Childhood Obesity : A Growing Epidemic

America is facing a serious challenge! Children’s health is becoming a critical concern. Childhood obesity has become an “epidemic disease” that has rapidly grown over the years in the United States. According to the National Center for Health Statistics in 2011 states that, “childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents in the past 30 years. In 2012, more than one- third of children and adolescents were overweight or obese” (Childhood, 2015, para.1).I would like to inform you all of childhood obesity in children, and ways to get involved in preventing obesity in our future generation. Childhood obesity has many factors, and is a preventable disorder that can be controlled, and if not, it could greatly affect the health of an individual.

Children are considered obese if they have a body mass index that is at least 20 percent higher than the average child for his or her age (Frechette). Parents

The United States has seen childhood obesity rates double in children and increase four times in adolescents since the 1980’s.1 The Center for Disease Control reports that in 2012, over one third of children and adolescents were considered obese or overweight.1 There is an urgent need to address the growing epidemic of childhood obesity, as obesity has been shown to have deteriorating immediate health effects and increase the risk of chronic disease such as diabetes, osteoarthritis and cancer in adulthood.1 Although there are many influential factors in a child’s weight, nutrition is one of the main ones to consider, as a complete and balanced diet also promotes healthy growth and development.2 Research indicates that school encompasses a significant portion of a child’s time, cognitive, physical and social development, and as such, has the responsibility to promote a healthy lifestyle for children.3 Because of the nationwide concern surrounding childhood obesity, recent federal wellness policy for public schools mandate that nutrition education, physical activity and other wellness promoting programs must be part of the school environment.4 The purpose of this review of literature is to evaluate if school nutrition is one of the major contributors to childhood obesity and how policy changes have affected the problem.

In recent decades childhood obesity has become a global epidemic. Globally it is estimated that around 40-50 million children are obese. In the United States the amount of school-age children who are considered obese has risen from 6% in 1973 to 31% in 2009 (3). In children, obesity is defined as a child’s height and weight being at or over the 95th percentile (1). Childhood obesity can lead to a large amount of adverse consequences, including: low self-esteem, asthma, cancer, premature mortality, and type 2 diabetes (3). Once thought to be a disease that only affected adults who were overweight or obese a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes has become increasingly common in school-age children (3). In the past, school-age children

Childhood Obesity is a worldwide epidemic that causes serious health problems among children and teens, regardless of their race, age, or economic status. Obesity is a condition where an individual may be over weight or have excess body fat. Some of the risks and complications of obesity include; high blood pressure, diabetics, breathing problems, and sleep apnea, and an increase risk of heart disease.

Childhood obesity in America is a growing disease that has become an epidemic that has lasting psychological effects because of advertisement of fast food, lack of physical activities, and parental control has made food become a major health issue in many young teenagers’ lives today. Who is to blame? Childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past 30 years (cdc.gov). this takes us to the focus of how childhood obesity has become an enormous issue today. For us to understand the impact of obesity and why we should prevent it, we will need to figure out the causes of obesity and what keeps people obese.

Obesity in America is a developing problem, and not just in adults. Today, one in three American children and teens are either overweight or obese; almost triple the rate previously in 1963. Child obesity has expeditiously become one of the most genuine health challenges of the 21st century (“10 Surprising Facts About Childhood Obesity”). Physical inactivity, race, junk food in schools, the mass media, and the child’s parents flaws are all factors that have resulted in the prevalence of childhood obesity today.

A few years ago, several states adopted the law that regulate the availability of sugary soda sales in school. Some critics agues that the law is unnecessary and most over reacted to a small problem. While, other believe that banning soda would curb the problem of obesity and chronic diseases. Today, adolescents are three time more likely to become obese as an adult, than 20 years ago (CDC, 2012). I will begin my paper, first by addressing the impact of childhood obesity, followed by a discussion on the three types of economic efficiencies and both positive and normative as it relates to regulating sugary soda sales in school, and concluding with my opinion on how to address this growing epidemic.

