Childhood Obesity Epidemic In America

Childhood obesity has reached epidemic levels in the United States as well as in many other industrialized nations. Childhood obesity, though, is not limited to affluent countries and is increasingly being found in developing nations as well. Although diet plays an important role in exacerbating the problem, the failure to make healthy choices in food selections is not the only problem. One of the unfortunate consequences of innovations in telecommunications and video game technologies has been an increasingly sedentary lifestyle for many American youths, a trend that has been further reinforced by participation in social media networks. In this environment, it is little wonder that many young people become overweight, but the implications of obesity in childhood have lifetime implications, making the need for studies of childhood obesity and the identification of evidence-based interventions a timely and relevant enterprise. To this end, this paper provides a review of the relevant literature concerning childhood obesity, the stakeholders that are involved and several potential evidence-based interventions that have proven effective in the past. Finally, a list of policy recommendations based on this analysis is followed by a summary of the research and important findings in the conclusion.

Childhood obesity is a serious medical condition that is affecting children and adolescents. It occurs when a child is well above the normal weight for his or her age and height and can result in serious medical conditions. The prevalence of childhood obesity has increased significantly over the past ten years. Childhood diabetes has been on the rise since the early 90’s and continues to rise. In the article, “Don’t Blame the Eater” David Zinczenko, shows that “ Before 1994… only about 5 percent of childhood cases were obesity-related, or Type 2, diabetes. Today...Type 2 diabetes accounts for at least 30 percent of new childhood cases of diabetes in this country” (463). Type 2

Childhood obesity is a major cause for concern within the United States. This is mainly due to children not getting the require nutrition that they need. Although study show that there is a decrease in obesity in children, it still remains at an all-time high. Children are failing to eat as healthy as they should, and it has become an even bigger problem now that they aren’t getting the require amount of food in their diets. The USDA made a decision a couple of years ago to reduce the amount of food given to children while they are at school. This hurts them tremendously, because the majority of the food they eat comes from being at school all day. The other half lies on the parents when they go home and eat dinner. It is very important for children to eat healthy and eat the required amount of food according to various dietary guidelines. First Lady Michelle Obama has started a new campaign to help kids and parents combat obesity in children. One thing that the campaign has placed emphases on is getting healthier food within school. Although they are getting healthier foods in school they are beginning to change the proportion they are giving students. Through the First Lady’s Let’s Move campaign students should be giving healthier foods and also be allowed to have the correct proportion to help them maintain a healthy diet.

Cookie Monster sang about cookies and sweets for over 30 years and some say that was a

Definition of Childhood Obesity: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2015), a child with a body mass index (BMI) at or above the 85th percentile and below the 95th percentile for children and teens of the same age and sex are considered overweight. If a child or teen has a BMI over the 95th percentile they are considered obese (CDC, 2015).

Obesity has been a problem for many Americans. People miss out on most of life because of obesity. They can’t move, they can hardly breathe, and some people even die early because of obesity. Obesity in adults is difficult enough. But, what could be worse than adult obesity? Well, childhood obesity definitely earns the top spot.

She has a round face and curly locks of dirty blonde hair that trail slightly past her shoulders. She has an infectious laugh, a flamboyant personality, and commonly says cheeky remarks without any restriction. She also has a distinctive southern accent. But perhaps, the most memorable aspect about her is the deprecating eating habits that she habitually follows. She is the one and only sensationalized reality TV show star, Alana Thompson or “Honey Boo Boo” as they call her in Here Comes Honey Boo Boo. In society, she is a controversial and infamous example of a child that developed obesity due to parental feeding. Currently, Alana Thompson is trying to lose weight after being diagnosed as obese. Her BMI classifies her as obese, but this is no surprise considering her unhealthy eating practices. During beauty pageants, her mother provides her with a concoction of Mountain Dew and Red Bull to drink, which she calls “Go Go Juice” to give her the extra energy to help her become a pageant queen. When she is not drinking “Go Go Juice”, she consumes an overwhelming amount of junk foods like Oreos and chicken nuggets. Unfortunately, though this is not an individual case in society. According to Parental Feeding and Childhood Obesity in Preschool Age Children: Recent Findings from the Literature by Mary E. Thompson, childhood obesity is becoming more prominent due to parental influences and practices. Evidently, parental

adults (Paxson). These situations are tough for adults and are even harder for youths to endure. If

