1 Interventions the US government may adopt to tackle obesity in children. Introduction Obesity in children is one of the most severe health ill-health the US faces today. It is alarming that a third of American children who are between ages 2-15 years are either obese or overweight. In addition, young people are becoming overweight at earlier ages and most of them stay obese for longer while others may grow to be obese adults. Solving the children’s obesity problem may result in more lives being saved as obesity is associated with doubling the susceptibility of dying prematurely. Unfortunately, the increased predominance of obesity condition in the young generations is a huge threat to that. Obesity predisposes children to develop diverse chronic illnesses in adults like type-2 diabetes, cancer, hypertension, and other heart complications (Stavridou et al., 2021). Additionally, obesity may predispose children to bullying, which may demean their self-esteem, and end up living with depression or other mental problems. Moreover, the financial costs spend on obesity and overweight ill health is huge too. It is alleged that expenditure on obesity treatment annually is relatively higher as compared to that spent on police, judicial system, and fire service cumulatively. Stavridou et al. (2021) note that annual clinical expenditure for obese adults is estimated to be $147 billion while that for children; is $14.3 billion. The economic burden is harshly felt by children from low-income families. Usually, obesity rates are the utmost for children who are from disadvantaged areas and groups; with children who are aged 5 being twice susceptible to obesity as compared to their counterparts from well-off families, and by 11 years of age they are 3 times more susceptible. Based on the argument that prevention is better than cure, this paper notes some of the reasons why the government should step in to help counter this epidemic. The government interventions, for instance, may go a long way to cut down on costs that are spent on treatment of obesity-related ill-health such as type-2 diabetes, hypertension, mental illnesses among others (Forgione et al., 2018). Secondly, the government’s aim to reduce health disparities amongst the minority groups and deprived families through policies such as the ACA policy would help in the promotion of health amongst the Americans. Comment by David Dahl Hansson: Who? Introduce sources in some way. Otherwise, this is just a meaningless name. Journalist/writer/Olympic swimmer/something Kimmel (2018) posits that… This tells readers who this is and establishes their credibility. If the publication more effectively establishes credibility, then use that as the lead-in. According to an article in the Journal of Medicine, “…” (Smith, 2016, p. 153). The type of source could also work as the lead in: According to one research study, “…” (Smith, 2016, p. 153). Comment by David Dahl Hansson: You use ...

1. 1
Interventions the US government may adopt to tackle
obesity in children.
Introduction
Obesity in children is one of the most severe health ill -health
the US faces today. It is alarming that a third of American
children who are between ages 2-15 years are either obese or
overweight. In addition, young people are becoming overweight
at earlier ages and most of them stay obese for longer while
others may grow to be obese adults. Solving the children’s
obesity problem may result in more lives being saved as obesity
is associated with doubling the susceptibility of dying
prematurely. Unfortunately, the increased predominance of
obesity condition in the young generations is a huge threat to
that. Obesity predisposes children to develop diverse chronic
illnesses in adults like type-2 diabetes, cancer, hypertension,
and other heart complications (Stavridou et al., 2021).
Additionally, obesity may predispose children to bullying,
which may demean their self-esteem, and end up living with
depression or other mental problems.
Moreover, the financial costs spend on obesity and overweight
ill health is huge too. It is alleged that expenditure on obesity
treatment annually is relatively higher as compared to that spent

2. on police, judicial system, and fire service cumulatively.
Stavridou et al. (2021) note that annual clinical expenditure for
obese adults is estimated to be $147 billion while that for
children; is $14.3 billion. The economic burden is harshly felt
by children from low-income families. Usually, obesity rates
are the utmost for children who are from disadvantaged areas
and groups; with children who are aged 5 being twice
susceptible to obesity as compared to their counterparts from
well-off families, and by 11 years of age they are 3 times more
susceptible. Based on the argument that prevention is better
than cure, this paper notes some of the reasons why the
government should step in to help counter this epidemic. The
government interventions, for instance, may go a long way to
cut down on costs that are spent on treatment of obesity-related
ill-health such as type-2 diabetes, hypertension, mental illnesses
among others (Forgione et al., 2018). Secondly, the
government’s aim to reduce health disparities amongst the
minority groups and deprived families through policies such as
the ACA policy would help in the promotion of health amongst
the Americans. Comment by David Dahl Hansson: Who?
Introduce sources in some way. Otherwise, this is just a
meaningless name.
Journalist/writer/Olympic swimmer/something Kimmel (2018)
posits that…
This tells readers who this is and establishes their credibility. If
the publication more effectively establishes credibility, then use
that as the lead-in.
According to an article in the Journal of Medicine, “…” (Smith,
2016, p. 153).
The type of source could also work as the lead in:
According to one research study, “…” (Smith, 2016, p. 153).

3. Comment by David Dahl Hansson: You use a lot of
sourced material in here, but there are no quotation marks
anywhere. If the words anywhere are not your own, but come
directly from the source, they must be inside quotation marks.
Comment by David Dahl Hansson: That the government
should step in is a clear arguable point. Comment by David
Dahl Hansson: Explain/spell out what this is when it is
mentioned.
Obesity in younger generations is a complicated problem that is
facilitated by various drivers such as behavior, genetics,
environment, and culture. However, the fundamental cause of
obesity is energy imbalance which is taking excess energy
through food than is used in physical activity. Physical activity
is linked with several health returns for children like bone and
muscle growth, enhanced quality of sleep, sustenance of healthy
weight, and overall good health and fitness (Forgione et al.,
2018). The government therefore by use of policy formulation
and implementation may be of great importance in controlling
most of these factors which pave the way for the development
of obesity in children. This may be achieved through
interventions aimed at sugar reductions and calorie reduction to
ensure children take healthy diets, public education, and
physical activity regulation to ensure energy balance.
Comment by David Dahl Hansson: Clear map. Comment by
David Dahl Hansson: This is almost halfway through the essay.
This is too long of an introduction for an essay of this length. In
the introduction, you want to briefly introduce the topic and
also establish the thesis and map. For an essay of this length,
this shouldn’t be longer than a page and with most essays of
this length, the introduction would be half a page.
Interventions that the government can take to solve the problem
of obesity in children Comment by David Dahl Hansson:
Clunky headings.
Introducing and enforcing a soft drinks industry levy
Most US children currently consume many calories certainly
excess sugar. Young generations in the US for instance are

