what all of you can do to help change the future of our children’s health and wellbeing.

Childhood obesity is steadily increasing in our society and threating our kid’s health. This epidemic is spreading across our country like a forest fire burning out of control. It is estimated that 1 out of 3 children are overweight today and the numbers continue to rise. Our society is at risk of raising super-sized kids who will live sicker and die younger then generations of young people before them.

According to the American Psychological Association, the rate of obesity in American Children and youth has almost tripled in the last quarter century. Approximately 20% of our youth are now overweight with obesity rates in preschool age...