Childhood obesity has quickly became one of the biggest health issues in America. Without correctly addressing the source of this problem, it will not be solved. It is important that America begins to categorize this issue like it is, as child abuse. The government should intervene in incidents where childhood obesity becomes an issue because it can cause long term health consequences, economic financial costs, and early depression. An important factor in finding the solution is to know that the nation has not always suffered from this epidemic.

When you think of the word “epidemic,” you often associate it with disease such as the flu, or much more serious ones like the plague. What most people often do not think is the much more common, relatable epidemic of childhood obesity. While we may not be the generation that is being affected the most, chances are the children we see today and children of future generations will be affected if we do not take action now. A fast-food frenzy has swept the nation, technological advances both in and out of the classroom seem to be taking over children’s lives- leaving less time for being physical active, and obese kids are posing a higher risk for an already damaged healthcare system. Childhood

Childhood obesity has become a prevalent disease in America. The Center for Disease Control says that obesity in children aged 6-19 has more than tripled since 1970. Obesity is a gateway disease; a disease that leads to many other diseases, type 2 diabetes and heart disease are just a couple of examples. The problem is children in America are not learning how to live healthy balanced lifestyles. The goal at One Step at a Time is to change how fitness and health are viewed today. One Step at a Time teaches children new and creative ways to possess healthier and happier lives. One Step developed a program to help these children because they are the future of America, they deserve to be aware of how to make healthier choices, and they deserve

The way we eat has changed in the last fifty years with the advent of science and technology. Not only is food being chemically engineered but also the wrong foods are opted for because of their convenience, their marked down prices and their addictive nature. For that matter, the commencement of the 21st century brought our attention to the childhood obesity epidemic. Although a widespread issue, it is also a discriminative one in the sense that specific groups--African Americans, Hispanics, and American Indians -- are disproportionately affected.

The rise of childhood obesity in America [1] has affected over 12 million children. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, one of the many risk factors in obesity is ethnicity, with Hispanics having the second highest prevalence rates. Another factor is low socioeconomic status [2]. The prevention of diabetes, even in childhood, can be promoted when the mother is pregnant. Health promotion and education, by programs such Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children has improved anthropometrics results. The program recorded that weight-for-length measurements in infants (3-23 months) decreased from 14.5% to 12.3% from 2010 - 2014.

Up until the late 1990s, seeing an obese child was extremely abnormal because children’s main form of entertainment was playing outside. An important factor contributing to the increased rate of childhood obesity is that the foremost form of amusement has shifted from outdoor activities to vast outlets of easily accessible technology. Children are also being served a variety of unhealthy meals from fast food restaurants, such as McDonald’s or Taco Bell. Unfortunately, most parents do not know the underlying truth about what they are feeding their children and often choose the cheapest route for feeding their families. Research indicates that the corpulence of today’s youth is becoming severely problematic, and drastic steps are being taken to solve the obesity concern in adolescents.

Obesity is a problem that is faced amongst many individuals across the world. Obesity is a serious health and societal issue that is rising at extreme rates, some may call it an epidemic in both developed and developing countries. Obesity is a global problem, with almost 30 percent of people globally are now either obese or overweight which is affecting an estimate of 2.1 billion people worldwide and it’s prevalence in the recent decade had a rapid increase. It’s a well-known fact that the odds are against children and adolescents who are obese. Not only are they more likely to become obese as adults, but they are also at a higher risk for adult health problems, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, various cancers, and osteoarthritis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). According the World Health Organization, “the escalating international epidemic of obesity is now the most significant contributor to ill health.” Childhood obesity has more than double in children and quadrupled in adolescents in the pasts 30 years. The percentages of the children who are aged between 6-11 years old increased from 7% in 1980 to nearly 18% in 2012. With similar results, the percentage of adolescents that are aged 12-19 years old increased from 5% to nearly 21% over the same period. 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