Childhood Obesity

Obesity has been called the "new American epidemic" by many doctors. It is
estimated that fifty eight million Americans living in the United States are obese,
and that eight out of ten people who are over twenty-five are overweight.

Obesity is, easily, America's fastest growing health concern. This condition,
though, is not limited to American adults. Doctors have recently found that
nearly thirteen percent of all American children suffer from this problem... and
that statistic seems to rise each year.

Understanding the jump in childhood obesity rates is directly linked to

understanding obesity itself. The American Academy of Pediatricians defines
childhood obesity as occurring in kids who have a BMI of more than 30. Other
institutions, though, suggest that a child whose body weight is at least 20%
higher than a child of a similar height is obese. No matter what the exact
definition, obesity is, simply, excess body fat.

Why, though, is obesity such a concern? I mean, hey, an extra Twinkie or two
can't really harm a kid, can it? Actually, yes, it can.

Obesity cannot only increase the risk of psychological problems in kids, such as
eating disorders, depression, and anxiety problems, it can also put them at risk
for all sorts of physiological problems including heart disease, high blood
pressure and diabetes. In fact, forty-five percent of all new cases of juvenile typeII diabetes are obesity linked.

Childhood obesity increases the risk of orthopedic problems. Because kids are
forced to carry extra weight that their bone structures simply cannot handle,
bowed legs and arthritis are increasingly present. Obese kids also have more skin
disorders than children of a healthy weight. Obesity increases the skin area
subject to folds, which, in turn, increases problems like heat rash and dermatitis.
All of this can create serious problems for the child and for our health care
system. In 1979, hospital costs associated with childhood obesity were $35
million. At the end of the decade, they had risen to $127 million.

Some may suggest that the rise in childhood obesity rates is due to naturally
occurring medical conditions like hypothyroidism and Cushing's Syndrome. Each
child who demonstrates symptoms of obesity should be carefully evaluated by a

medical professional for these conditions, although most doctors suggest that
the occurrence of these problems in children is quite low, and the obesity
epidemic is linked to more serious societal problems like low physical activity
levels and poor eating habits.

There is little doubt that childhood obesity rates are on the rise, and treatments
for the problem may be simpler than you think. The best treatment for the
problem, on a societal level, is prevention.

This can be accomplished by increasing the number of mothers who breastfeed

their babies, thereby delaying the introduction of solid foods to six months of
age, limiting the television and video game intake of toddlers and older kids
alike, providing healthy, low-fat nutritious snacks and meals for kids of all ages,
and creating family exercise plans.

If obesity is already present, treatment should include a manageable weight loss

plan, behavior modification therapies, nutrition counseling, and an exercise plan.

Childhood obesity is on the rise, and clearly, everyone is at risk from the effects
of this devastating condition. This "unknown" problem in America needs
attention. Our children are our future, so it is unacceptable to put them at risk for
obesity and the health problems associated with being overweight.

By advocating healthy diets, exercise, and education, the rapid increase in

childhood obesity throughout the country can be ended.

Beginning of Global Warming Speech

"That so many of us are here today is a recognition that the threat from climate
change is serious, it is urgent, and it is growing. Our generation's response to
this challenge will be judged by history, for if we fail to meet it - boldly, swiftly,
and together - we risk consigning future generations to an irreversible
catastrophe."

These are the words President Obama used to begin his global warming speech
before the United Nations Summit in 2009.

Search Google for global warming and you will get almost 65 million pages of
results.

The subject has certainly drawn a lot of attention. But just what is global
warming? What is causing it? What effects does it have on the earth and its
inhabitants? What are some possible solutions? These are the questions that I
will be addressing in this short, informative speech today.

What is Global Warming?

Global warming is the gradual increase of the temperature of earth's atmosphere
and oceans.

Over the past century the average temperatures have gone up by just over one
degree. This may not seem like much, but many scientists agree that the earth's
temperatures are starting to increase at a faster rate.

What Causes It?

Global warming occurs when greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, nitrous
oxide, and methane trap heat inside the earth's atmosphere.

Think about what happens when you open your car door after the windows have
been rolled up on a hot day. Heat from the sun enters the car, but the frame of
the car prevents it from escaping.

To a small extent, this is a representation of what happens during global

warming. Burning fossil fuels like petroleum and deforestation both contribute to
the problem.

What Effects does Climate Change Have on the Earth and its Inhabitants?
Global warming has already started to affect the earth in several ways.

Arctic glaciers have begun to melt, threatening indigenous life such as the polar
bears. Melting glaciers also cause sea levels to rise. This could become a
problem for low land areas like the ones in the South Sea Islands.

