Childhood Obesity : A Major Problem

Childhood obesity is a growing epidemic in the United States. More than one third of children are overweight. This figure is increasing rapidly. This epidemic puts children at risk for various health problems such as type two diabetes and heart problems. Although they are several risk factors for obesity, parents play a significant role in this issue. This paper will look into how parents are influential to their children, how they contribute to this problem and how they may help fight the fight against obesity. Obesity is a very serious problem and there are solutions that parents can apply to help their children lead a healthy lifestyle. Obesity does not only affect a person physically, but mentally and psychologically as well.

Childhood obesity is not just an issue in United States- it is an growing epidemic. Obesity epidemic in kids has increased by alarming rate just in last few decades. Nearly one in every five child is obese in the United States. If the pattern of obesity continued on most of America’s children will be living with diabetes, heart disease, and dying young due to obesity. The American Heart Association reported this year that childhood obesity is the top health concern among parents in the United States, beating out smoking and drug abuse. My own younger siblings suffer with child obesity. Their craving for fast food and very limited physical activity has made them overweight and currently they suffer from health problems. Is this the future of our young generation? How much contribution should a parent have in their child’s diet? Fast food has taken over American diet and it has lead to poor nutritional diet among American youth. Fast food companies spend billion of dollars every year on commercials, convincing youth to love and eat their product. It’s just not our eating habits that has lead our young generation into obesity, lack of physical workout has also played a major role in obesity epidemic. TV, computer, video games and other technology entertainment has contributed to children getting no exercise. Obesity in children can put them in high risks of developing chronic and serious illness. Unhealthy weight leads to having weaker lungs, poor blood quality, heart

Childhood obesity is more than a major issue in the United States: it is an epidemic. The number of overweight and obese children in America has increased at an alarming rate over the past years. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and tripled in adolescents in the past 30 years [1]. American Heart Association stated, “Today one in three American kids and teens are overweight or obese; nearly triple the rate in 1963” [5]. Unfortunately, this affects our children physically, mentally, and long-term.

Childhood obesity is a public health crisis in Canada. Research shows that childhood obesity is related to morbidity and mortality in adulthood (Tremblay, 2010). According to one study about 31% of Canadian youth between the ages of 2-17 years are obese and overweight, which put them on a greater risk for developing chronic conditions in their early adulthood years (Vine & Elliot, 2014). Children spend most of their time during the day in the schools, hence, it is very important that schools needs to implement interventions related to healthy diet and meals. Furthermore, eating patterns in childhood determines the eating habits in adulthood, so implementation of healthy eating policies in secondary schools is very essential as

In the United States, childhood obesity is an epidemic and in the past 30 years, childhood obesity have had nearly tripled. There are 31 % of American children and adolescents are either overweight or obese. And according to the numbers, more than 23 million of American children are either overweight or obese and more than 12 million are obese (National Conference of State Legislatures, 2013).

During the 1970’s, about 5% of American children between the ages of two and nineteen were considered to be “obese”. Over the past several decades, that percentage has risen to a whopping 17% - a change that is seemingly minute. It may only appear as a 12% increase, however, that 17% translates to 12.5 million children and teens burdened with the challenge of obesity. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, obesity is defined as having a body mass index that exceeds the 95th percentile (U.S. Department of Health). In other words, the average between the mass and the height of an obese child is greater than that of 95% of all other children. As in any medical issue, the biggest concerns for childhood obesity stem from the potential risk factors that can result. Some of which include diabetes, heart disease, asthma, and even death. Thus, many have sought out the root cause of the issue as well as the most effective solutions. Childhood obesity, promoted by a processed diet, increasing portion sizes, and limited access to healthy, affordable foods, is an epidemic plaguing a vast number of children within the United States and will continue to do so if left to fester. Nonetheless, this ailment can be remedied through an extensive understanding of proper nutrition, dedication to maintaining dietary excellence, and emphasis on prevention.

