...How Can We Rid Childhood Obesity? Childhood obesity is a pandemic that has reached worldwide distribution. A problem as rampant as this is having a direct negative correlation with education and the way kids learn in America. “More than one third of children and adolescents are overweight or obese” (Center for Disease Control and Prevention). For the next generation to succeed and someday be responsible for many of the leadership roles that run this country, there needs to be immediate action. Childhood obesity has a negative effect on development on education, it’s time to start educating children on the many ways to make healthy decisions that will ultimately come back and benefit the education system and learning process itself. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention classifies childhood obesity as a disease and psychological disorder meaning that it directly affects brain function. A child being overweight is classified as a body mass index at or higher than the eighty-fifth percentile and lower than the ninety-fifth percentile for those among the same age and sex. For childhood obesity, it is classified as a body mass index at or higher than the ninety-fifth percentile among the same ages and sexes (Center for Disease Control and Prevention). One without any knowledge or background of public health can conclude that if obesity directly affects brain function, that it must also affect leaning in school. According to Juliette Kellow’s research, the performance of...
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...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,...
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...CHILD OBESITY IN THE UNITED STATES THESIS: Childhood obesity is a public health crisis that is reaching epidemic levels, and society must attack the problem at its source through committed action by parents and through government policies aimed at promoting prevention. I. INTRODUCTION A. Obesity in children has escalated and so has the obesity in adolescents. B. Obesity in childhood leads to health problems throughout life. C. Solutions to this problems are continuously being created and implemented. II. DEMOGRAPHICS A. The past several decades have seen a dramatic increase in childhood obesity. B. A third of the children in the United States suffer from obesity and some being overweight. III. HEALTH CONCERNS OF OBESITY A. Child obesity can lead to a host of physical conditions and diseases. B. Along with physical problems also mental problems occurred. C. Obesity rates has led to the diagnosis in children of diseases and conditions that had previously considered to be featured only among adults. IV. PREVENTION A. Prevention of child obesity is important to prevent a national disaster occurring due to increased obese adults. B. Parents have a very direct role to play in determining children’s food choices....
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...Childhood Obesity David Sholl Western Governors University Task 3 Childhood Obesity Part A: Description of the Problem The primary focus of the literature review will be childhood obesity among American children between the ages of five and eighteen years. Most parents are not aware that their children have problems until they become overweight. For instance, in a survey conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2011, about 49% of American parents believed that their children were of average size. However, after physical examinations, a team of physicians classified them as overweight. Central adiposity is one of the symptoms of childhood obesity. Children with excessive accumulation of fat around the abdominal area are either overweight or obese. Inability to cope with abrupt physical activities is another symptom. Numerous studies indicate that overweight children have diminished physical stamina because their bodies carry excess weight. Snoring is the other notable symptom of childhood obesity. As fat accumulates around the neck region, it obstructs the windpipe leading to snoring among children. Childhood obesity is now a pandemic in the U.S, and has become a national health crisis. One in every three children in America aged between two and eighteen years are considered overweight or obese. The life-threatening problems of obesity create a critical and compelling call for action that should not be ignored. According to numerous sources obesity is related...
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...Advocacy Program on Childhood Obesity Name: Institutional Affiliation: Date: Part 1: Childhood Obesity Statistics and studies on childhood obesity indicate that obesity disproportionately affects individuals from racial minority groups and that the prevalence of the condition is increasing among such populations. Childhood obesity is a significant health issue that has numerous consequences on the affected persons and their families. The increase in childhood obesity incidences among minority populations arises from economic, cultural, and political conditions that have had an impact on the environments in which children from such groups grow. According to Caprio, Daniels, Drewnowski, Kaufman, Palinkas, Rosenbloom, & Schwimmer (2008), minority populations such as Native Americans, Mexican Americans, and African Americans experience higher prevalence rates of childhood obesity than other ethnic groups. For instance, non-Hispanic whites had 14.1%, non-Hispanic blacks had 20.2%, and the Hispanics recorded 22.4% of childhood obesity (Ogden et al., 2014). The prevalence of childhood obesity also depends on other factors such as the literacy levels of the household heads and the gender and age of the children. Members of minority populations experience numerous challenges accessing affordable health care, healthy foods and live in neighborhood environments that predispose them to obesity. Although childhood obesity is caused by several factors, the...
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...about because in 2001-2002 over 25 percent of the students in the Oregon school system were overweight. Childhood obesity is an epidemic in America as children consume more foods that are high in calories and sugars. In many cases these foods do not provide a significant amount of the child’s daily required nutrients. Therefore, not only in the food unhealthy, it is full of empty calories. Another reason behind the rise in obesity is the increasingly sedentary lifestyles that many children engage in. Childhood obesity can cause several health issues including, (1) high cholesterol and blood pressure which increases the risk for heart...