Ocean temperatures have begun to rise. This causes some of the algae to die
which can affect the entire food chain.

What are some Possible Solutions to the Problem?

There are ways we can combat the effects of global warming. The Clean Air Act
of 1990 is a law in the United States that attempts to protect and improve the
earth's air and atmosphere.

Some of the components of this law include limiting harmful vehicle emissions
and phasing out the use of chemicals that can damage the ozone layer.

On a more personal level, we can work to prevent global warming by planting

trees and by car-pooling.

Climate change is seen as a serious threat that is receiving serious attention

world-wide. Hopefully, this global warming speech has helped inform you of what
causes it and the effects that it has on the earth. It's up to you to decide how you
can help to do something about it.

A Sample Speech about Bullying

Humans... we are believed to be the smartest creatures on earth.

We have our own special ways of communicating and acting around others. In
fact, every single day, we talk, act, and behave so that our words and actions
meet the primitive expectations of society.

I like to think of my entire body as a coffee machine; my heart the multi-colored

coffee beans before they're ground; my mind the filter, and my words and
actions as the coffee. And what happens to coffee beans? Before you put them
into the machine, all of them are multi colored and special in their own ways. But
after they are ground up and blended together, the uniqueness within each bean
is obscured. Once they have traveled through the filter, all people can see is just
the plain coffee that they wanted. Nobody will ever see the rainbow colored
beans in the darkish brown liquid. Just like nobody can see your initial thoughts
and decisions, that are at conflict with your words and actions. All people can see
and taste is the generic, finished product.

Maybe you're afraid that if you do not "filter" your original ideas and intentions,
others will reject or dislike you. Perhaps they will see your ideas and decisions as
too strong or too bitter, so you instinctively feel the need to change or to filter
your coffee beans.

People would be so surprised if they saw MY original coffee beans. They would be
shocked when they found out the real person I am.

When I was in 4th grade, I transferred to a new school. It was my 5th week there
when I saw a kid being bullied on the playground. I was playing on the swings
when I heard screeching and screaming noises from the other far end. I asked
the girl beside me what it was all about.

She was like: "Oh, don't worry about it, it's just the 6th graders teaching the new
kid in our grade a lesson." She said it as if everything was so natural.

She then smirked then whispered in my ear: "Don't tell anyone that I told you
this but he has the plague!"

I was confused, so I asked her what kind of plague he had, and she told me "It's
the 'nano plague'."

She then explained that it was a virulent disease caused by nano worms that bit
into your face, causing a permanent red mark. And if others touched the victim
or touched something that he'd touched before 3 seconds had passed, they
would be infected as well. Frankly, I was dying to see what that that kid looked
like.

When I got to the other side, I was astounded. I had never seen that many
students circled around and cheering about something. I squeezed my way into
the center of the circle, but the "plague" was nowhere to be found. All I saw were
the backs of two or three tall guys dressed in our school uniform. They all
seemed to be pointing, and talking to something on the floor. Even though I
didn't quite get what they were saying, and I couldn't quite see who or what they
were talking to, my assumption was the plague.

Then I saw that most of the older spectators were laughing, so I laughed with
them. As if the things the tall guys were saying were amusing in some way. After
a while I actually started to enjoy myself. Gradually the guys at the back started
moving aside. My heart beat rapidly as I stretched out my neck for a better view
of the inner circle. I was actually expecting to see a monster looking plague or
perhaps a clone of Frankenstein or something. But to my surprise, it was just a
normal boy.

He might not have been the most stylish person I'd seen, he might have had
glasses that were way too big for his face, he also might have a birthmark that
covered up a little less than one third of his face, but to me, he was just a normal
human being. Who deserved to be treated like one. The smirk gradually vanished
from my face. It was then that I realized that this was not a game, this was not
something funny, this was bullying.

For a moment, there were just way too many thoughts and ideas going through
my mind, and I was just overwhelmed. I remember thinking and asking myself
questions like: Should I go in and help him? Should I at least stop it and tell an
adult?

But instead of following my heart, and doing what was right, I froze. I froze there
like a statue, too shocked to even blink. The shouting noises seems to have
faded into the background. And I seemed to have faded in my own world. I
regretted that I'd ever laughed at him. The feeling of complete melancholy, the
feeling of downright regret and hatred, the feeling of resentment made an
alliance and loomed over me. I felt like I was gagging on salty waters, but too
afraid and too bashful to use my arms and legs to swim to the surface.

