...Daniela Magana Professor deCastro English 101 December 16, 2013 The Solutions to Childhood Obesity “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. Children with childhood obesity face many health problems like type two diabetes, high blood, pressure and are at risk for many types of cancers. The lack of children’s physical activity today is one of the major factors that lead to obesity as well as eating unhealthy diets, the increased food portions and the lack of information about healthy choices. Dr. Anand, the Executive Director for the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, describes the prevalence of obesity as being “at epidemic proportions” (Center for Nutrition Policy & Promotion, 2008, pg. 2). This statement was made in 1998. Since then, the rates of obesity have continued to rise dramatically and if we don’t do anything to stop it these numbers will keep rising. Many people think that dealing with obesity is only the parent’s responsibility, but what we need to realize is that it is not only the parents responsibility, fighting this epidemic has also become the responsibility of our schools and communities. Obesity education needs to be in our homes, schools and our communities to raise awareness of the causes, as well as the risks. We need to take action in helping reduce this health problem which is affecting more and more children each day. Parents...
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...Television Associated With Childhood Obesity COM 156 Introduction Childhood obesity has become a national dilemma. Recent studies have shown several causes for this public health epidemic. The evidence between childhood obesity and children’s excessive amount of time in front of the television has done nothing but increase each year. How long do children watch television each day. Does the media target children television? What are the health risks involved with childhood obesity? Childhood obesity continues to increase dramatically as the young viewers are victimized by television. Television Associated With Childhood Obesity During a recent study at UCLA School of Public Health, Sarah Anderson stated “The association between television viewing and childhood obesity is directly related to children’s exposure to commercials that advertise unhealthy foods.” (Anderson. S 2010) Researchers Frederick J. Zimmerman and Janice F. Bell conducted a study that involved 3,563 children, ages ranged from infants to 12-year-olds. Primary caregivers reported children’s activities and television viewing during the week. Studies had shown that commercial viewing had a significant affect with a higher BMI. According to Zimmerman and Bell, “steering children away from commercial television may be effective in reducing childhood obesity, given that food is the most commonly advertised product on children’s television and the fact that almost 90 percent of children begin watching...
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...Parental Influence on Childhood Obesity ENG122 Kim Hartleb March 21, 2012 Instructor Mindy Hamilton Parental Influence on Childhood Obesity A sobering medical condition, called Childhood obesity, has affected children and adolescents in today’s world. Overweight resulting in men, women, and children who are obese is the result of “caloric imbalance” and are affected by various genetic, behavioral, and environmental factors (Dietz, 1998). The definition of overweight is having excess body weight for a particular height from fat, muscle, bone, water, or a combination of these factors (CDC, 2011). Based on research it is clear that the development of healthy eating habits starts with parental style, relationships, and how a family manages and functions that may help reduce childhood obesity. There are many health issues among obese children and adolescents that range from type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, social discrimination, and heart disease. All of these issues mentioned can be detrimental in self-esteem and depression. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 17 percent of U.S. children ages two to nineteen years are overweight (Kuczmarski et al. 2002) and nearly another 17 percent are at risk for overweight. The psychosocial risks in obese children can hinder academic and social functioning and these children are targets for social discrimination. In comparison to obese girls and boys to non-obese girls and boys were less likely...
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...There is a growing epidemic of childhood obesity in Australia and also worldwide. The prevalence of obesity has doubled to 65% of the world’s population live in countries where obesity and overweight kills more people than underweight does (WHO, 2011). Obese children are more likely to have health problems throughout their childhood, these health issues are associated with long-term health consequences to which the economic costs are enormous (Swinburn, 2008). Obesity in childhood is frequently tracked into adulthood, this is clearly a major contributor for the adulthood epidemic. Interventions and preventions have become key strategies in reducing the impact of childhood obesity. Through national and international health promotions, promoting healthy eating and physical activity in environments that reduce childhood obesity. The rapid increase of childhood obesity not only is it a burden on psychological, physical but also socially (Deckelbaum & Williams, 2005). Health care professionals such as nurses’ play a very important role in the prevention or management of obesity. Nurses’ can research current evidence in health promotions to find the best program for different populations by providing support and management of their illness (Bluford, Sherry & Scanlon, 2007). Throughout this is essay all these points will be discussed in more detail. Obesity and overweight have been defined as an excess or abnormal fat accumulation that may impair health within children and adults...