The occurrence of childhood obesity has become a huge public health concern in the past few decades although it may not be as widely noticed such as cancer and other diseases like heart and lung disease. Obesity is a disease. This disease is associated with other health issues such as high blood pressure, diabetes and mental health complications (CDC, 2013). There is a great need for implementation of low-fat, low-sugar, and portion-controlled options available to all children and adolescents at home and school. It is best to teach them early in hopes that they will continue to make healthy eating choices throughout their future. Healthier eating choices will not only have a long lasting effect on their health but also the health and economy of the general public. When a person eats healthier, it is more likely that they will have less health issues in the future in turn lowering healthcare costs and reliance on insurance and public health programs. As a community and country, action needs to be taken now to protect our children and our future.

Childhood obesity is a major health issue nationwide and globally. This has been going on for many years and childhood obesity has increased tremendously. The main problem is the difference between calorie ingestion and calories consumed. Other influences (hereditary, developmental, and environmental) can also affect obese children. Physical, emotional, and public health issues causes pain and suffering for many children. The process of obesity growth is not completely understood and it is thought to be a disorder. Due to the high rate and affected development towards accumulating childhood obesity, the associated health and social concerns would be both significant and

In the United States, childhood obesity has become such a pervasive problem that it is now the number one concern for parents and doctors, even more than drug abuse and smoking. Obesity can lead to many health issues as any child transitions into adulthood; if any bad habits that may have led the child to become overweight persists, they are likely to have an unhealthy future.

As the common saying goes, our habits make us. That’s why it’s important to make sure any child has the opportunity and the resources to make healthy habits. Childhood obesity is a big problem. Almost half of all children and adolescents are overweight or obese (“Childhood Obesity Facts”). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents in the past 30 years.” Childhood obesity has its roots in poor education and meal options, and can effect someone’s health, confidence, and well-being for life.

Childhood obesity is a growing problem in the United States. More and more young people are living with video games, televisions, and computers so are living their lives in a mostly sitting position. Few children are able to spend the hours between school and dark playing outside as they used to do and even less would choose to. Most children are trapped within the walls of their homes while their parents are away at work. This has caused many of them to gain unwanted weight, creating a significant barrier to their health and well-being. For clarification, an obese person is defined as someone who has more body fat than is considered healthy for their age, gender, age, and height. Although people usually think of obesity as an adult problem, it’s actually a much bigger problem for children. While it might be possible to hide other conditions such as psoriasis under clothing, obesity is very difficult to hide and usually leads to children being teased or becoming the victims of bullies from misunderstanding classmates. In addition, the adults around them may also have uninformed stereotypical expectations about them simply because of their size. Even unconscious reactions of others, such as seeing pity or judgment in their eyes, can contribute to severe psychological damage for these children that can last a lifetime. Adults who have overcome childhood obesity often

Childhood obesity has become a growing health concerns in the heart of American population. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] (2015) estimates that 1 in 3 American children aged 6 – 11 years old were either overweight or obese in 2013 which is a staggering increase from 7 percent in 1980 to 18% to date. It is scary to know that childhood obesity is one of the leading factors to cardiovascular disease (CVD) in later life according to American Heart Association. To further address the childhood obesity in American, a look at childhood obesity in the community of Langley will be examined and

“Our children are our future” is a popular sentiment held by the vast majority of Americans. Children are seen as individuals who must be treasured and nurtured to bring out their true potential. By bringing out this potential, we as a society can do our part for the promotion of the greater good. However, this saying frequently rings hollow, as seen in the inappropriate care provided to America’s children. One of the most obvious examples of this gross neglect in care is exemplified in the alarming levels of child obesity seen across the United States. The research will look to examine the environmental factors that have influenced the rise of child obesity, such as the trends seen in family life, educational standards seen nationwide, and the lack of nutritional value in commercial food consumption. Further, the research will bring to light many of the devastating risks that unfortunately come from child obesity, and how this condition has only become worse in recent decades. The research will culminate in identifying what preventive measures can be enacted to diminish the prevalence of child obesity across the United States.