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How to reduce childhood obesity in schools
Childhood obesity public health issue
Childhood obesity is an epidemic in the United States
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Childhood obesity is a serious problem in the United States resulting in medical illnesses and shortened life span, action needs to be taken to eat a healthy diet and incorporate exercise into daily life. Among children today, obesity is causing a wide range of health problems that in the past were not seen until adulthood. These include heart disease, respiratory disease, bone fractures and diabetes. There are also psychological effects; obese children are more likely to have low self-esteem, negative body image, eating disorders and depression. Excess weight at a young age has tracked to higher and earlier death rates in adulthood. This paper will pinpoint strategies to use to help decrease the incidence of obesity
Maintaining a healthy weight as well as general health and wellbeing requires eating a balanced nutritious diet and engaging in physical activity. In today’s society, children and adolescents are less likely to eat healthy and participate in physical exercise because of modern conveniences like the computer, cars and fast food. Childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents in the past 30 years (http://www.cdc.gov/healthyouth/obesity/fcats.htm). From 1980 to 2004 the percentage of youth who were obese tripled from 7% to 19% in children (6-11 years) and 5% to 17% in adolescents (12-19 years) (“Nihiser”). Approximately one out of every five children in the U.S. is overweight or obese, and this number continues to increase. (http://www.webmd.com/children/guide/obesity-children?print=true). Childhood obesity has both direct and lasting effects on health and well-being. The immediate health effects of obese youth are that they are more likely to develop risk factors for cardiov...
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...k factors. 15 Febuary 2014. 23 March 2014. .
Ogden, Cynthia, Childhood Obesity in the United States: the magnitude of the problem , http://www.cdc.gov/about/grandrounds/archives/2010/download/GR-062010.pdf
One-third of children tested have borderline or High cholesterol. Heartwire 28 March 2014. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/822662.
Rogers, Victoria The Maine Experience Let's Go http://www.cdc.gov/about/grandrounds/archives/2010/download/GR-062010.pdf webmd. http://www.cdc.gov. Ed. webmd. n.d. webmd. .
“What is childhood obesity?” Heart.org . 10 Jan. 2013. American Heart Association. http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/HealtthierKids/Childhood Obesity/What -is-childhood-obesity_UCM_304347_Article.jsp>.
Many would argue that children should not focus on their weight because children should lead a youth with little worries, yet obesity affects a child much more than people with that argument think. Being overweight can cause increased risks for several serious diseases and even can result in decreased mental health on account of low self-esteem and social discrimination. Children who are overweight also are at least twice as likely to have heart disease, diabetes, and orthopedic problems (Internicola, 2009). Sadly, children are being pressured into unhealthy lifestyles even more so than adults are.
Hellmich, Nanci, “Report maps out solutions to child obesity.” USA Today n.d.: MAS ULTRA-School Edition. Web. 6 May 2012.
National Audit Office. (2007) Tackling obesity in children [online]. Available from: http://www.nao.org.uk/publications/0001/ [Accessed on 15/03/2011].
What is childhood obesity? Childhood obesity is a condition in which a child is significantly overweight for his or her age and height. In “What is childhood obesity,” the American Heart Association reports that obesity in children causes health problems (American Heart Association). A statistic is that today, about one in three American kids and teens are overweight or obese, which has tripled the rate since 1963 (American Heart Association). If the rate has increased over the past fifty-two years when will it decrease? It will never decrease if healthier lifestyles are not enforced. We need to improve childhood obesity by having classes to educate parents to keep their children healthy.
This article from CDC talk about the basics about childhood obesity. It provides information on how childhood overweight and obesity is measured by calculating an individual’s body mass index (BMI). It also states some consequences that are related to childhood obesity, both consequences that can happen now and later...