4. alleged to be the largest population that consume sugar-
sweetened drinks in North America (Browne et al., 2020).
Several studies have established that sugary foods consumption
amplifies the risk of consumption of excess calories, increased
susceptibility to tooth decay, and sugar-sweetened drinks
increase children’s vulnerability to type 2 diabetes and are
associated with high weight gain in children. Consumption of a
single 300ml bottle of soft drink with added sugar that is 35g of
sugar for instance may exceed the optimum prescribed daily
sugar intake of a child (Sanyaolu et al., 2019). To counter the
obesity problem the government may introduce soft drinks
industry levy across the US. The levy should be introduced to
producers and importers and should be structured to urge the
producers to consider reducing the sugar concentration in their
products and additionally move the consumers to healthier
options. The US government additionally should use the
revenue earned from the levy to finance programs aimed at
reducing obesity and promoting a balanced diet and physical
activity for children at school.
Introducing sugar reduction program
Several studies have shown that slow changes in the balance of
ingredients in daily products or changes in the product size are
a triumphant means of enhancing healthier diets. According to
Forgione et al. (2018), this strategy instills universal changes
which are not reliant on change of individual behavior.
Therefore the government through launching a redesigned sugar
reduction program purposed to decrease the overall sugar in
products which children consume most would help in tackling
obesity. The government for instance should launch a sugar
reduction program probably to all foods and drinks industry
sector to decrease the overall sugar by at least 20% across a
variety of products consumed largely by children like biscuits,
yogurts, confectionery, cakes, ice cream among others
(Forgione et al., 2018). Comment by David Dahl Hansson:
When switching topics/reasons, establish the topic and point up
front in the paragraph. Basically, spoil the point up front as this

5. frames what follows for readers. Usually, this includes a
transition element, a reference to the thesis point, and the
topic/point of the section.
Ex: Another reason why cigarettes should be banned is the
cancer risk. Comment by David Dahl Hansson: Avoid ending
paragraphs with evidence. Always explain and connect evidence
back to your point in the paragraph and essay. Therefore,
explain what this would do and why it is a reason for your
thesis/argument.
Developing an updated nutrient profile model
In efforts to assist families to identify healthier options, the
government needs to come up with a new framework to help
families find out which drinks or food products are less healthy
same to those which are healthier. Usually, precincts on drinks
and food advertising already primed to guard children are
grounded a nutrient profile tool. Every drink or food product is
assigned a score founded on a calculation of the percentage of
sugar, salt, fat, vegetables, fruits, fiber, proteins, and nuts it
comprises (Browne et al., 2020). An update of the model by the
government to meet the contemporary healthy standards would
encourage companies to manufacture products that are healthier
to avoid probable sanctions. The government should
additionally renew its dietary guidelines to meet advisor y from
the food and drug department to improve the health of diets
(Sanyaolu et al., 2019). In addition, the government should also
embrace clear labeling of the nutrition profile by manufacturers
for families to choose the healthier diets for the children.
Comment by David Dahl Hansson: Add a separate
paragraph here where you briefly discuss counterarguments to
your overall thesis/argument. Who would argue that the
government shouldn’t intervene? Why would they argue that?
Tackle their argument(s) briefly here.
Conclusion
With the increased predominance of the obesity problem in

6. children, there is a need for interventions for everyone. The
government, public sector, industry, and schools have a role in
ensuring food and drinks taken by children are healthier and
encouraging healthier options too. The government for instance
by implementing the above actions would help largely in the
elimination of the epidemic. By so doing, the nation will be able
to reduce the loss of lives due to this epidemic and also expose
the young generation to better opportunities in life.
References
Browne, N. T., Snethen, J. A., Greenberg, C. S., Frenn, M.,
Kilanowski, J. F., Gance-Cleveland, B., Burke, P. J., &
Lewandowski, L. (2020). When pandemics collide: The impact
of COVID-19 on childhood obesity. Journal of Pediatric
Nursing, 56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2020.11.004
Forgione, N., Deed, G., Kilov, G., & Rigas, G. (2018).
Managing Obesity in Primary Care: Breaking Down the
Barriers. Advances in Therapy, 35(2), 191–198.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12325-017-0656-y
Sanyaolu, A., Okorie, C., Qi, X., Locke, J., & Rehman, S.
(2019). Childhood and Adolescent Obesity in the United States:
A Public Health Concern. Global Pediatric Health, 6(6).
https://doi.org/10.1177/2333794x19891 305
Stavridou, A., Kapsali, E., Panagouli, E., Thirios, A.,
Polychronis, K., Bacopoulou, F., Psaltopoulou, T., Tsolia, M.,
Sergentanis, T. N., & Tsitsika, A. (2021). Obesity in Children
and Adolescents during COVID-19 Pandemic. Children, 8(2),
135. https://doi.org/10.3390/children8020135