...Childhood obesity is a growing problem with many possible causes and solutions. Some argue that fast food advertising should be banned, others argue that more physical activity would cure the problem and then there are those who blame the parents, arguing that it is their responsibility to monitor and teach their children to eat appropriately. Children spend a large portion of the year in school consuming many of their daily calories from school lunches; something must be done to make the food they eat healthier. School lunches are full of fat and calories and do not offer the right type of fruits and vegetables, no appropriate proteins and dairy items. The government has partnered with farmers to provide the food to the schools but in doing so has not offered our children the healthiest options. In addition schools do not have the budget to purchase healthier options on their own and will often subsidize the food program by selling name brand fast food in the cafeteria for a marked up price. Changing children’s eating habits in schools will be very difficult because you can’t force children to eat. It is uncertain if changing school lunches would decrease obesity or not. Though children are in school for a large portion of the day they still have time at home and if life changes are not made changing how they eat in one area may not do much of anything. Another assumption I have made is that by increasing recess time rather than decreasing it children would not be as obese. The...
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...Childhood Obesity ENG122 Matthew Fox July 23, 2012 Childhood Obesity Childhood obesity is a serious concern for youth today. Within the past 30 years childhood obesity has more than tripled. Four out of ten children are considered to be obese (Ogden CL 2010). Often when one sees overweight children, one will hear parents making excuses for why their child is overweight. For example one will hear a parent say “she is just big boned, or she will grow out of it, it’s just baby fat” these are nothing but excuses. Parents are in denial when it comes to their child being overweight or even obese. If parents today do not start taking this issue seriously, then that could be taken as a form of child abuse due to the long term health factors that childhood obesity can cause. A main claim that researches are finding is that parents are a cause of childhood obesity. In an article on ABC News by Alyssa Newcomb 2011 she followed a story about a 200 pound third grade boy that officials took from his mother and placed in foster care. Officials learned of the case after the mother took her son to the hospital for breathing trouble. What parents do not understand is that this condition can lead to serious health factors if not death in an obese child. Authorities are starting to become aware of the families and are charging the parents with abuse. Parents today have become fearful that their children will be taken from them if they are severely overweight. A three-decade...
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...Childhood Obesity’s Impact on Healthcare The current epidemic of childhood obesity spans the globe affecting the majority of the industrialized world (Trasande & Elbel, 2012). In the United States, this epidemic will have an increased negative impact on the healthcare delivery system if not addressed at every level of the community. The importance of understanding this issue and working towards solutions will make for healthier American children and ensure decreased health problems as our children grow into adults. This type of effort will ensure a reduction in unnecessary health problems and fiscal cost for every citizen that utilizes the U.S. healthcare delivery system. Healthcare managers throughout the nation must educate themselves on this issue and be a vital part of the solution. When is a Child Considered Obese? The most accurate way to determine obesity is through the Body Mass Index (BMI) and actual measuring of the body mass composition (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Utilizing a height for weight and age chart doctors is capable of defining a child’s body mass index for his or her age (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). The recommended BMI for a child’s age will determine if they are at a proper weight, overweight, or obese. Many families are unaware of this index and fail to understand where their child may be in accordance with medical guidelines. When discussing the standards for children age two to twenty, the average BMI...
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...Obesity and HRCA and PPACA Jody Forsyth University of Phoenix HCS 430 Norman Greene October 29, 2012 Obesity is a high priority medical problem currently affecting, experienced and fought throughout the United States. Over the last 30 years obesity has increased in children, adolescents and adults. Obesity has been affecting individuals for a long time however not until the 1980s did obesity become considered an epidemic with public health. The concern about the increase of obesity also affects the young children’s and adolescent’s health and effects their overall health and their future health as it relates to the complications of long term obesity. It has been reported that the obesity rates have double and childhood obesity have tripled [Young and Nicholas, 2011.] The most serious complications that can occur with the youth developing obesity related illness and disorders including cardiovascular complications. With the knowledge that obesity is affecting the youth and society as a whole, doctors and university studies are complying a better understanding of reasons behind this increase of obesity affecting children. Along with this some court system is getting involved in child and adolescent cases. As stated in a recent article in the Judicial Decision Extending neglect statutes of obesity, courts in California, Indiana, Iowa, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Michigan, and in New York are ruling against parents whose children...
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...A. Summary of Situation The situation that will be evaluated in this analysis will be; is there a region of the United States in which childhood obesity tends to be more prominent? This will be done to show areas in which the Government, insurance companies and healthcare institutions should focus campaigns for healthy living to reduce future healthcare cost. The data that will be utilized to answer this business question will be the percent of children ages ten to seventeen that are overweight or obese in each of the fifty states. The states will then be categorized into their respective regions of East, South, Midwest, and West. It is important to look into the regions to see if there is a trend of obesity within a region, as this region should be the focal point of Government, insurance companies, and healthcare institutions to launch a healthy living campaign. Conducting such campaigns in a region of most need will in the long run, reduce healthcare cost because children will mature into health conscious individual with less preventable diseases. B1. Summary of Data Again the data that will be used in this analysis is the percentage of children ten to seventeen of which are overweight of obese in each of the fifty States and the District of Columbia. The States will then be put into regions to identify a region that shows more overweight or obese children. The data for this analysis will come from “The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation (Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation...