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...January 10, 2012 Alberto M. Carvalho Miami-Dade County Public School Board Superintendent 1450 N.E. Second Avenue, Suite 931 Miami, Florida 33132 Dear Mr. Alberto M. Carvalho: I have been concerned with what is happening to our children these last few years. Childhood obesity is becoming more prominent and should be on your priority list. I am currently a Registered Nurse enrolled in the University of Phoenix to obtain my Bachelor’s degree in Nursing. I have become more aware of my community and through different assessment in the assignments; I have had the chance to identify some of the different characteristics within my community that could adversely affect the health of the population. Childhood obesity is one of the factors that caught the most of my attention. My job now is to respectfully ask for conscientiousness and to educate the Board Members of precipitating factors that are contributing to this countywide epidemic. With rising costs and a slowing economy, I commend your efforts to explore additional ways the Dade County School Board can implement a more cost-effective margin with the various food programs you have recently implemented. As you know, there are always pros and cons to everything. During my community assessment, the main factor that was noticed was how obesity is presently harming and affecting our community’s health. Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI) is the Honor Society of Nursing that works with the World Health Organization...
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...CHILDHOOD OBESITY Andre D. Johnson Lithonia Campus Sociology 100 Dr. Roderick Linzie November 12, 2011 Strayer University Obesity is defined as having excess body fat.Childhood obesity is a serious medical condition that affects children and adolescents.It occurs when a child or teen is well above the normal weight for his or her age and height.This disease has become an epidemic that has more that tripled in the past thirty years.Obesity can have a profound effect on children’s lives. Obesity increases the child’s risk of numerous health problems and can also create emotional and social problems such as low self-esteem and bullying, behavior and learning problems, as well as depression.Obese children are also more likely to become obese as adults, increasing their risks of serious health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and stroke.There are numerous causes of this disease. Genetic factors, dietary habits, physical inactivity, and socioeconomic status are just a few. Many sectors of society including families, communities, schools, child care settings, medical providers, faith-based institutions, government agencies, and the media are affected by the childhood obesity epidemic. The effect of childhood obesity creates an estimated $3 billion dollars per year in medical costs. Childhood obesity rates have soared in the past decade – with recent figures showing a quarter of children aged 7-16 are now overweight or obese. This alarming trend...
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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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...HCS/465- Health Care Reseach Studies to prove childhood obesity is a disease are conducted often. The studies that are conducted are to help prevent and cure childhood obesity. There are several ways each study is conducted. Throughout this paper one will learn of at least one way a study was conducted, and the results of that particular study. One will learn of the information that was collected as well as the procedure to keep the results and information private. The study that one will learn about throughout this paper on childhood obesity will give one some basic information that was used to show what areas are affected by childhood obesity and will also show one that childhood obesity not only starts at home but carries over into the school life of a child. The data collected in the study of childhood obesity was collected by the use of the telephone; this method is called survey research. This type of research was appropriate for the study because it reached more subjects for the research, and the questions asked in the survey were specific. Since there are many people who believe that childhood obesity is not a real or serious problem, the survey did not require millions of dollars to conduct making the survey important at the same time reducing the amount of funds required to conduct this survey. Also, this survey and research done on childhood obesity did not require children to be seen by a physician or to be studied like guinea pigs and being poked...
