There is an obvious reason why children can't drive when they feel like it, or go out and play wherever they want. Children cannot even drink a cigarette or a beer because if children did these things, they would definitely suffer the consequences, perhaps with their lives. It seems crazy to think about allowing children to do something dangerous, yet every day millions of American children slowly kill themselves with unhealthy and dangerous foods. Of the 33.8 percent of Americans diagnosed with obesity in 2010, 17 percent were children between the ages of two and nineteen. In other words, obese children make up nearly half of the total obese people in America, and that's an astonishing fact. (CDC, n.d.). These children are not overweight, but obese. It is clear that finding a solution is significant for the future health of this country; However, solving this grave problem requires the cooperation of all Americans. Education and dialogue about the dangers of obesity will help society unite and form a comprehensive life plan. Working together in the school system, in the community and especially at home can significantly reduce childhood obesity. To understand childhood obesity in America, it is important to understand what causes childhood obesity, how it affects children and families, and what people can do to help in the fight against childhood obesity. One of the ways to understand how children become obese involves learning about how the environment affects their daily lives. The neighborhoods where children live usually depend on the income level of the parent or guardian. If a child lives in a safe neighborhood with parks, sidewalks, and a low crime rate, he or she is more likely to go out and play. A few......half of the paper......and. WebMD, retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20110804/study-healthy-eating-costs-moreMangu-Ward, K. (2011, October 14). Five myths about healthy eating. The Washington Post, excerpted from http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/five-myths-about-healthy-eating/2011/10/10/gIQAK9uZkL_story.htmlOverweight and Obesity, (n.d.). Overweight and childhood obesity. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/childhood/data.htmlPoppendieck, J. (2010, December 17). 5 myths about school food. The Washington Post, Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/17/AR2010121702561_pf.htmlRahman, T., Cushing, R. A., & Jackson, R. J. (2011). Contributions of the built environment to childhood obesity. Monte Siani Journal of Medicine, 78(1), 49-57. doi:10.1002/msj.20235 retrieved from Kaplan Library