...Childhood Obesity An American Epidemic By Annissia Y. Pate Is childhood obesity an American epidemic? The answer is yes. An epidemic is defined by a wide spread outbreak of a condition where many people are infected at the same time. Epidemic obesity is occurring all over the world. Children are eating less healthy foods and engaging in less healthy activities. Childhood obesity is not limited to any specific race or type of child, but obesity is affecting children in the United States. Today, American children are more obese than medical science recommends, and their body weight is still increasing. Childhood obesity has become one of the largest health concerns in the United States. According to the Center of Disease and Control, childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and tripled in adolescents in the past 30 years. Children are gaining weight due to lack of physical activity and types of quantity of food they consume. Kids today are content with sitting on the couch, spending countless hours, watching television and playing video games. We need to encourage children to get up and get involved in more physical activities. Lack of exercise is simply not enough for a growing child’s body to deal with increased caloric intake of today’s modern diet. Children must participate in gym class and make every effort to deal in sports after school. Parents must make a diligent effort to offer healthier chooses for meals. Fast foods, sugary drinks and processed...
Words: 760 - Pages: 4
...There is an epidemic in America and it is called “Childhood Obesity.” “Obese,” from the Latin word “obesus,” means “grow fat by eating.” (Dalton, 2004) This term’s origin suggests that overeating is the major cause of the obesity epidemic. Teaching obese children to eat less is essential. But modifying behavior is no simple task, and eating too much is not the sole cause of obesity. Other factors play a role and must be understood in order to reverse this epidemic and produce healthier children. The growing number of obese children in America are victims of an epidemic just as surely as if they were infected by a virus. Americans tend to think of an epidemic as an outbreak of a contagious illness. But to physicians the sudden increase in obesity rates that have occurred in the twentieth century is every bit as unexpected as an outbreak of a new infectious disease and has triggered an alarm that might greet the rising of polio. Julie Gerberding, the director of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in the fall of 2003, declared obesity the number one health threat facing America. (Okie, 2005) The causes (nature) of this epidemic are complex and include genetic, biological and behavioral factors. These include, but are not limited to poor eating habits, overeating, the lack of exercise, family history of obesity, cardiac, endocrine or neurological problems, life changing events or stress, along with family or peer problems and low self-esteem or emotional...
Words: 1226 - Pages: 5
...Presentation on obesity in the USA Good morning everyone. During my stay here in America I have observed the habits of Americans in relation to foods and activity. Obesity is a big problem especially here in the USA. The American population are getting bigger and bigger and the obesity epidemic in the USA has grown over these past fifty years, which cost the USA $150 billion annually. America is a country, were everything is big: the cars, the houses, the menus on the restaurants and the people. One out of three adults in America are obese while one out of six children are obese. The obesity epidemic has grown but which factors have had an influence on the obesity epidemic? And which preventive measures have the companies, communities, schools and the First Lady done to prevent the obesity epidemic to grow even further? One contributing factor of the obesity epidemic is the fact that the eating habits have been changing over the last fifty years. Americans are more addictive to eat out instead of preparing healthy food at home and they continue eating unhealthy food although it may contribute diabetes, cancer and heart diseases. How come the obesity epidemic grown so fast and getting out of control? How come the parents feeding their children with processed foods with higher sugar, fat and calories - Is it the children who decide what to eat? Children are acting on their instincts and if they see an advertising on the TV for McDonalds with the Ronald McDonald clown and...
Words: 1301 - Pages: 6
...Running head: OBESITY HAS BECOME AN EPIDEMIC 1 Obesity Has Become an Epidemic Helen Wyatt Strayer University OBESITY HAS BECOME AN EPIDEMIC 2 Lately more and more is being said about a certain “obesity epidemic” that allegedly afflicts a large proportion of the countries of the world and threatens a global health catastrophe. It’s the fastest –growing cause of disease and death in America .Obesity hits children and adults alike. Obesity begins early; obesity in childhood is a strong predicator of obesity in adulthood. Studies on obesity consistently report a higher prevalence of obesity in African Americans and Mexican Americans compared with the white, non-Hispanic population. We have an epidemic of childhood obesity. A study showed that nearly one in every four of the children in public elementary schools is overweight. Nearly two out of every three American are overweight or obese. One out of every eight deaths in America is caused by an illness directly related to overweight or obesity (Carmon, 2003). The definition of obesity is having too much body fat. Obesity occurs over time when one eats too much and moves too little. It is different from being overweight, which means weighing too much. Poor diet and physical inactivity causes overweight and obesity. Some people want to blame the food industry for our growing waistlines. The...
