In many countries, children are becoming overweight and unhealthy. Some people think that government should have the responsibility.
To what extend do you agree or disagree ?
In many parts of the world, a large number of children are becoming obese and unfit. Given this, there are those who believe that the onus to solve this problem is on the state. I personally think that governments, parents and schools should all play a part in the effort to help children avoid such problems.
Of course, the state should be held responsible for the rising rates of childhood obesity and the decline in children's health. This is because most governments have little to no regulation over the consumption of harmful food items such as junk food and sugary drinks, and these products have been scientifically proven to cause obesity. For example, the government in Scotland even gave tax cuts to many companies that sell fast food, leading to a surge in obesity among children in this country. Furthermore, large open public spaces such as parks and squares, where children often engage in physical activities, are being replaced by high-rise apartments, shopping malls and other developments. This happens due in large part to government policies or insufficient oversight.
Although the role that governments play in reducing childhood obesity is undeniable, parents and schools should also shoulder this responsibility. Regarding the former, they are the ones deciding what food their children consume and what activities they participate in. Therefore, if more parents feed their children healthier food options and encourage them to partake in sports and outdoor activities, we can expect to see a decline in the rate of children who are overweight and unhealthy. As for schools, they can also incorporate more PE lessons into their curricula, and organize more extracurricular activities that encourage children to be physically active. This should be done in tandem with educating them about the dangers of leading a sedentary lifestyle and consuming unhealthy foods such as fast food and sugar-packed beverages.
In conclusion, for the reasons mentioned above, all stakeholders, including governments, parents and schools should be responsible for addressing the obesity epidemic among children.
