...Causes and effect of childhood obesity Introduction: Nowadays the majority of children all around the world suffer from being overweight or obesity. In the United States of America in particular, there exists the highest proportion of childhood obesity in the world. These figures are continuing to grow in this country as well as in other developed and developing countries. In addition, almost 25% of children suffer from being clinically overweight while a staggering 11% of children are clinically obese in the States according to the latest statistics (Dehghan et al, 2005). Obesity in childhood is defined as an excess of fat in the child's body. Body mass index (BMI) can also be used to define obesity in childhood and adults. This sort of measurement can classify obesity into different categories, for example, normal weight, underweight, overweight, obesity, obesity class 1, obesity class 2 and obesity class 3 (Onyike et al, 2003). The major problem of childhood obesity is that is has become one of the most serious nutritional issues in the world.. The obesity epidemic has been spreading since 1971 in both developed and developing countries, especially in the United States of America (Dehghan et al, 2005). In recent years, the obesity epidemic has grown rapidly in these counties. There are several influences which are responsible for the increase in the rate of childhood obesity in the States. For instance, consumption of fast food which contains a large amount of calories...
Words: 632 - Pages: 3
...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...
Words: 2384 - Pages: 10
...Childhood Obesity ENG/215 May 5, 2014 Childhood Obesity Introduction Over the recent decades, obesity has grown into major health problem in the United States. Obesity rates have increased over the past thirty years. With over 31 percent of the population obese, the United States has become the fattest country with the highest rate of obesity in the world. Obesity is not only an adult problem, it has now become an epidemic among children and teenagers. One out of every three children in the United States is obese. Eating habits that children learn when they are young affects them in later in their life. Obese children are more likely to become obese adults than healthy weight children. Childhood obesity can lead to many health problems that include diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure to name a few. These health problems cause a rise in health care costs. There are factors that play a role in causing these health issues, but there are also simple solutions to solve this epidemic among the young. The Effects of Advertising and the Media One of the factors that contribute to childhood obesity is the media and their way of marketing and advertising, especially towards children. Children spend more time watching television and using a computer than previous generations. Children from the ages of eight to 18 use media every day, and spend on average 44.5 hours per week using a computer, playing video games, and watching television. "Most children...
Words: 1211 - Pages: 5
...Childhood Obesity in the United States of America Tolulope Adedokun Introduction to psychology Dr. Michael Gawrysiak November 28, 2014 Table of contents Abstract …………………………………………………………………………………………… 3 Introduction ………………………………………………………………………………………. 4 Causes of Obesity ………………………………………………………………………………… 4 Heredity …………………………………………………………………………………. 4 Social Environment ……………………………………………………………………… 5 Social Status …………………………………………………………………………….. 5 Birth Weight …………………………………………………………………………….. 6 Effects of Obesity ………………………………………………………………………………… 7 Health Effects ……………………………………………………………………………. 7 Mental Effects …………………………………………………………………………… 7 Conclusion ………………………………………………………………………………………. 7 Solutions to Childhood Obesity in The United States of America ………………………………. 8 References ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 9 Abstract Childhood obesity has reached epidemic levels in developing countries especially in the United States of America. Twenty five percent of children in the US are overweight and 11% are obese. Overweight and obesity in childhood are known to have significant impact on both physical and psychological health. This paper describes the causes, effects, and solutions to childhood obesity in...
Words: 1891 - Pages: 8
...Childhood Obesity Childhood obesity is one of the most prevalent issues that needs to be alleviated. Children have to comprehend that if they keep on consuming fattening foods, their chances of developing diseases such as Type 2 Diabetes increases significantly. I am proposing a solution to prevent childhood obesity. The proposal is to spread awareness of this epidemic by educating parents and their children about the dangers of obesity and how to prevent it. Every school should have a mandatory half an hour class that teaches students about eating healthy and the importance of exercising regularly. This proposal is aimed towards elementary school children and their parents. The genre for this piece is a newspaper article. The proposal can be published in magazines, newspaper, internet, and it can even be broadcasted on local channels to increase awareness of this social issue. The readers should be aware of the fact that there is a significant difference between the words overweight and obese. Overweight means that the individual weighs more than normal. On the other hand, obese means that the individual is extremely overweight. The Institute of Medicine states “over the past three decades, the childhood obesity rate has more than doubled for preschool children aged 2-5 years, and adolescents aged 12-19 years, and it has more than tripled for children aged 6-11 years.” In 2004, about 9 million children over the age of 6 were considered obese. In 2005, the...
