Childhood obesity may not seem like a serious problem, but it is a serious medical condition that can have major effects on a child. Although genetics play a role in determining a child’s weight, it is usually due to a child’s amount of exercise and the consumption of healthy meals. Doctors are concerned with the issue, as we all should be, and they are creating new programs that are geared toward helping children learn how to follow a healthier lifestyle. There are some promising outlooks with these programs, and most doctors agree that parents should help their children create a more active and healthy lifestyle. They also agree that the government should provide more attention to the issue as well. Since the growing problem of childhood obesity can be detrimental to children’s health, actions should be taken by parents and the government to combat the issue by introducing children to a healthy diet, encouraging children to be physically active, and limiting the time spent playing video games and watching television.
In today’s society, most children are overweight due to unhealthy eating habits. Many families say they are usually too busy to cook a healthy meal and enjoy it with the family because they are always on-the-go. Families view fast food as a convenience because it is usually quicker and cheaper than cooking a meal at home. According to a recent study, 35% of a family’s food is consumed outside of the home (Burniat). Although fast food is often turned to when families need a quick fix, it can have serious health effects on the entire family. Another reason that families like to eat out is because their children are involved in so many activities at school. For example, kids involved in sports can end up spending a w...
... middle of paper ...
...nd Medicine. 65 (7): 1311-1323.
“EDITORIAL: Program is helping against child obesity.” Bowling Green Daily News (KY). 11 Feb. 2010: Newspaper Source. EBSCO. Web. 22 Apr. 2010.
"High-Tech Childhood." Encounter 17.4 (2004): 21-27. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 30 Apr. 2010.
Kemper, V. (2003). Schools are skipping P.E. The Boston Globe 9/30/03, A7.
Kolata, Gina. “While Children Grow Fatter, Experts Search for Solutions.” The New York Times. 19 Oct 2000, A1, A20.
Williams, Rachel. “Jamie Oliver's school dinners shown to have improved academic results.” Guardian Newspaper. 29 March 2010, p3.
Yoo, Joan P., Kristen S. Slack, and Jane L. Holl. "Material Hardship and the Physical Health of School-Aged Children in Low-Income Households." American Journal of Public Health 99.5 (2009): 829-836. Education Research Complete. EBSCO. Web. 1 May 2010.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) discuss about childhood obesity. With CDC, this research is very useful in helping others understand what overweight and obesity is. Having excess body weight for a particular height from fat, bone, muscle, water, or a combination of all is being overweight. Obesity is just having excess body fat. It states about obesity occurring to children and adolescents that has passed since 30 years. The first stage of this phenomenon starts as a person being overweight which will lead to obesity. More than one-third of children and adolescents were overweight or obese. The result for both of these terms is a caloric-imbalance which is an amount of too few calories that is consumed and is affected by many genetics, behavioral, and environmental factors. From this source CDC gives a specific estimate percentage of children aged 6–11 years that is more overly obese. In the United States in 1980 who were obese increased from 7% to nearly 18% in 2012. Furthermore over the same period, the percentage of adolescents aged 12–19 years who were obese increased from 5% to nearly 21%. Additionally, there is a list of health effects of childhood obesity and inform immediate and long-term health effects. Tips are also included here to prevent any other health problems relating to obesity. It does not clearly teach every step of how to prevent it, but giving out ideas on how to solve the problem yourself.
In order to impede the epidemic of childhood obesity, the actual causes of the problem need to be evaluated and dissected. Obesity in children is becoming a huge problem in American society. In the past three decades, the rate of overweight children has increased by 300%. This is an alarming rate that is only climbing higher. Every member in society should take steps to becoming healthier. This would help the present generations as well as future generations to come. The lifestyle of Americans keeps us too busy to be a healthy society.
Childhood obesity has been on the rise in the last couple of years. In the 1970’s childhood obesity was never a concern to the public until the number increased over the years. An alarming rate of 31% of all adults have been obese since they were children and the rates of childhood obesity don’t fall too behind with an 18% of children being obese. That makes almost half of obese adults and children. A child that is obese has a 70-80% higher chance of staying obese even through their adulthood if no action is taken. Childhood obesity is not something children are in control of, these children suffer from different outcomes since they can’t look after themselves and heavily rely on someone to aid them when they need it. These numbers can be drastically altered in a positive way by educating both children and parents about healthy, nutritious foods to consume, supplying schools with better lunch and healthier vending machines with healthy choices and promoting after school activities to keep children active and away from electronics.
There is an alarming rise in childhood obesity throughout the United States, making it an epidemic in our country. Obesity has become a threat to the health of many children. Childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents in the past 30 years. The percentage of children aged 6–11 years in the United States who were obese increased from 7% in 1980 to nearly 18% in 2012. Similarly, the percentage of adolescents aged 12–19 years who were obese increased from 5% to nearly 21% over the same period.(Childhood Obesity Facts, 2015)
It is imperative that society coalesces to help prevent childhood obesity. No child or parent wants to suffer through any type of heart condition or disease, whether it be now or later on in their lives. Experts have seen the rising obesity rate as a wake-up call to take the “epidemic” of childhood obesity very seriously. Because of the fact that childhood obesity is interconnected with so many health issues it significantly affects lifespans. Childhood obesity can be prevented and needs to be in order to ultimately save the lives and future lives of children.