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...Running Head: CHILDHOOD OBESITY 1 America’s Childhood Obesity Epidemic: Why It’s The Parent’s Responsibility Brian Rodgers ENG 122 Professor Higgins December 18, 2012 CHILDHOOD OBESITY 2 America’s Childhood Obesity Epidemic: Why It’s The Parent’s Responsibility As kids, most of us can remember an elderly adult harmlessly coming up and pinching our cute, pudgy cheeks. For something that at one time was considered cute, this act now represents a national epidemic threatening the health of our country’s youth. As the number of overweight and obese children drastically increases, new arguments are forming as to where the responsibility falls. Several states have begun developing laws that are including poor nutritional and lifestyle choices by parents in the category of neglect and abuse. As new studies and research pour in showing that obesity has a direct relation to multiple severe health issues, it has become increasingly common knowledge. With this era being deemed the “technology age”, finding this information is easy and accessible to just about every person in the United States. This new found access to information and the amount of information available showing obesity causes health problems and even death; parents have become responsible for monitoring their child’s...
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...PSYCHOLOGY Parental Influence: Implications for the Prevention Of Early Childhood Obesity Abstract The overall purpose of this study was to investigate whether parents serve as role models in influencing their children’s weight-related behaviours. Participants were 60 random parents of children from Barbados. Unlike previous research studies, the correlation analyses of this study indicated that the junk food or fast foods children consumed was negatively associated with the amount of income made by the parents or their education level. Although it was found that some children do model their parents’ behaviour when it comes to healthy food choices, the findings show that parents do not enforce the healthy eating practices unto their children. This study did not support the theory that children model adult eating behaviours on their own. Parental Influence: Implications for the Prevention Of Early Childhood Obesity Some researchers in public health have concluded that the problem of early childhood obesity has reached near-epidemic proportions (Deckelbaum & Williams 2001; Puhl & Latner 2007). The problem of early childhood obesity and overweight appears to be on-going without implementation of early detection and prevention strategies (Stegelin 2008). The causes most commonly identified with the increase in early childhood obesity are inadequate physical activity, sedentary lifestyle, and poor diet (Campbell...
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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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...Developmental History Case Study A child’s developmental history provides descriptions of when and how the child achieved certain milestones, such as rolling over, crawling, and responding to sounds. Developmental histories also aid in the diagnosis of developmental disorders (Texas Autism, 2009). Saundra Moskoff recently analyzed the developmental history of Brittney Hoffman. This case study details the risks and developmental complications, the probable results of deficits, long-term consequences associated with disorders and illnesses, and the potential issues for Brittney based on the responses within the developmental history. Risks and Complications The developmental history contains nine areas: demographic information, primary caregiver/parent information, family history, childcare, pregnancy, birth, development, medical history, and medical care. Demographic Information Brittney’s demographic information indicates she lives in a middle-class neighborhood and attends a local preschool. A child’s environment greatly effects his or her development (Santrock, 2010). Healthy relationships within a loving family and the opportunity to interact with other children are essential qualities in the life of a child. Living in an impoverished neighborhood is a developmental risk factor. If the developmental history reported Brittney lived in an indigent neighborhood, an assessment in the areas of physical needs such as nutrition and personal hygiene may indicate neglect...
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...residents have higher poverty rates… tend to be in poorer health, have fewer doctors, hospitals, and other health resources, and face more difficulty getting to health services” (AHRQ, 2010, p. H-10). The AHRQ (2010) explains further, “Residents of micropolitan areas had worse access to care for 50% of access measures. Residents of noncore areas had worse access to care for about 40% of access measures” (p. H-11). Rural children suffer health the aforementioned disparities; more than 30 percent of young children in the rural southern United States are poor. Due to their developing bodies; younger children are especially vulnerable to negative health outcomes. Childhood health problems can persist into adulthood. McKenzie, Pinger, & Kotecki (2008) explain it is difficult for unhealthy children to learn. Early childhood poverty is correlated with fewer years of completed matriculation, which perpetuates the cycle of poverty (Mattingly & Stransky, 2010). Community Description Donalsonville, GA is a rural community in Seminole County. According to the US Census Bureau (2009), there were 2,669 people and 2,589 households within the city. The population density was 702.8 people per square mile (271.2/km²) (Donalsonville, Georgia, 2011). The racial characteristics...
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...Childhood obesity has grown into an epidemic within the last 30 years. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2011), “7% of children were considered obese in the U.S. in 1980, and by 2008, it was nearly 20%. Additionally, the incidence of obesity among adolescent children, aged 12-19 years, grew from 5% to 18% over the same time period” (CDC, 2011). Coincidentally, over the past 30 years, more parents are working, not only every day, but longer hours, and in many cases both parents are working. Is the rat race killing our kids? There is an epidemic of parents who are too tired or lazy to engage their children, and have begun relying on the T.V., computers, or video games to occupy and entertain them. Also, the evolution of new technology has children involved with a screen of some sort, whether it’s a T.V., video game, cell phone, computer, etc, hence researchers have coined the term, “screen time.” This behavior of instant gratification has created an environment of sedentary behavior, as well as fostering a lack of personal interaction with others. The increase in screen time has become a normal way for parents to occupy their children while they are busy doing tasks of their own or resting after a long day at work. This paper will show that as a society, everyone should be proactive, take responsibility, and offer support and encouragement to promote appropriate physical activity in children. Children must be shown that there are more things to do outside...