He must have noticed me, for he looked up at me with all the strength he had
left. He was bruised all over his face. For about ten seconds, he looked at me and
I looked at him. He then mouthed the words: "Help, please."

Instead of standing up for him, I backed down.

I walked backwards, further and further back until I stumbled and fell out of the
circle of spectators. I looked in his direction until the gap in the crowd started to
fill in. Then I walked away fighting back tears.

I wanted to march up and tell the aggressors and the spectators that what they'd
done was inhumane. I wanted to tell everybody that they did not have the right
to pick on a boy one third of their size, they did not have the right to tell a boy
that he wasn't beautiful, just because of a subtle birthmark on his face. I wanted
to tell them that they were the definition of ignorance and failure. I wanted to tell
them that what they were doing was wrong!

But instead, I walked away and let the victim down.

Three years have passed since the incident, and a lot has changed and
happened. But strangely, that scene is as clear and concise in my mind as it was
then. The regret and the pain stings just as much as it did then. The incident has
became a scar that has formed on my heart and never seems to heal. It's like a
curse that can never be broken.

I'll bet he has forgotten and hated me for what I have done. And I have hated
myself for not speaking up. But I know that it's too late now and I have already
lost a chance to be brave and to be myself.

So with this opportunity, I wanted to show and tell everybody that: Sometimes,
the things you see about me are only the things I reveal. The things you think
you know about me are only the things I let you know about. There is much more
of me that I haven't revealed, of which you have absolutely no idea.

Perhaps the reason that people are afraid to reveal their true identities is that
they might think their thoughts are too bitter, unlikable, unique and different. I'm
a great example of that! I could have followed my heart and stood up for the
boy, but instead, I went with the flow and didn't help a person in need.

I hope that people will learn from my experience and stop filtering their own
unique coffee beans just to go with the flow. Please always be the person that
you really are. I want to tell everyone that it's okay to go upstream. You don't
always have to end up in the same position as others. And that's what makes
this world colorful.

Motivational Speech on Losing Weight

I'm so excited to be here today, talking to you all about losing weight by
choosing a healthy lifestyle. You might ask, "How do you know what I'm going
through?"

Three years ago, when I was just 30 years old, I weighed 315 pounds. That
January I made a resolution to do whatever I needed to do in order to become
healthy. I told my friends, "I'm going to lose the weight. When you see me this
time next year, you will see a different woman."

People wished me well, but I'm sure they had their doubts. After all, I had tried
fad diets before. Sometimes I lost weight, but I always ended up gaining it all
back plus some. This time was different.

I made the lifestyle changes that were needed to get me to the healthy weight of
170 pounds today. I'm here today to tell you that you can do it too. You can lose
the weight, keep it off, and live a healthier life.

I truly believe that the biggest factor in developing a healthy eating lifestyle is a
positive, determined frame of mind. Diet plans I tried in the past didn't work, but
to be honest I never really expected them to work.

The difference for me came from telling myself, "This is it. You can do it. You WILL
do it." I didn't focus mainly on weight loss but on empowering myself to set goals
and then meet them.

It is important to think positive thoughts about yourself and your journey to a

healthy lifestyle. You may face hard times during your transition. The key is to
stay focused on your goals and you will always reach them. Like Ralph Marston
has said, "Your goals, minus your doubts, equal your reality."

Once I knew I was going to become healthier and lose weight, the next thing I did
was throw away all the junk food in my house.

I don't know about you, but I knew if the food was in there, I was going to eat it.
Anytime I went shopping after that only healthy foods made it into the house. I
didn't starve myself. I like to eat too much for that!

It was all about learning a new way to eat. Every day I would fill up on
vegetables, fruit, and lean meats. I encourage everyone here today to do a quick
inventory of your pantry when you get home. Are these the foods that can help
you become the healthy person you want to be?

My next step was to start exercising. At first it was difficult for me. I would get
out of breath just getting ready to exercise! Did I let that stop me? No!

Every day I did as much as I could. I got off the couch and spent time outside. I
parked wherever there was a spot instead of driving around waiting for the
closest one. Gradually, I was able to exercise more and more until I reached the
point where I was able to jog 3-4 miles every day.

This isn't a diet so there is no ending point. It is all about living every day,
making right choices for my health. That is what has helped me to lose almost
150 pounds in three years. That is what has made it possible for me to do the
things I want to do because I have the energy.

I make the decision to be healthy every day when I wake up. You can make that
same decision. I believe in you. Believe in yourself, lose the weight, and live the
healthy lifestyle you have always wanted.