...(Bachtel, 2010). But also according to two visual sources, watching too much seems to be the main problem with childhood obesity because children eat bad foods as they watch television (Giany, 2010), (Perez, 2006). But if parents monitor more of their kids’ television time, maybe obesity would not be such a huge problem. In the text by Bachtel, it was an essay in which she describes that “times have changed” (Bachtel, 2010). Back when she was younger, and when most of us were also, we played outside most of the time. But today with so many types of entertainment, for example, TV, video games, and computers, kids do not want to go outside. Many kids today are considered latch key kids so when they get home from school they have to stay indoors. So of course they are going to watch television. Then as they are watching TV, they are going to want to eat a snack. This in turn is causing less exercise in children, which can cause obesity. The essay also states that if there were no televisions in the home, there would be no choice to get outside more and would not be able to just sit around and eat junk food (Bachtel, 2010). Another text article from the GCU library researchers say children who watch televisions for 2 to 4 hours are more likely to develop hypertension (Howe, 2008). But hypertension is not the only problem with too much television, but also obesity. The American...
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...metropolis in America. According to David Zinczenko’s essay, “Don’t Blame the Eater”, fast food vendors can be found on every block. Zinczenko explains that fast food is the only viable option for the youth of today. He recalls how as a latchkey child, he had no healthy options since fast food was staring him right in the face, causing him to become obese at a young age. Contrary to his beliefs, healthy choices existed when David was a child and still exist today. Inexpensive alternative food sources are not so hard to find. In fact, many fast food restaurants offer somewhat healthy alternatives, such as Subway. If a person chooses to eat at McDonald’s or another fast food place, have a salad, forgo the dressing, and have water instead of a supersized coke. There are plenty of nutritious substitutions out there. Local food markets and grocery stores are not invisible. The same amount of money spent on a burger and fries can be used to buy veggies and fruit, a much healthier choice. Grocery stores sell items that are pre-made and pre-packaged such as salads, wraps, and sandwiches which list the nutritional data right on the package. Fast foods are a matter of convenience for the consumer. Why spend time cooking when you can get your meal in a bag? Unfortunately, this is the mentally of the youth of today. Zinczenko fails to recognize that no one forces a person to enter that fast food establishment. It is purely a matter of choice. Just as we choose where to buy our clothing and...
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...------------------------------------------------- IS Obesity really an epidemic in America? Introduction; What is obesity? Obesity or being overweight is basically having to much body fat compared to muscle. It is unhealthy to carry extra body fat and therefore it is considered a major health risk, due to the health issues is can cause to individuals including children. Obesity has been on the rise in the past 20 years as lifestyles and eating habits have changed in the average American home. (http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/obesity-prevention-source/obesity-definition/) It is measured by medical professionals by using the ratio of weight to height. This is called the BMI or body mass index. Thesis Statement Obesity has been considered by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) to have risen drastically in the past 20 years. People are eating less healthy foods in todays society, are living a fast paced lifestyle that gives little time for thought and effort towards healthy eating, and little time for excerssise. The modern American has tons of technology at the touch of finger that causes us to do less physical things. According to Havard Medical and the CDC obesity has been on the rise for many reasons over the past 20 years. The causes of obesity are different for different people according to age, race, sex, and genetics. But the most common reason is overeating. The body cannot take in more calories than it can burn, or it will be stored as fat the excess...
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...Assessing Population Health Introduction: This essay is about assessing a community profile of Lewisham population. The health issue to be discussed is childhood obesity in Lewisham Borough. The essay will define population health, and give a brief overview of childhood obesity. It will give the rationale why the writer decided to write on this issue. The essay will describe the population, and explain briefly why it is important. It will explore the factors that influence this particular population including geographical location, neighbourhood, educational attainment, family members, peer groups, social economic factors and culture as well as ethnicity. It will critically discuss the health profile of the population group and exploring the factors that lie beneath the profile. More importantly, the essay will analyse the main factors that influence the contemporary health of the given population in relation the determinants of health of the population health as well as the indicators of the population's risk and morbidity rates. It will look at the health needs of the population and examine the external and internal factors that could influence their behaviours and choice. It will make conclusion and recommendations on how to improve this health issue and enable the writer to understand the subject in great depth. The primary reason why the writer has chosen to focus on childhood obesity is because she wants to meet the learning outcomes of the module in order...