Words: 2943 - Pages: 12
...Childhood Obesity Childhood obesity is one of the most prevalent issues that needs to be alleviated. Children have to comprehend that if they keep on consuming fattening foods, their chances of developing diseases such as Type 2 Diabetes increases significantly. I am proposing a solution to prevent childhood obesity. The proposal is to spread awareness of this epidemic by educating parents and their children about the dangers of obesity and how to prevent it. Every school should have a mandatory half an hour class that teaches students about eating healthy and the importance of exercising regularly. This proposal is aimed towards elementary school children and their parents. The genre for this piece is a newspaper article. The proposal can be published in magazines, newspaper, internet, and it can even be broadcasted on local channels to increase awareness of this social issue. The readers should be aware of the fact that there is a significant difference between the words overweight and obese. Overweight means that the individual weighs more than normal. On the other hand, obese means that the individual is extremely overweight. The Institute of Medicine states “over the past three decades, the childhood obesity rate has more than doubled for preschool children aged 2-5 years, and adolescents aged 12-19 years, and it has more than tripled for children aged 6-11 years.” In 2004, about 9 million children over the age of 6 were considered obese. In 2005, the...
Words: 2943 - Pages: 12
...Childhood Obesity and its Relation to Adult Hypertension Team C Childhood Obesity and its Relation to Adult Hypertension Childhood obesity has become a growing global epidemic, specifically impacting the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2014) childhood obesity has doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents over the past 30 years. One of the main dilemmas in childhood obesity is the risk factor of comorbidities leading to adult hypertension, otherwise known as high blood pressure (CDC, 2014). A European longitudinal research study, focusing on childhood body mass index and its associations with adult hypertension, discovered a direct correlation between obesity and blood pressure. Results indicated that child participants with a high body mass index were more likely to develop high blood pressure in adulthood (Sabo, Lu, Daniels, and Sun, 2012). The study’s participants consisted of adult men and women and researchers concluded that based on the number of participants it was unclear whether or not the correlation was similar across genders (Sabo, Lu, Daniels, and Sun, 2012). Since previous studies have indicated a greater increase in hypertension in women, researchers claimed further testing was needed. The previous work by Sabo, Lu, Daniels, and Sun (2012) has led researchers of the current study to ask questions regarding the correlation between childhood obesity and adult hypertension. For example, researchers in...
Words: 346 - Pages: 2
...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....
Words: 1552 - Pages: 7
...Childhood Obesity ENG 122 April 26, 2012 Childhood Obesity Childhood obesity is an ongoing problem that we will all face in our lifetime. We may encounter this from our own experience as being an overweight child, seeing it in our children, their friends or even in our grandchildren. We all need to have a better understanding of childhood obesity. We will start this journey by address a brief history of childhood obesity, short and long-term health concerns, methods for treating obesity, and prevention of obesity in children. The overall purpose will be to foster an understanding of the impact high-fructose corn syrup usage in the last 30 years has had in relation to the childhood obesity epidemic. Childhood obesity is not a new problem but it is becoming an epidemic in the United States. Dr. Fals (2009) writes, “this country has been struggling with obesity for well over 20 years now” (p. 1). Most of us can remember when there was maybe one overweight child in a classroom, now there are two to three instead. The National Center for Health Statistics has been conducting surveys since 1963 relating to obesity among children and adolescents in the United States (Ogden, 2010). This is the only organization that has solid scientific history and statistical data available. It appears that obesity was not tracked on a nationwide level prior to 1963. One reason may be that there weren’t enough cases of childhood obesity to raise any red flags up until the 1960s. Since...
Words: 1992 - Pages: 8
...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...
Words: 1938 - Pages: 8
...Childhood Obesity ENG 122 Childhood Obesity Obesity is a serious medical condition that is defined as an abnormal constant accumulation of excess body fat that are usually twenty percent or more of a persons average body weight, according to PubMed Health (Obesity in Children) September 2011. Children are the biggest targets of this deadly disease of being overweight. In the U.S. childhood obesity has been on an alarming high rate, which has been impacting the health of American people. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2004, childhood obesity is one of the most significant health issues in the American Society and the second leading cause of preventable deaths in the U.S. Childhood obesity is a very serious disease that impacts many children and should not be taken lightly, its time that people put forth the effort to take preventive measures in the cure of the deadly disease. More focus is needed to help prevent childhood obesity from everyone parents, guardians and the government. People need to be aware of the risk and consequences of being obese and overweight in children before it is to late and their children become one of those statistics. Therefore, everyone toward fighting this deadly disease of childhood obesity needs a greater attention to put this to the forefront of government issues. According to PEW Research Centers 2011, children and teenagers are developing diseases that have been linked to adults...
