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Childhood obesity and its implications on society
Childhood obesity and its implications on society
Sociological aspects of childhood obesity
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One the biggest problems we deal with today, especially in America is obesity. More specifically our younger generation. The number of obese children has risen dramatically in the last couple decades and doesn’t seem to be getting any better. With fast food restaurants popping up around every corner it’s hard not to see why we are a fat country and why our children will grow up to be obese. But who is to blame for this rise in obesity with in our young children, the parent? The fast food chains? Society in general? In the past years we seen a shift in how younger people interact with one another, from spending the day outside and playing to staying at home starring at a television all day. The impact of childhood obesity doesn’t just impact the lives of them but of everyone as it is responsible for around 14.1 billion dollars in direct medical costs ("McDonald’s Shareholder Proposal No. 7." xx-xx). The way we treat our children has also taken a dramatic change as well in the way we discipline them and allow them to engage one another in social situation. All these impact the problems that we are dealing with today when it comes to obesity in young children. But together we can help change how children grew up and keep them healthy and living longer lives. Obesity is the biggest threat to modern health. It is linked to heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer. The Center of Disease Control and Prevention states that 35.9% of Americans over the age of 20 are classed as obese. Thou the percent adults age 20 years and above who are overweight, including obesity is 69.2% ("FASTSTATS - Overweight Prevalence." xx-xx). The fact that is more disturbing is that from a survey from the Nation Health and Nutrition ... ... middle of paper ... ...arn The Facts." Let's Move!. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2013. . Ludwig, David S. "Childhood Obesity — The Shape of Things to Come." The New England Journal of Medicine. Massachusetts Medical Society., n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2013. . "McDonald’s Shareholder Proposal No. 7." Corporate Accountability International. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2013. Smith, Tammie. "Your Health: Options for teen weight loss surgery : Your Health." Richmond Times-Dispatch. BH Media Group Holdings, Inc., n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2013. . Super Size me. Dir. Morgan Spurloc. Perf. Morgan Spurloc. 2004. Samuel Goldwyn Films, 2004. Film.
Super Size Me. Dir. Morgan Spurlock. Perf. Morgan Spurlock. 2004. DVD. Samuel Goldwin Films, 2004.
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)
The nation is suffering from a new epidemic from a program that had good intentions. The obesity rate for children has distantly increased over the past years and is continuing to grow. In the past thirty years, obesity has more than doubled in children and has tripled in young adults. This problem has both immediate and long-term effects in health and well-being in children and adolescents. The ...
However, there is more at stake here than what these two groups ultimately believe to be true. The percentage of obese children in the United States has risen from 5% in 1980 to almost 20% in 2012. Factors such as food choices and fitness levels are contributing greatly to this problem. Obese children eventually become obese adults and bring along with them many adverse medical conditions. These medical conditions such as diabetes are known to be severe and place a shorter life expectancy on the people it affects. Ultimately, what is at stake here is childhood obesity is on the rise in the United States due to people’s failure to eat the proper foods and as a result of children followin...
The percentage of obese Americans rose 21 percent from 1980 to 2013 (“Prevalence of Overweight”). That equates to a .62 percent increase annually. In 1990, not one state in the U.S. had an obesity rate of over fifteen percent, by 2010 not one state had an obesity rate of under twenty percent and almost a quarter of the states had obesity rates over thirty percent (“Obesity Trends”, 2). Obesity rate percentages between men and women have risen at approximately equal levels. Among American women, those with a college degree are less than half as likely to be obese. While obesity levels rose equally across all economic levels in the U.S., those in lower income brackets are almost twice as likely to become obese (“Adult Obesity Facts”). Obesity is becoming more prevalent in our youth. Among six to eleven year olds the obesity rate rose from seven percent to eighteen percent between 1980 and 2013. Among twelve to nineteen year olds the obesity rate rose from five to almost twenty one percent in the same time period ("Childhood Obesity Facts")
Within the past three years obesity among children has tripled. Childhood obesity is considered the number one health threat in America. Childhood obesity has become a major issue facing America. And today over “nine million” (Selicia 4, May) United States children are overweight and obese. Sadly “2 million” (Tanner 2005) of these children are at risk for type 2 diabetes. Obesity has become a burden to the United States economy and it is costing America “$147 billion” (Holden, 2010) a year.
Welch, Gregory L. “The Growing Problems Of Overweight American Youths.” American Fitness 23.5 (2005): 54. MAS Ultra- School Edition. Web. 11 Dec. 2013.
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 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.
Obesity has a longstanding relationship with the United States. The rates of obesity have risen exponentially over time, and don’t seem to be stopping. In 1990, obese adults made up less than 15 percent of the U.S. population. Although, by 2010, obesity rates were 25 percent or higher in 36 states, and 12 out of those had a rate of 30 percent or higher (An Epidemic of Obesity:
“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).” Carrying excess weight can lead to an earlier risk of obesity-related disease and death in adulthood. “Perhaps one of the most sobering statements regarding the severity of the childhood obesity epidemic came from former Surgeon General Richard Carmona, who characterized the threat as follows: “Because of the increasing rates of obesity, unhealthy eating habits and physical inactivity, we may see the first generation that will be less healthy and have a shorter life expectancy than their parents (Overweight in Children)." Thus, the consequences of being obese at a young age have both immediate and long-term effects on a person’s
Many adolescents are suffering of obesity in the past couple of years. It has become a huge problem for many kids from ages six through eleven and twelve through nineteen in the United States. The percentage of kids twelve through nineteen has increased from 5% to almost 21%. For children six to eleven has increased from 7% to 18% over a course of thirty two years. The rapid growth of obesity in the country is very concerning for many people, including parents and doctors. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention state that in 2012 almost one third of children and adolescents are overweight or obese. This immense growth of children overweight can be prevented. It becomes even more clear that recess can make a huge change. It provides
Obesity is defined as having excess body fat and with a BMI above the 85th percentile. According to the CDC, the percentage of children and adolescents affected by obesity has more than tripled since the 1970’s. Many factors contribute to childhood obesity including: genetics, metabolism, community and neighborhood design and safety, sleep, eating habits and physical activity (Healthy Schools, 2018). I believe this has happened because children as more parents are working, children are spending more time indoors and not able to get physical activity. Another reason is the ease of access to junk food, including sweets and fast food. Since children are watching more television, they are seeing more commercials for fast food and because parents
Educating children in childhood and adolescence will promote childhood healthy growth and also intellectual development. Therefore, starting health programs at school will help children and their parents to obtain education and reinforcement for healthy body and healthy mind. Montgomery county School Health Council states that since 2011 obesity prevention is a priority and therefore they adopted new menu for school lunches and physical education requirements. Here is one of the examples of programs that were adopted “School Health Services: obesity prevention school-based program called Healthy Choices, Happy Students which includes Nutrition Nuggets, an afternoon nutrition information program (in collaboration with the University of Maryland
Childhood obesity is one of the most serious public health challenges for the 21th century. Child obesity is the effect of children eating too many calories and not getting enough exercise. The problem is a global epidemic this is a great concern because it’s affecting our children and young adults the consequences could be serious. However, it prevalence is increasing in developing and underdeveloped countries. In the United States, childhood obesity is still a major health problem the older the children gets obesity increases. This mean that the child’s weight is above what is normal for his age and height. Obesity is causes by eating too many calories and not getting enough exercise. Poor nutrition is one of the contributing factors