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...The purpose of this essay is review the strategies that are aimed at either preventing obesity or decreasing the burden of health related issues caused by obesity that currently exists within Australia. Obesity is identified as one of the Australia’s National Health Priority areas. Globally obesity ranks as the fifth leading cause of mortality. Obesity is also a major contributor to the burden of diabetes at 44%, ischaemic heart disease at 23% and around 7 to 41% for certain cancers.1 In this essay I will be focusing on childhood obesity, where it is estimated that in 2010, 43 million children under the age of 5 years will be categorised as being overweight or obese.1 Queensland unfortunately has the highest rate of obesity within Australia at around 18.5% of the population. Of which 19 to 24% of Australian school age children are overweight or obese.2 Whilst researching this issue I came across Bowen Athletics Club who investigated the influence of improving food choices in their canteen had on their members. Many of their strategies incorporated initiatives that had been tabled within the Eat Well Queensland project, which looked at Social Determinants of health, productivity and cooperation from local and state governments and non-government agencies. I will then conclude that based on evidenced sourced that the actions and strategies that the Bowen Athletics Club used seemed sufficient enough in changing attitudes and behaviours of it’s members. Obesity is caused by an increase...
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...Are We to Blame For Obesity? Fast food is becoming a major issue world-wide causing problems and disease such as obesity, asthma and diabetes. Fast food has become an addiction to almost the entire nation but who is to blame? In the articles, “Don’t Blame the Eater” by David Zinczenko and “What You Eat Is Your Business” by Radley Balko two different viewpoints are expressed on fast food and what it does to the individual as well as the economy. In the articles both authors show their awareness of the problem at hand but point the finger at two very different groups of people using factual and statistical evidence as well as personal opinions. Although both arguments are very valid, David Zinkzenko’s essay provides the reader with a lot more than opinion. The title in every essay brings it to life. A spunky title will keep your audience yearning to read what the writer has to say, while a boring title will readers doped up on energy drinks to get through what the writer has to say. David Zinczenko’s title, “Don’t Blame the Eater” catches the reader’s eyes. The title as a whole has the audience asking questions about the “eater”, and who blames them? However, the title of the second article, “What You Eat Is Your Business”, by Radley Blanko comes off as arrogant and insensitive to the reader. An example of a less arrogant title would be, “All You Can Eat”, this title would be more pleasing to the reader allowing them to imagine an all you can eat buffet. As a reader, I take immediate...
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...Who’s to blame for obesity in America? Is the fast food company who provides the food or us who eat that food? According to Don’t Blame the Eater by David Zinczenko, he says that the fast food companies are to blame. However, I beg to differ; we are responsible for the obesity in America. The fast food companies doesn’t come to your door and ask you to eat their food, instead it’s the other way around. The reason why there is obesity in America is because of the choices that people make and the money that they have. Also the lack of understanding of nutritional values goes hand to hand with the choice that people make. Lots of people eat at unhealthy fast food restaurants like McDonalds and Taco Bell is because they have cheap food. But that don’t mean that fast food is always the best choice. There are fast food restaurant which are little more expensive, but lot healthier, like Chipotle and Subway. The problem with fast food restaurants like Chipotle is that there aren’t that many around like McDonalds. In his essay David Zinczenko wrote that “restaurants like McDonalds don’t have nutritional fast on its food because it isn’t covered under Food and Drug Administration laws, so most people don’t know what they are eating and what kind of nutrients are in it”. But I believe that it is the consumers’ job to find out what they are putting in the body. Also restaurants like McDonalds and Taco Bell have become symbol of American fast food. If you ask anybody to name one fast food...
