If children don’t want to become obese, only they can do something about it. A better diet, which is more balanced is useful as it gives the right amounts of nutrients to the body. Also, at least some exercise is required everyday to reduce the chance of obesity.
Smoking is very dangerous, especially for 11-16 year olds. It can cause cancer and other serious diseases. It doesn’t only cause diseases, but can also change your appearance and make it horrible. It can give children wrinkled skin, yellow teeth and yellow finger nails. Also, children can become less fit and have breathing problems.
Children smoke because they think its ‘cool’, but most people don’t think it is, but why do children still think that they look cooler with a fag in their hand? Well, the most obvious thing is peer pressure. If all your friends smoke and you don’t, it makes you the odd one out, so you do it as well.
Nobody can make children stop smoking, but we can give them lots of advice, especially younger children as they might think it’s disgusting and so make up their mind not to ever smoke. The government could put posters up warning children not to smoke. These posters can be put at places where children ‘hang out’ most, such as parks. If a law was enforced that underage smoking is illegal and children will be punished, then they might be more aware.
The thing that causes the most damage to children and adults is drinking. Underage drinking can cause bad behavior as it depresses the mind. This can also lead to crime and children get hurt in many incidences. Alcohol can damage the liver if drank in large amounts, especially if your young then the liver find its harder to cope with the amount.
Peer pressure can also cause underage drinking as well as smoking. Alcohol is drank to give stimulation, so they get more energy and can easily. This helps children to chat, especially if they are shy. They want to escape from reality and use alcohol to solve their problems.
The remedies of underage drinking are similar to smoking, such as an enforcement of law for underage drinking and counselling. If a child wants to be stimulated, they can take other things, like coffee. Getting fit will make them happy, so they don’t need alcohol if they are depressed.
I think the government, parents and teachers can only give advice to children about obesity, smoking and drinking. Then it is upto the child to take the advice or not and if they do make the wrong discision, then it’s the child’s own fault for suffering, it’s their own responsibility to take care of themselves.