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...Childhood Obesity Kendall Stubbs Western Governors University WGU Student ID #428887 Childhood Obesity Weight in children is a critical well-being issue in the United States. The overall life expectancy of Americans is declining for the first time in many years. Changes need to be made inside the home, in order for this issue to be resolved. The number of overweight adolescents has tripled subsequent to 1980, and the commonness among more youthful children has doubled. Looking at long term outcomes, overweight teenagers and children have a seventy percent possibility of becoming overweight or obese adults (Bishop, 2005). Childhood obesity has been one of the fastest emerging public health issues in the United States over the last few years. It is becoming a big problem and an important issue for a variety of reasons. To begin, there is a general lack of exercise due to technology; advertising and commercials for unhealthy foods that focus on children. Because fast food is cheaper and more convenient than eating healthy, it is becoming a more acceptable option for Americans today. Parental influence, along with the examples that they set for their children is another major concern to childhood obesity. Childhood obesity, television time, video games, and internet usage are undeniably related. Children spend approximately seven and a half hours per day with media. Four and a half hours of this time is spent watching television (Wethington 2007). There was...
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...Obesity Obesity is a medical condition whereby there is an abnormal accumulation of fats in the body. It can also be defined as a chronic condition that is defined by excess amount of fats in the body. This abnormal accumulation of fats in the body causes adverse effects on the health of an individual. Overweight and obesity have become epidemic not only in the United States, but all over the world. There are many factors that can contribute to a person becoming obese, like excessive food energy intake, lack of physical activities, and genetic susceptibility and few cases have been reported to be caused by genes, endocrine disorders, medications or physical illness. Parents are able to reduce childhood obesity by making healthy choices for their families. To stay healthy and avoid being obese, one should eat a balanced diet and devote a lot of time to physical activity Obesity if not controlled the number of overweight children and adults will increase tremendously in the world. Obesity exposes individuals to the risk of developing high cholesterol, hypertension, respiratory ailments, orthopedic problems, depression and type 2 diabetes when they are youth. Type 2 diabetes is one disease that has raised concerns, which is linked to overweight and obesity and has increased dramatically in children and adolescents and if preventive measures are not taken, many children, adults and adolescents worldwide will suffer from this disease. In long term consequences, overweight adolescents...
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...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...
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...children. Many of our Americans are suffering from these nutrition issues. Media and its promotion of junk food is one way that affects obese children. Throughout this paper I will discuss the long and short term impacts of obesity on children’s growth and development, describe a specific child who is affected by obesity, and three ways to combat obesity that involves collaboration among schools, families, and communities. There are short and long term impacts of childhood obesity. One short term impact is having a low self-esteem. Obese children are likely to be bullied or teased by peers at home and school. These children are likely to isolate themselves from others and also think negative about them. Long term impacts will include health problems. These health problems may include diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure. Obesity plays a major role in health problems, especially if you have it when young and still suffer when you are older. It is very critical to get help while you are younger. While working in the early childhood education setting for several years, I have come in contact with children who were obese. My job (Head Start) takes this nutrition issue seriously. However, I had a child recently who was obese. This child’s school day was affected by this issue. Some affects include her ability to exercise and run at a certain pace as the other children. This child had a little trouble climbing up the ladder and maneuvering. She enjoyed lunch time; she...
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...Childhood Obesity: “Are the parents to blame?” Childhood obesity is an important issue because of the rate it has increased over the last few years. “Between 2009 and 2010, 12.5 million U.S. children were obese” (Ogden, 2012). Working with children for the last five years now you can see how easy it is for parents to give in to their every want. Are the parents to blame? parents are responsible for children's obesity because influence over food choices, parents knowledge of nutrition, children’s dietary practices, physical activity, sedentary behaviors, and ultimately their weight status in many ways. Obesity is a disease in which a person is at increased risk of unfavorable health outcomes as a result of excess body fat. Parents are the key to developing a home environment that provides healthful eating and physical activity among children and adolescents. Parents shape their children’s dietary practices, physical activity, sedentary behaviors, and ultimately their weight status in many ways. “Parents’ knowledge of nutrition; their influence over food selection, meal structure, and home eating patterns; their modeling of healthful eating practices; their levels of physical activity; and their modeling of sedentary habits including television viewing are all influential in their children’s development of lifelong habits that contribute to normal weight or to overweight and obesity” (Koplan, 2004). “Leonard Epstein offers three reasons for involving parents in obesity-prevention...
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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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