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...Nicole Andrews P.Killough English 114 15 March 2014 What factors can lead to obesity? Obesity has become an epidemic battle that experts are still trying to understand. What causes obesity? Various combinations can cause this problem. This epidemic affects half the population. To help end an epidemic battle with obesity we need to find out its leading factors. So many factors lead to obesity it can be a complex combination of lifestyle choices. Many people now a days aren't physically active spending hours in front of their television or computer spending most of the day doing work, school work, or leisure actives. From my own experience I spend about 2 or more hours in front of the television or computer. People who are inactive gain weight due to the fact that they do not burn the calories that they take in from eating and drink. Inactive lifestyle raises other health risk such as heart attack, diabetes, high blood pressure, colon cancer, and many other health problems. “Other reasons for not being active include: relying on cars instead of walking, fewer physical demands at work or at home because of modern technology and conveniences, and lack of physical education classes in schools(NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute). “Our environment doesn't support healthy lifestyle habits; in fact, it encourages obesity” (NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute). Most people don’t have time for physical actives with working long hours and or attending...
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...Childhood Obesity Cause and Effect Essay Childhood obesity has been one of the major issues in today’s society. It has increased dramatically over the past years. Obesity occurs when a person consumes more food than what the body uses. It is defined as the body weight above the average for a given age and height. It affects mostly children and adolescents. According to researchers conducted in 2012, experts affirmed that seventeen percent of children in the United States were obese (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). There are many causes for childhood obesity. However, I am going to talk about the most influential reasons of it, which are: Unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity, psychosocial factors and socioeconomic problems. The most affecting cause of childhood obesity is the consummation of unhealthy food such as: fast foods, candies, cookies, snacks, etc. In addition, children are used to eat large meals and drink sugary drinks, which helps the development of obesity. Children are not being educated to eat healthy food like vegetables and fruits. There is a lack of awareness about good nutrition and keeping a balanced diet. Moreover, junk food is sold everywhere, from schools to supermarkets. Another aspect is the social media that persuade people to make bad choices about what they should eat. In fact, publicities mostly show junk food and make it seem like people cannot live without it. They constantly show how fast food makes people happy at a lower...
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...Cause and Effect: Obesity Obesity: Paying a Heavy Price Obesity occurs when a person’s weight is far above his ideal body weight. It has become a major problem in many countries, and it is even expected that in the USA, average expectancy will soon begin to drop sharply for the first time in 200 years because of an epidemic of obesity. In this essay, I will examine some of the causes and effects of obesity in the UAE. Obesity is a complex phenomenon, but the main causes can be grouped into three headings: poor food choice, lack of exercise, and lack of awareness. Poor food choice is one of the main causes. People today eat more and more junk food and fast food. This food is high in fats and cholesterol, and contains too much carbohydrates. The body is overloaded with fats and sugar, which is converted into body fat. The second main cause is lack of exercise. Most people in the UAE have changed their lifestyle completely, from one in which there was more walking, physical and outdoor activity, into a sedentary lifestyle with little or no exercise. Most expatriates and emirates take cars to work and do office jobs. Maids and foreign laborers stake care of housework and manual labor. A third contributing factor is lack of awareness about good eating habits. Mothers give their children too much choice and too little guidance in what to eat, advertising confuses many people with claims for particular types of commercial processed foods, and conflicting information about diets...
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...‘Obesity is a social issue because of parenting and family issues rather than a food issue. What role do families play in the increasing level of obesity in Australian children?’ Childhood obesity levels are rising in many countries throughout the world, including Australia. Numerous studies of Australian, overweight children, have shown obesity has doubled in recent years with 20% - 25% of children now considered obese or overweight (Batch & Baur 2005, p.130). The health and social problems associated with obesity in children are numerous, pushing health practitioners and researchers to uncover solutions for this issue. While evidence points to many dissimilar rationales, much emphasis is being placed upon parents and their role in educating and providing children with effective lifestyle behaviours, focussed on gaining control of the obesity wave. This essay explores the parent’s responsibilities and influences on their child’s weight; through nutritional choices, physical activity and screen time (television, computer and video games), as well as marital status and parenting styles. It will also discuss research showing genetics to be a large portion of the illustration into the world of childhood obesity, and could be the exception to placing blame on the family. Treatment programs for obese children are taking into account parental influences of food choices within the family. Parents are exclusively accountable for the procurement and preparation of healthy...