Over the last few decades the prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents has been steadily increasing in the United States drawing immediate concern for the coming generations and the overall health and well-being for society. While addressing this concern, a matter of significance has to be reviewed to undoubtedly warrant the attention of the nation and propose factors of government, community, organizational, and individual involvement. According to the Society of Behavioral Medicine, “Since 1960, overweight prevalence rates among children and adolescents have increased more than threefold. In 2003-2006, 16.3% of children and adolescents aged 2 – 19 years were at or above the 95th percentile and 31.9% were at or above the 85th percentile for age and sex based on the 2000 CDC growth charts.” (SBM). Below in Figure 1 taken directly from the CDC, is a chart helping put into perspective the dramatic increase of child and adolescent obesity from 1963 – 2008.
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)
Obesity in children across America has become an increasing public health concern. Obesity has been identified as an epidemic that is plaguing our children in the United States. In some countries around the world children are dying of starvation everyday. How can this happen when here in America the opposite is a major problem? This is not to say that in America there are no hungry or starving children. It has been proven that our children suffer from obesity, and “children who are overweight or obese as preschoolers are five times as likely as normal-weight children to be overweight or obese as adults” (“Hope”). Obesity not only can cause a child to become more prone to having health problems down the road, but it can also make them feel insecure about themselves. There needs to be action taken in schools as well as in homes to help prevent this growing epidemic.
“In 2012, more than one third of children and adolescents were overweight or obese.” (CDC) Childhood obesity is a problem that has inundated society for many decades. Almost anywhere that you go, you’ll see a magazine article or some sort of poster regarding childhood obesity. Childhood obesity can be defined as a condition where excess body fat negatively affects a child’s health or well-being. Majority of adults care about their weight because self-image is a very important factor in their lives, but when it comes down to children, many pay their weight a very minimal amount of attention. Due to the superfluous rise in the number of obese children over the past couple of decades, doctors and physicians have become concerned about this trend. This concern is raised by the various diseases and health issues accompanying childhood obesity. Childhood obesity puts children at a greater risk for developing health issues and diseases of the heart.
Marcus, Lauren, Ph. D., and Amanda Baron, M.S.W. "Childhood Obesity: The Effects on Physical and Mental Health | AboutOurKids.org." Childhood Obesity: The Effects on Physical and Mental Health | AboutOurKids.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Oct. 2013.
The effects of obesity in children are immediate health problems as well as long term health problems. According to the WebMD article “Children’s Health” states that “children have fewer weight-related health and medical problems than adults. However, overweight children are at high risk of becoming overweight adolescents and adults, placing them at risk of developing chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes later in life.” Obesity has negative effects on children, which raises concern, because lon...
Childhood obesity is an increasing problem here in the United States. According to Schuab and Marian (2011) “Childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions” (P.553). The prevalence of child obesity and overweight has increased over the last 30 years all over the United States, becoming one of the biggest public health challenges (Moreno, Johnson-Shelton, & Boles, 2013). The purpose of this paper is to give a background of the obesity epidemic, a review of current policy, and make a policy recommendation.
The Institute of Heartmath, (2012), childhood obesity and emotional eating, http://www.heartmath.org/free-services/articles-of-the-heart/childhood-obesity-and-emotional-eating.html [accessed 05 Nov 2013]
Childhood Obesity in America. (n.d.). Retrieved Jan 22, 2011, from Seattle Sutton's Healthy Eating: www.seattlesutton.com/media/document/childhood-obesity-in-america
Childhood obesity is a health problem that is becoming increasingly prevalent in society’s youth. For a number of years, children across the nation have become accustomed to occasionally participating in physical activities and regularly snacking on sugary treats. In result of these tendencies, approximately one third of American children are currently overweight or obese (Goodwin). These grim statistics effectively represent all the lack of adult interference, in regards to health, has done to the youth of America. The habits of over consuming foods and under participating in physical activities are all too common in the children of today. Children cannot solve this issue alone, though. These young people need to essentially be given the opportunities to make positive health decisions and learn about good, nutritional values.