In today’s society, childhood obesity is growing at an alarming rate. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents in the past thirty years (OgdenCL, Carroll MD, Kit BK, Flegal KM, 2014). In 2012, more than one third of our children and adolescents were reported as being overweight or obese. The consequences of this growing epidemic are becoming more and more detrimental to our children’s health. Childhood obesity not only causes short-term health problems, but there are long-term issues as well. It is rapidly becoming the “norm” for our society instead of the “exception”. We as parents, should educate ourselves and become active in saving
Childhood obesity is a serious problem among American children. Some doctors are even calling childhood obesity an epidemic because of the large percentage of children being diagnosed each year as either overweight or obese. “According to DASH sixteen to thirty-three percent of American children each year is being told they are obese.” (Childhood Obesity) There is only a small percentage, approximately one percent, of those children who are obese due to physical or health related issues; although, a condition that is this serious, like obesity, could have been prevented. With close monitoring and choosing a healthier lifestyle there would be no reason to have such a high obesity rate in the United States (Caryn). Unfortunately, for these children that are now considered to be obese, they could possibly be facing some serious health conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, and some types of cancers. All of these diseases have been linked to obesity through research. These children never asked for this to happen to them; however, it has happened, and now they will either live their entire life being obese, or they will be forced to reverse what has already been done (Childhood Obesity).
We want to solve the problem by helping kids and adults each healthier by making healthier lifestyle choices when it comes to eating. We also want to also increase physical activity of children and adolescents. I believe with the proper diet and exercise we can help decrease the obesity issue in this country that has grown so much in the past two decades. These steps are vital to helping prevent childhood obesity and even kids who currently suffer from childhood obesity. Since the 1970’s approximately 15 percent of children and adolescents are now overweight. "Prevent Childhood Obesity-Get Your Kids Moving!" Prevent Childhood Obesity-Get Your Kids Moving!
Over the years we have been fighting with the issue of obesity among children in the United States. Nearly one in three kids and adolescents are overweight or obese in the United States. Obesity in children has more than tripled from 1971 to 2011and is the number one cause for concern amongst parents in the United States. It is important to prevent obesity during childhood because habits that are formed during youth usually carry on into adulthood. Being obese describes children with a body mass index at or above the 95th percentile for their age and gender. An overweight child would be described as having a body mass index at or above the 85th percentile but below the 95th percentile. Children
Childhood obesity is rising at an alarming rate. 12.7 million Children, between the ages two and nineteen are obese. Obesity puts kids at risk of serious health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, and asthma. Childhood obesity can also cause emotional distress. It can cause self-esteem issues, and result in stress. Treating weight problems at an early age may reduce the risk of developing these and other serious medical conditions as they get older. Childhood obesity can differ depending on racial/ethnic groups, age, sex, and adult head of household’s and education level. Many cases of childhood obesity are usually caused by eating too much and exercising too little. Children need a healthy and full diet, but without proper exercise
As of late, childhood obesity has become an enormous problem, literally, in America. Children today spend a majority of their time in front of a television, computer, or phone screen. As stated in the article “Our Children Deserve a Healthy Start”, which was presented at the United States Conference of Mayors, childhood obesity has more than tripled in just the last thirty years. Obesity can put kids at a higher risk for high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and many other diseases most commonly found in adults. This is an issue that can be avoided simply by exercise, a balanced diet, and educating our youth. From beginning to end of the article, the writer stresses the importance of cutting down
Childhood obesity has been a growing epidemic in the United States. According to a survey done by the National Health and Nutrition Examination in 2009-2010, it shows 32% of children and teens from ages 2 to 19 are overweight. Obesity is linked to many health risks such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension and overall lower life expectancy. Researchers have developed solutions to deal with the prevention of child obesity, for a healthy individual and also making society healthier as a whole. A popular idea practiced by researchers is focusing on the root of the childhood obesity. In other words, family influence is a major contribution to child obesity. What children learn at home about eating healthy, being active and making the right choices for healthy ways can also blend into their lifestyle.
As of 2012, “more than one third of children and adolescents were overweight or obese” (Childhood Obesity Facts). The amount of children that are obese in the US is greater than ever before, doubling in the last 30 years. Obesity in children can be caused by lack of exercise, lack of access to healthy foods, and lack of education about health and wellness. Obesity can cause a wide range of both physical and mental health complications. Childhood obesity is major issue leading to multiple health issues but education and access to resources can help reduce the problem.
Childhood obesity is a serious medical problem that affects children. Obesity is a medical term, commonly defined as being extremely overweight, which is only half the case. (www.wikipedia.com) Many parent’s ask if their child is obese, or at risk of becoming overweight, and they ask what to do about it. MD, Dennis Clements tells parents: “Obesity is a family event, not an individual event”.
In the United States (US), since 2003-2004 there has not been a significant decrease or increase in the percentage of obese children. These numbers are telling us that the rate of childhood obesity remains high. It is imperative to teach and guide our children at a young age regarding healthy eating habits and the necessity of physical activity on a daily basis, which can lead to a better quality of life in adulthood. The goals of the battle against childhood obesity are (1) to empower parents and children to change their lifestyles to prevent childhood obesity; (2) to increase awareness of childhood obesity and the risks associated with it; and (3) to promote adherence to primary prevention