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...Childhood Obesity – State of Oregon Legislation and Federal Legislation Ann Klinger DeVry University HSM410 Health Care Policy Professor Patricia Devin Week #7 February 23, 2013 Childhood Obesity – State of Oregon Legislation and Federal Legislation Summary On June 21, 2004 Senator Ron Wyden, along with U.S. Senator Bill Frist, introduced to the 108th Congress Senate Bill S.2551 entitled Childhood Obesity Reduction Act. This bill was to “combat childhood obesity for children in Oregon and throughout the nation, and urged that Congress take the lead in curbing the epidemic by passing the Childhood Obesity Reduction Act. The legislation, would establish a Congressional Council on Childhood Obesity to promote the following activities and to encourage every U.S. elementary and middle school to develop and implement a plan to reduce and prevent obesity, promote improved nutritional choices, and promote increased physical activity:” ("Wyden combats childhood," October 2004 Press Release). United States Senate bill S.2551 failed, but all 50 states and the Federal government are continuing to make efforts to reduce childhood obesity. My paper will review legislation the State of Oregon has implemented to reduce childhood obesity. I will provide an overview of Federal government legislation that has been implemented to reduce childhood obesity. Statistics report, “since 1980 obesity has more than doubled among children ages 2 to 5, and youths 6 to 11 rates have grown...
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...Public Health Issue: Childhood Obesity Anna Walker, the Healthcare Commission Chief Executive explained that "Childhood obesity is a serious health problem that can follow people much later into life. It is a causal factor in a number of chronic diseases and conditions including high blood pressure, heart disease and type 2 diabetes” (Audit Commission 2006). The World Health Organisation, describes obesity as having “reached global epidemic proportions, with more than 1.6 billion adults overweight, at least 400 million of those clinically obese” (WHO 2005). In England, the Department of Health (DH), states that almost “1 in 4 adults are currently obese and projects that 9 in 10 adults will either be overweight or obese if this issue is not addressed.” Obesity is therefore an important public health issue and this essay will focus on childhood obesity as a Parliament report states that overweight children and adolescents have a 70% chance of becoming overweight or obese adults, it also implies more public resources over a longer time period. If obesity carries on into adulthood, in a hospital setting, the patient’s weight can have an impact on the health of NHS staff, as is already being noted by Unions (Mansfield, 2007). Epidemiology will be used to examine childhood obesity in children aged 2 to 10 within England and the relevant policies implemented in an attempt to reduce this ‘epidemic.’ The role of the nurse in helping to tackle the nationwide problem will also...
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...Health Advocacy Campaign Childhood obesity is considered one of the major pressing health issues of our century. The rate of childhood obesity has increased alarmingly, with the number of obese children under five globally standing at over 42 million today. Approximately 35 million of obese children are living in the developing countries. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) children who are obese and overweight are very likely to stay obese into their adulthood; further, they stand a high chance of developing non communicable diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease while they are still young (Cheng, 2013). The purpose of this paper is to highlight the gravity of childhood obesity based on statistics and the health effects that the issue has on the children and impacts in the society. Further, the study will develop a health advocacy plan for the problem. Review laws, regulations, and ethical issues that could impact health advocacy plan in regards to childhood obesity. Population Health Issue and Population Affected Childhood obesity has spread to global dimensions and is progressively affecting many low- and middle-income countries, and particularly those that are domiciled in urban settings. In the US alone, one in every five children is obese or overweight; this number is on the rise. Although weight problems can be traced back to the family genealogy, however, this is not all children who come from families that have a known...
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...Obesity in Children After reading the material for this week, the student began to research obesity in middle childhood. The student discovered the causes of middle childhood obesity, the effect of obesity on a child’s health, psychosocial, and cognitive development, and ways to counteract obesity in middle childhood. The student has provided information on obesity solutions in her area, a national program to help stop childhood obesity, and has suggested other ways to help stop childhood obesity. The Causes of Childhood Obesity Genetic factors contribute to childhood obesity (Parke & Gauvain, 2009). Obese children often remain obese throughout his or her lives. Children suffering from obesity often have obese biological parents. Children adopted by normal-weight adoptive parents may become obese if the child’s biological parents are obese. According to Parke and Gauvain (2009), studies have shown that infants who have overweight parents are more responsive to the difference between sweet-tasting solutions and water. The preference for sweets at a young age increases the risk of childhood obesity. Middle childhood obesity also derives from the child’s role-model’s eating pattern and behavior (Parke & Gauvain, 2009). If the parent or role-model is eating junk food, lives a sedentary life, and watches too much television, the child is likely to do the same. Parents encouraging and prompting children to eat more because of his or her size contributes to child obesity...
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...Children Obesity Presentation Welcome to this presentation on childhood obesity, a very vulnerable population. In the next 20 minutes, based on the health issue of childhood obesity that is identified in the selected community setting from the Neighborhood, the team will introduce an innovative program that will target this major health issue and improve the health of this population. In this presentation, the Healthy People 2020 indicator will be referred as it relates to childhood obesity and contributes to the nursing role. The statistics information and the risk factors associated with childhood obesity will be presented. The team will also provide information that demonstrates the seriousness of this childhood health issue and the need for assistance from the State Health Department to develop an educational program to increase the public awareness in children obesity. With the efficient financial assistance, the community nurses will implement this educational program. The nurses will also evaluate the outcome and make a necessary improvement to this educational program. Jenna’s case as presented by the Neighborhood – Pearson Health Science (2011) is that Jenna is an overweight 14-year-old girl with type 2 diabetes. She lives with her mother, sister, and younger brother because her father left her when she was young and rarely showed up in her life. Her mother is busy with two jobs and a few evening work. Her younger brother has learning disability and has had problems...