Words: 605 - Pages: 3
...AP Photo/LisA BiLLings Confronting America’s Childhood Obesity Epidemic How the Health Care Reform Law Will Help Prevent and Reduce Obesity Ellen-Marie Whelan, Lesley Russell, and Sonia Sekhar May 2010 w w w.americanprogress.org Confronting America’s Childhood Obesity Epidemic How the Health Care Reform Law Will Help Prevent and Reduce Obesity Ellen-Marie Whelan, Lesley Russell, and Sonia Sekhar May 2010 Contents 1 Fast Facts on Childhood Obesity 3 Introduction and summary 6 Provisions included in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that address childhood obesity 6 Childhood Obesity Demonstration Project 7 Nutrition labeling 7 Community Transformation Grants 9 Broader measures in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to tackle childhood obesity 9 Prevention and public health 15 Primary care and coordination 18 Community-based Care 20 Maternal and child health 22 Research: Doing what works in obesity prevention 23 Data provisions that will help with tracking and providing improved outcomes to measure obesity prevention 25 What else is needed? 27 Beyond health care 29 Conclusion 30 Appendix: The White House Childhood Obesity Initiative 32 Endnotes 34 About the authors Fast Facts on Childhood Obesity Our nation’s children today are on track to have a lower life expectancy than their parents The obesity epidemic poses serious health problems for children including cardiovascular disease,...
Words: 14941 - Pages: 60
...Research suggests obesity in America is an epidemic because of people’s diet, lifestyle, and genetic inheritance. Obesity is a chronic disease that can and will seriously affect one’s health. Health professionals agree that obesity has now reached epidemic status in our country. Over one third of American adults are obese. Obesity also affects children and is more prevalent now than in previous years. And the numbers are increasing. Diet and nutrition play a major role in the United States epidemic of obesity. Although it is very complex especially when Americans are sent mixed messages on what to eat and how much they should eat. On one hand, you have packaged processed food, bigger portions and fast food meals that are marketed as all American. The food is delicious and filling but fast and cheap. On the other hand, Americans spend almost twenty billion dollars every year on the newest weight loss fads, from weight loss drugs to books on the newest weight loss diet to weight loss surgeries like gastric bypass, lap-bands and Hollywood’s favorite, liposuction. Everyone is looking for everything fast. Fast-food, and fast weight loss options. We spend more time at work to pay for all the fast stuff in our lives instead of spending time at home and in our own kitchens cooking nutritious meals for our whole family like our parents did fifty years ago. (Overeaters Anonymous, 1980) This crazy relationship Americans have with food is easy to explain in terms of schemes in marketing...
Words: 2708 - Pages: 11
...Obesity in America Rough Draft Jeremy Stewart ENG 122 English Composition II Instructor: Jennifer Chagala October 02, 2014 Obesity in America It is a shame that more people die in the United States from eating too much food, while in other countries people die from not having enough. Obesity is a rising health epidemic across the nation, and it is a duel responsibility of the government as well as society to do all that they can, starting in the individual home to encourage healthy eating in order to reverse this development and preserve the next generation. Obesity has officially become an epidemic in America. It is debatably one the most noticed public health problems that America faces today. In 2009,...
Words: 1506 - Pages: 7
...adults and roughly 12.7 million children are obese in the United States of America ("Overweight & Obesity.", Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2015). Furthermore, the numbers of obese people are rapidly rising at an alarming rate. America’s excessive food consumption and lack of exercise is catapulting the obesity epidemic in America to reach new heights. The word “obese” describes an individual who has too much body fat in which 25 percent of the body weight is from fat (Mosby's Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing & Health Professions 2012). On the other hand, obesity is a condition in which the body has accumulated too much fat. This condition occurs when there is excessive...
Words: 622 - Pages: 3
...Nutrition and Exercise and Their Effects on Obesity Management Roland Colburn AHS 401 Literature review Dr. Elder Abstract This study was important because it addressed the issues of obesity and what can be carried out to prevent it. Obesity has become cone of the nations most widespread epidemics and it continues to grow. In this study 20 peer-reviewed articles were chosen on obesity and nutrition, and then the articles were analyzed and broken down into a basic concept of obesity prevention. Most articles contained proper nutrition, exercise, and dietary guidance. After thorough research, it became evident that proper nutrition and exercise were basic necessities in combating the obesity epidemic. Introduction Obesity is one of the leading public concerns within the United States, and for a great reason, almost two-thirds of the population is either overweight or obese, and the numbers are continuously rising.(Carels et al. 2008). Obesity has been linked to many different health issues, including the number one killer in America, heart disease. Obesity has been a growing problem over the past few years, which has led many to try and reduce or reverse the incline in obesity. The programs implemented, as of late, to reduce the number considered obese have failed.(Crombie 1999). American society continues to grow in the obesity rates, which has in turn generated an increase...
