Have you ever stood in line and noticed a family with several overweight children and wondered what could have been done to prevent this? This is a common sight to see these days. Most children today are barely able to participate in daily activities due to being overweight. More and more children are developing illnesses due to their obesity that will cause serious problems in their lives. A person's weight often impacts not only their health, but also their self-esteem. All of these problems are getting worse and worse, and nothing has been done to stop or prevent them. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “approximately…12.5 million children and adolescents ages 2 to 19 are obese” (“Overweight”). The center also stated that “children who are overweight or obese at preschool age are 5 times more likely than normal-weight children to be overweight or obese as adults” (“Adolescent”). What most people don't realize is that even if these problems have gone too far, there are many simple ways to prevent them. The diet and amount of exercise a child gets very early in life can affect them throughout their life, and it often plays a role in determining whether they will be obese in the future of their life. or not. regarding their children's health has really put their children's health at risk. Children are now falling ill with illnesses that once did not affect them at all. Type 2 diabetes was once considered a disease that only adults could get, but now that the obesity epidemic has become so severe, it's a sad reality for children as well. Parents have allowed their children to make choices and are careful to remind them of the impact of these choices on their future. With encouragement at home and at school, children can begin to take a step in the right direction toward a much healthier future and more prosperous life. Works Cited “Adolescent and School Health.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, July 10, 2013. Web. November 6, 2013. “Let’s move.” Learn the facts. Np, February 9, 2010. Web. November 8, 2013. “Overweight and obesity.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, January 11, 2013. Web. November 7, 2013. “Public Health Genomics.” » Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, May 10, 2013. Web. November 7, 2013. “Stanford Hospital and Clinics.” Stanford University. 2013. Internet. November 6. 2013.