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...------------------------------------------------- Cause & Effect Essay ------------------------------------------------- Diana Diaz Mr. Radcliff- Comm 105. 8/12/10 The Leading Causes Of Childhood Obesity When a child is above normal weight for his or her age, a child can be considered obese. According to The Center of Disease control one of seven children is obese (CDC, 2010). Children who have an obesity problem suffer from being rejected and teased at school by other children. Obesity contributes to physical and psychological issues in children; there are several causes leading to child hood obesity. One of the causes of childhood obesity is the lack of exercise. Children rather stay at home and play videogames instead of going outside and exercise. Because technology has advanced so much, T.V. has become a priority in a child’s life. Sports and outdoor games are not an option for children any more, when they can just stay home and watch their favorite show on T.V. show or even play video games that stimulate their mind. The use of electronic devices in children such as using the computer, watching T.V. and playing video games has influenced children to leave outdoor activities. Children are not thinking about their looks or staying healthy, they are becoming sedentary because all the technology that they can use to keep them occupied. Eating too much causes childhood obesity. Children who stay at home get bored and start snacking much more, most of the...
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...The rates of obese children have increased in most parts of the world including the UK. It has been termed as an epidemic. It can be seen to increase at an incredible rate in years to come( Johnson et al 2010). Childhood Obesity is a Public health issue.The article was written by Philipsen et al (2008) titled Childhood Overweight; Prevention Strategies for Parents. This article gives a review on Childhood obesity, causes and prevention strategies for parents. According to Philipsen et al, Childhood obesity have increased globally, it is not just the occurrence that makes the situation troubling, but the negative result connected with children being overweight. Overweight children are affected both physically and psychologically. Furthermore overweight children are more likely to grow up being overweight .Philipsen et al (2008) states that, the increase in obesity has been caused by different factors, for example, environmental and biological factors. Finding the most effective solution is difficult because childhood obesity increases. (Ahearne-Smith 2008) highlights that childhood obesity could lead to diseases such as cancers and lung disease at a later stage. Body mass index (BMI) is defined as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared, Overweight means being at or above 95 percentile (philipsen et al 2008). Children being overweight is attributed to genes passed from parents to children ( Perusse $ Bouchard, 1999), Children should be prevented...
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...and choice, these factors influencing both temptation and convenience within the modern lifestyle. It is recognized that the contributory factors to a person’s health are not confined solely to the body’s biological state, ‘health is seen to be a state valued not in nature, but in society’ (Murcott, 1979). Globally a steady increase in the amount of seriously overweight and obese adults and children has been observed, ‘There are now about one billion people worldwide who are overweight or obese’ (Ford Runge, 2007). Obesity is a major health concern and in danger of reaching epidemic proportions. Overweight and obese individuals risk the distinct possibility of a diminished quality of life and the consequence of developing serious illness and society in general is burdened with the financial implications of treatment. This essay will identify why obesity is a major health issue and examine its causes and associated behaviors. Overweight and obesity are terms that refer to an excess of body fat, the findings of a study conducted by the National Audit Office (2001) states that ‘Obesity is a condition in which weight gain has reached the point of seriously endangering health’. This opinion was reinforced in a report published by the House of Commons Health Committee (2004), defining obesity as ‘an excess of body fat frequently resulting in a significant impairment of health and longevity’. The basis for defining an individual to be overweight and classifying obesity commonly...
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...Burgess ID# 0281953 Eng. 101-F2 Short Essay Obesity in America: Balko vs Zinczenko Obesity is a growing problem in the US. There are many ways to go around trying and fixing it. Whiter they’re right or wrong is the question. How they go about it is another thing entirely. David Zinczenko and Radley Balko are from opposing sides on this issue. Zinczenko takes the sides of those who chose to blame the fast food companies. While Balko states that everyone should have personal responsibility. Which, I agree with. Out of the two of them, Balko is the one I have sided with. In his essay DZ states “Before 1994, only about 5 percent of childhood cases were obesity-related, or Type 2 diabetes. In 2002, "according to the National Institutes of Health, Type 2 diabetes accounts for at least 30 percent of all new childhood cases of diabetes in this country"(Zinczenko) This number has grown according to most health studies. Though, Zinczenko states this fact firmly. He does not provide a strong connection to this and obesity in children. Though he is trying to prove a good point there is not enough information to back it up. If he had the proper facts his argument would have been better. DZ had concluded that "Fast-food companies are marketing to children a product with proven health hazards and no warning labels. They would do well to protect themselves, and their customers, by providing the nutrition information people need to make informed choices about their products" (Zinczenko) He...
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