Words: 2087 - Pages: 9
...Obesity Epidemic Everywhere people turn weight loss is an issue. There are countless television commercials or advertisements speaking of ways to lose weight. The question is why have Americans become obsessed with weight loss? The answer lies in the fact America has become an obese country. According to an article published by Robert Pool, “Obesity and overweight now affect more than 50 percent of adult Americans.”[1] This is a staggering number. Everywhere people look or turn their see an overweight individual. Obesity has become an acceptable norm in today’s society. Canadian doctor’s Lau, Morrison, Shamara, and Ur concluded that “before the 20th century obesity was rare.”[2] Americans have become so obese that in “1997 the WHO recognized obesity as a global epidemic.[3] Because the number of cases of obesity are on the rise, obesity and weight loss have become a billion dollar industry. Obesity is an abnormal accumulation of body fat, usually 20% or more over an individual’s ideal body weight. Twenty to 40% percent over ideal weight is said to be mildly obese; 40-100% over ideal weight is said to be moderately obese; and over 100% ideal weight is said to be severely, or morbidly obese. Approximately 300,000 deaths a year are attributed to obesity. Obesity is the second leading cause of preventable deaths in the United States. The money spent on obesity has increased in the last several years. Obesity leads to many different medical and physical problems. High...
Words: 1260 - Pages: 6
...and drinks, and regulating the amount of sugar that can be used in a product. Problem Americans diets are too heavy in sugar, resulting in many health problems. Many Americans do not know the harmful effects sugar has on the body. The average American consumes nearly 66 pounds of added sugar each year, and about 19.5 teaspoons every day ("How Much Is Too Much?”). The problem with sugar is a large part in the obesity epidemic that America faces. Causes The reasons Americans have too much sugar in their diets because of added sugars in products, drinking soda, and due to lack of education about the dangers of sugar. Although all sugars are not bad, such as natural sugars in fruits, added sugars add calories and no nutrients to food. Food companies are not required to list the amount of added sugar on a foods...
Words: 1441 - Pages: 6
...Pregnancy: The Fight to Survive Sociology Research Paper Tri-County Technical College November 24, 2014 ABSTRACT Objectives: To research the causes of death during childbirth and infancy in nations around the world. To examine related health concerns of birth rate, death rate, birth defects, and how access to medical care in different nations contribute to the birth and survival of the fetus. Reviewing statistics of birth rates in all income nations and the overall affect on the population. Applying the Social Conflict theory as it relates to views on pregnancy. Explore different ideas on how to change declining birth rates and promote better health care for all nations. Key Words: Pregnancy, birth rates, death rates , birth defects,social conflict, health care associated with pregnancy. INTRODUCTION In December of 2013, The World Health Organization (WHO) conveyed a consultation on improving the measurement of quality of maternal, newborn, and child care in health facilities. This annual report proposed 19 core indicators for reporting on the quality of MNHC care in nations around the globe. While some key interventions have increased over the past decade, little progress has been made in the quality of care in some health care facilities around the world. The amount of health care coverage provided to mothers, newborns, and children in low income nations is very minimal compared to high income nations particularly in the United States where health care and...
Words: 3684 - Pages: 15
...Obesity: The Epidemic Obesity: The Epidemic When you hear the word epidemic you automatically associate it a deadly virus or disease. Would you believe me if I told you that obesity is considered an epidemic? Well now in the 21st century obesity has become a national epidemic. Obesity is a major contributor to some of the leading causes of death in the United States. The percentage of obese children and adults is steadily increasing due to the lack of physical exercise and the consumption of food with a higher fat content. Providing free nutritional programs along with free memberships to gyms can help with obesity. A majority of the foods we eat are loaded with high calories, sugar, and fat and contribute to obesity. People spend most of their time eating and they don’t always eat healthy. “Where dining out was once reserved for special occasions, it is now part of many Americans’ weekly, or even daily, routine… According to ERS estimates, food away from home accounted for 42% of U.S. households’ food expenditures in 2009.”(Morrison, Mancino, Variyam, 2011, pg. 35). Fast food tend to be energy dense, poor in micronutrients, low in fiber, high in glycemic load and excessive in portion size, causing high calorie intake. “Consumers now spend almost $600 billion annually at fast food and table-service restaurants. The fast food industry, in particular, has been frequently criticized for contributing to the national obesity problem by selling foods high in calories, saturated...
Words: 1961 - Pages: 8
...The harmful intake of HFCS and fructose and its contributes to obesity Obesity has grown to become a very serious health issue with Americans in the United States. A survey done by the World Health Organization from 2000 to 2008 revealed that obesity has become a globe problem. Everything that we consume in the body on a daily basis needs to be monitored, studied and researched to find the source that is causing obesity with Americans. The intake of fructose and high-fructose corn syrup in the past couple of years has linked to health problems and obesity. The overall statistics are from adults, young adults and children. Dieting and excising has been a firm recommended source to stay healthy and fit however, the consumption of Americans’ diet...
Words: 1394 - Pages: 6
...World War Obesity The word obesity comes from the Latin root obesus which means eaten away or wasted away with fat. Today it is easy to see how the term came to be. Obesity is now a worldwide issue; however, it wasn’t always as common and widespread. In the mid 1900’s, America experienced a momentous technological turnover. Naturally, Americans adapted their lifestyles to continue to excel during this new era. Along with lifestyle shifts, most people’s diets changed as well. With these diet changes, obesity became a household term. It progressed to be a common diagnosis. The expanding of obesity resulted in an inevitable controversial debate on how to fix the issue. The general population was quick to point fingers, throwing the blame from...
Words: 1624 - Pages: 7