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...Slowly Killing Our Children Calli Soesbe Composition 2 Slowly Killing Our Children Children and teens see all different kinds of fast food marketing strategies everywhere. From television ads, internet ads, cell phones, magazines and so many other ways it’s astonishing. Fast food restaurants make sure that they use toys that are popular at the time to market to children so that they will want to get the happy meal with the toy like a doll or an action figure. If a new movie is coming out then the fast food restaurants make sure they get the toys for that movie. They have both girls and boys toys. Fast food restaurants also like to use flashy ads to draw kids to want their food. Over 10 billion dollars are spent on advertising to children. Fast food places need to cut back on the advertising would be very beneficial. They know that children are a big influence on what their parent buy for food. On average children view over 40,000 commercials a year, which are mostly for candy, cereal, toys, and fast foods. A lot of the time parent will not object to the idea of getting something fast and easy so that they do not have to cook themselves. Interview with Shannon Brownlee According to Shannon Brownlee, who is a senior fellow at the New America Foundation, at Washington, D.C. that it is hard to really say that fast food places are encouraging unhealthy eating habits, because you have to know how people respond to the advertising. She says that it is...
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...Marketing a n d t h e Disclosure of Information 339 CASE 5. Kraft Foods Inc.: The Cost of Advertising on Children's Waistlines The room fell silent as Dr. Ellen Wartella, Dean of the College of Communications at the Univeristy of Texas at Austin, gave Kraft executives her opinions on a presentation they had just made regarding Kraft and advertising to children. Wartella characterized Kraft's online marketing as "indefensible" and concluded that Kraft's claim that it was not advertising to children under the age of six was "at best disingenuous and at worst a downright lie."1 The executives in the room were visibly shaken by her comments. In late 2003, Kraft formed the Worldwide Health & Wellness Advisory Council, comprising 10 nutritionists and media experts, including Wartella, to investigate allegations that Kraft had been knowingly advertising unhealthy foods and to help address the rise in obesity, among other health issues. The pressure for Kraft to review its advertising policies came amidst increasing criticism from congressional panels, parent groups and other concerned citizens, that food corporations, such as Kraft Foods and McDonald's Corporation, have been knowingly targeting young children (up to age 12) in their advertising campaigns. The concern surrounding childhood obesity stems from statistics showing a 200 percent increase in childhood obesity since the 1980s. Between the 1960s and the 1980s, the percentage of overweight children hovered around 6 percent...
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...wholesome, and suitable for human consumption. Food safety professionals work in a variety of settings including private industries, governmental agencies, health care facilities, and academic institutions. 2. Wheeler, Cass. You've Gotta Have Heart: Achieving Purpose Beyond Profit in the Social Sector. AMACOM. © 2009. People often ask me how the American Heart Association came to the idea of the heart-check seal of approval found on over 800 products on grocery store shelves. This program is a significant piece of the American Heart Association brand, and it is a good example of how we do things in nontraditional ways. There is a certain amount of risk in any program, and in this case we ran into quite a few roadblocks. I believe that in every crisis lies an opportunity, and that was certainly the case with the AHA's food certification program. 3. Rosinski, Philippe. ( 2010). Global coaching: an integrated approach for long-lasting results. Serious research findings highlight the potent therapeutic properties of several foods. Servan-Schreiber explains how, for example, garlic, onions, and cabbage help inhibit the growth of cancer cells, and how curcuma and green tea block angiogenesis (new blood vessels feeding cancer cells). Many of these nutrients could make excellent drugs,[3] but, sadly, pharmaceutical companies cannot secure patents for these...
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...Is Childhood Disappearing? 2012 Brendan Dolman Sociology, Unit 3 5/1/2012 Abstract This is a report to look at the social construct of Childhood and whether it is disappearing. This report explores the history of childhood and current socio cultural influences on modern day childhood. Is Childhood disappearing? Introduction I am interested in this subject area because childhood is a social construct which seems to be diminishing from society. This is of particular interest to me because childhood as we know it has only been about for the last century but now it seems that it is once again diminishing from society. I say this because when looking at childhood from 50 years ago and comparing it to childhood today there is a huge difference. Today toys seem to be targeted at children of ages 1-10 years old but not for children above that age (Manhattan Institute for Policy Research). Children seem to be pushed into the spotlight of adult activities such as the fashion and glamour world in the case of beauty pageants (Daily Mail Online 2011). There also seems to be more of a focus on older children playing on computer consoles with violent games which depict realistic and gruesome actions. These computer games also depict real life situations such as the war in Afghanistan and give these older children the opportunity to play as a soldier in this scenario. Content What is childhood? Childhood is not to be confused with being a child, it is a completely different...
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