Despite the growing intelligence and technology of the world around us, obesity is rapidly spreading in many nations regardless of age or race (Schwarz, 1). Even young children, starting from preschool age, steadily gain more body fat and slowly move from the healthy to obese percentile. According to the article Obesity Among Low-Income Preschool Children, “1 in 3 children is obese or overweight before their fifth birthday (2).” Often, patterns such as obesity repeat or continue into adulthood (Obesity in Children and Teens, 2). Without making any effort to solve the problem, people contribute to it and allow it to continue to grow out of control. Due to the obesity epidemic, people around the world should be aware of what this devastating problem looks like so they can make an effort to prevent future problems and solve current ones. Obesity is not limited to just one specific cause; has a variety of factors that contribute to weight accumulation over time. The medical definition of obesity is a person who consumes more calories than they burn, which results in weight gain and ultimately obesity (Obesity in Children and Teens, 2). More importantly, people should be aware of daily lifestyle habits that will contribute to excessive calorie consumption and increased inactivity. As a result of the many luxurious conveniences of our technologically advanced society, the next generations of children have become increasingly lazy (Childhood and Adolescence, 1). Because of pleasure-focused perks, such as televisions in every room or multiple portable gaming devices, children prefer to sit and stare at screens rather than enjoy some fresh air outdoors (Overweight and Obesity, 3). ...... middle of paper ...... March 30, 2014.Collingwood, Jane. "Obesity and mental health". Psych Central April 2014: 1-3. Network. April 1, 2014. “Obesity among low-income preschoolers.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d. Web. March 10, 2014. “Obesity in Children and Adolescents.” American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, March 2011: 1-3. Network. March 18, 2014. "The impact of obesity on adolescent health." Healthychildren.org. American Academy of Pediatrics, May 11, 2013. Web. March 18, 2014. “Overweight and Obesity.” KidsHealth.org. The Nemours Foundation, nd. Web. April 7, 2014. Steven, Schwarz M. “Obesity in Children.” Medscape Reference. Reference Medscape, 4 December 2013. Web. 30 March. 2014. .