The number of teenagers who are overweight or obese is on the rise, and has been for a number of years. Once upon a time teenagers spent quality time in physical education classes at school and joined some kind of sports team for an after school activity. Meals were then eaten with the family.
Even if they did not become a team member, local neighborhood teens would get together to play one-on-one basketball or an impromptu softball game. Just think about the last time you saw a group of teenagers voluntarily riding bicycles or even going for a jog. Many teens today can be found sitting in front of computers instead of outside getting exercise.
Teenagers have become victims of society's preference for everything to be fast. There are fast food meals, fast games, drive-through restaurants, snack machines and microwave meals.
All a teen has to do is put a dollar in the snack machine to get a bag of chips that has virtually no nutritional value, and a sugar-loaded soda that drastically affects blood sugar levels. Even school lunches have not promoted healthy eating habits. They serve cheap fried foods and foods made with fatty meats or high in carbohydrates.