Words: 1689 - Pages: 7
...Childhood Obesity: How Brazil and the United States are Preventing it in Schools Willian Lessa Ribeiro American English and Culture Program Arizona State University July 2014 This paper analyzes and compares the Scholar Feeding Programs which aim to prevent childhood obesity in the United States, and in Brazil. By comparing their two different programs, it’s possible to identify some of the causes of the recent changes in the epidemiological profile of the children. The study include comparison between policies for nutritional education, food sales and diseases prevention. For this research it was used data comparison as research strategy. This data was collected from the Brazilian Ministry of Health and the American Centro for Diseases Control (CDC). Currently, research shows that an epidemiological change is happening in the nutritional status of the population. Previously malnutrition was predominant, now obesity is taking its place. There are several factors leading to these changes, like inadequate food intake with the predominance of snacks and junk food. However, the most important factor is the changes in the feeding in the first five years of age, which strongly influence if someone will or will not become an obese adult. Ensuring that children receive adequate nutrition, Brazil and the United States established rules in the case of school meals. Forming healthy dietary practices through actions of nutritional education contributes to educational development...
Words: 1714 - Pages: 7
... Obesity in children and adolescents is a serious health issue with many health and social consequences which many remains with them into adulthood. It is important to implement prevention programs as well as getting a better understanding for children to help control the obesity epidemic. To better respond to this issues and those similar to it, Healthy People 2020 has been promoting healthy choices that parent can make to help lower the risks of obesity in the children. There are many agencies that are responsible for addressing and managing the affect of obesity in children. The Department of transportation and the Environmental Protection Agency are working together to help promote walking and biking to school as a way to increase the level of exercise for children. Also the United State’s Department of Agriculture or USDA is also working towards providing new Dietary Guidelines and Food Pyramid as well as helping with legislation to improve school food. The Role of Health Agencies Physical activity is one of many indicators of health defined in the most current version of Healthy People. One of the main results of lack of activities is obesity mainly in children. Obesity in children is a health issue that most health care providers that serve the pediatric community have to deal with and are looking for possible solutions. It is very important for health care agencies to promote health lifestyles and in this case exercise, and healthy eating habit. Obesity in children...
Words: 1544 - Pages: 7
...GEN 499 Week 5 Final Paper Childhood Obesity Childcare Programs Fighting the Epidemic https://hwguiders.com/downloads/gen-499-week-5-final-paper-childhood-obesity-childcare-programs-fighting-the-epidemic GEN 499 Week 5 Final Paper Childhood Obesity Childcare Programs Fighting the Epidemic Childhood Obesity – Childcare Programs Fighting the Epidemic First Lady Michelle Obama opened the Let’s Move campaign in 2010 by telling us that “Over the past three decades, childhood obesity rates in America have tripled, and today, nearly one in three children in America are overweight or obese” (Let’s Move, n.d.). Rates of childhood obesity continue to rise in the United States. The percentage of young children ages 6–11 years in the United States who was 18% in 2012from 7% in 1980. Additionally, the percentage of pre-teen and teenagers ages 12–19 years who were obese increased from 5% to nearly 21% over the same period. (CDC, n.d.) Even among infants, toddlers and preschoolers the prevalence of obesity is alarmingly high. A large percentage of children ages six weeks old to eleven years old are enrolled in some sort of a child care program, and the amount of time children spend in child care programs each week has increased over the years. Even though parents are ultimately responsible for their children not educators, early childhood educators have the unique position and ability to help reduce the childhood obesity epidemic because early childhood educators spend large amounts...
Words: 412 - Pages: 2
...The New England Journal of Medicine: Incidence of Childhood Obesity in the United States General Summary: Childhood Obesity is a growing epidemic in the United States. Prevalence data has been documented; however, gaps in the incidence study still exist. Thus, a study was conducted on data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health in order to track the incidence of obesity. The National Center for Educational Statistics selected a nationally representative cohort using probability sampling. Children who were starting kindergarten in the fall semester of 1998 were followed up until they reached the eight grade for data collection; cumulative incidence shows the 9-year risk of obesity. Variables were selected such as height, weight, parent-reported age, sex, race, ethnic group, socioeconomic status, and birth weight. Study showed that although the prevalence of obesity increased with age, incident obesity was highest at the youngest ages and declined through eighth grade. The lowest cumulative incidence according to socioeconomic factors was among children from wealthy families and the highest was among children from the middle socioeconomic quintile. Importance of Article: Childhood Obesity is an important concern for the community and this article does a great job detailing why. Childhood Obesity affects more than 30 percent of children, making it the most common chronic disorder for children. Today, more and more children are being diagnosed with diabetes...
Words: 1535 - Pages: 7