“The percentage of children aged 6–12 years in the United States who were obese increased from 7% in 1980 to nearly 18% in 2012” (cdc.gov). Subsequently, the obesity epidemic has continued to increase over the past few years in the United States. There are many different aspects that have contributed to the obesity epidemic. For example, many people today choose to be convenient instead of eating healthy, which results in the consummation of processed foods. Processed foods have a significant effect on the risk of obesity. With a current society always on the go, adults and children have become more susceptible to junk and fast foods. As a result this has caused an increase in the energy intake which results in storing fat thus gaining weight. In addition, having less to no physical activity is also a contributor to obesity. For example, sixty minutes of physical activity is needed for the prevention of obesity (ncbi.gov). These contributions to obesity results into the many different health risk. With this in mind, I believe as a student, schools have the influence to help prevent young students from childhood obesity. Childhood obesity is a condition where a child has unnecessary grossly fat. Many children who are overweight suffer from medical to self-esteem issues. These issues can have a big impact on a child’s educational success. Therefore, there are ways that schools can get involved to help prevent young students of becoming obese and in the process help students

Childhood obesity poses an imminent health concern for the children in the community. These children are at risk for numerous types of chronic health condition, which can continue into adulthood. In addition, childhood obesity can lead to children having depression, low self-esteem, poor self-image as a consequence of being overweight (RothMedically, 2005). The prevalence of obesity remains due to low physical activity, resulting in a high rate of obesity of children within the population (Ogden, 2014). Obesity affects children and adolescent from age 2-19 years, approximately 12.7 million children and adolescents for the past decade, which comprised of 17% of the population (CDC, 2015).

Obesity is always one of the biggest concerns in the United States. Being obese will hurt children from many perspectives. I used to give a presentation about school bullying. During my research, I found that overweight children are more likely to be bullied by peers compared to normal weight children. Besides being bullied in schools, overweight children are also tend to have lower academic achievement, and more likely to hate schools. Moreover, obese children’s emotions are more tend to be unstable as well. The level of feeling loneliness and helpless are higher among obese children compared to other children. In addition, obesity can bring physical diseases, such as stroke, heart diseases and high blood pressure, etc.

Purpose of the Study: Childhood obesity is a growing, public health disorder that has actually been turned into a disease because it is so ordinary, now, in many Americans. When it comes to childhood obesity, most people ask why the parents are not doing something about it or why they did not interfere, earlier, before the disease came to be obesity. Traditionally, being a fat kid meant being a healthy and strong kid, a kid who was likely to survive the diligence of gaunt and viruses or infection.

In this day and age, people are living longer thanks to various factors. For example, evidence-based practices guide healthcare providers in delivering safe, effective health care. Additionally, technological inventions have increased the ability of healthcare providers to provide care that helps both quality and quantity of life. However, this technology has also had an unintended side effect - generations of children who are more comfortable playing video games inside rather than playing outside. This lack of exercise, among other things, has contributed to an ever-growing problem, childhood obesity. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), overweight is defined as “having an excess body weight for a particular height” while obesity is defined as “having excess body fat” (Prevalence of Childhood Obesity, 2015). Additionally, the CDC estimates that 17% of children, ages 2-19, as not just overweight, but obese. Thus, many young adults are developing health problems that once were only diagnosed in adults. In order to better address this problem, nurses must understand the factors that contribute to childhood obesity, educate both parents/caregivers and children of these factors and encourage community involvement to control and/or prevent the rising rates of childhood obesity.

“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.

Childhood obesity is a growing problem that needs to be resolved. Many people may say it is the Child’s fault, he is weak willed. This is just a common misconception; there are hundreds of different reasons for childhood obesity. I will just be scratching the surface of this paper. By the same token childhood obesity is a growing problem that needs to be resolved. We can achieve this by understanding some common misconceptions, understanding health problems, and understanding fitness.

The past several decades have seen an escalating trend in the rate of childhood obesity in the United States. Childhood obesity has continued to be a major problem. According to the International Association for the Study of Obesity, currently 17.1% of children and adolescents in the United States are overweight. Overweight children are more predisposed to the danger of continuing to be obese in their adulthood unless they establish healthier eating habits and exercise. Today, many children’s lifestyles are spent watching television, consuming foods high in sugar and fat, and not getting enough exercise, which has contributed to the high prevalence of childhood obesity. Due to the fact obesity is such an extreme problem in the United

Most children like Lisa are also bullied at school for being overweight. Obesity also has many health risks that can cause major damage later in life if not controlled. How can we stop these issues? Dr. Green’s article states “Today more than 23 million U.S. children and adolescents are either obese or overweight” (Green). If we can find a way to improve schools and fix relationships within children and parent interactions. Studies show that