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...Chunlin Du Breastfeeding, Health Lifestyle and Government Support ——Best Way to solve Childhood Obesity Problem Childhood obesity is one of the most serious public health challenges of the 21st century (Global Strategy on Diet). According to the research report from World Health Organization (WHO), the childhood obesity prevalence has increased at an alarming rate. Globally, in 2010 the number of overweight children under the age of five is estimated to be over 42 million. Close to 35 million of these are living in developing countries (Global Strategy on Diet). Extreme obesity among American children is much worse than previously believed. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in the United States, childhood obesity affects approximately 12.5 million children and teens (17% of that population). Changes in obesity prevalence from the 1960s show a rapid increase in the 1980s and 1990s, when obesity prevalence among children and teens tripled, from nearly 5% to approximately 15% (Figure 1) (Popovic 42). Source: T. Popovic, "CDC Grand Rounds: Childhood Obesity in the United States." MMWR: Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report 60.2 (2011): 42-46.Web. 28 Mar. 2012. Compare with the numbers of obese children, the more worrying things are health issues of childhood obesity. Obesity poses a significant public health threat to children for reasons that affect both their current and future health. Immediate health effects included: obese youth are more likely...
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...Childhood Obesity Childhood obesity is a serious medical condition that affects our children and adolescent. This topic has become an all so familiar topic of discussion among health organizations in the United States. Obesity is an increase in body weight resulting from excessive accumulation of body fat relative to lean body mass (Hockenberry, 2008). Childhood obesity, by either definition, has become an epidemic that every community is currently facing and should be correcting. The American Academy of Pediatrics defines a child at or above the 95th percentile as obese (Harper, 2006). Childhood obesity can lead to death, which is a devastating thing that can occur. This disease can also be defined as a genetic disorder. Looking at the historical significance and natural life history it is not a surprise that childhood is addressed as one of Health People’s 2010’s objectives (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2000). Primary, secondary and tertiary interventions can be done by agencies, the community and especially the community health nurse to reduce childhood obesity. The first step in the effort is to correct the problem and look at the historical significance. Primary interventions are interventions that prevent the problem. (Nies and McEwen, 2007). Increase in physical activity and education on health food choices in required health education classes are primary interventions for childhood obesity. An increase in physical activity can truly...
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...Conquering Childhood Obesity Robin Rickards Chamberlain College of Nursing Childhood obesity has become prevalent not only in the United States, but around the world. Many factors contribute to childhood obesity. These factors include the imbalance of caloric intake with actual calories used, genetics, behavioral and environmental. Body mass index (BMI), is a measure of weight in relation to height. If the weight is higher than what is determined by the CDC (Center for Disease Control), a child is considered overweight or obese. For children, obesity is defined as having a BMI at or above the 95th percentile for children the same age and sex. BMI is also a useful index for cardiovascular risk. It has been established that childhood obesity has many factors to it, but what percentage of it is due to parents allowing their children to become a product of their environment? The imbalance of caloric intake with actual calories used for growth, development, metabolism, and physical activity is one of many factors involving childhood obesity (Karnik, Kanekar, 2011). Genetics play a part, by altering body fat content and absorption of energy. “Heritability of obesity from parents also influences obesity in children.” (Karnik, Kanekar, 2011). The behavioral factor of childhood obesity is directly correlated to lack of physical activity. A lot of children spend a great deal of their time indoors watching television, playing video games and being on the computer. Television...
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...School-based Prevention of Childhood Obesity Issue With half of all school-age children (age 2-19) identified as Obese or Overweight (Institute for Alternative Futures, 2008, p. 1) the issue of unhealthy weight has become a critical concern. The market has failed to foster among children the habits required to maintain healthy weight. Therefore, it is essential that the local schools implement programs designed to reduce this occurrence. Specifically, the school district should focus on: 1) healthy eating education, 2) physical activity among students, 3) an emphasis on nutrition in meals offered to students. Background Obesity is widely recognized as one of the USA's leading public health problems. “Body Mass Index (BMI), which is a calculated value based on calculations using weight and height, is used to differentiate between the overweight and the obese. Adults with a BMI of 25 to 29.9 are defined as overweight; adults with a BMI of 30 or above are considered obese.” (Buckle, 2011) Obese and overweight people experience chronic illness, poor health, and more than 100,000 preventable deaths each year. For the average affected individual, obesity has a much greater impact on health status and health care costs than either smoking or heavy drinking. In general, it can be say that root causes of Childhood Obesity are: 1) Families are living in poverty: Low-income communities have the highest rates of overweight and obesity. Low-income communities are often...
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