Child Obesity Is A World 's Problem

Fast food has a harmful effect on society because it can cause obesity. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry believes obesity “Overweight children are much more likely to become overweight adults unless they adopt and maintain healthier patterns of eating and exercise.” (parag. 1).The causing and treating of obesity is complex but it is the most recognizable disease. Consistently eating fast food and a poor can lead to obesity in anyone. The risks of obesity include an increased risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease. According to the American Heart Association, fast food “Studies have shown that over the past four decades, consumption of food eaten away from home has also risen alarmingly” (parag. 8). This means that fast food is high in fat, sugar, salt, carbs, calories, saturated and trans fats. This type of eating leads to a higher body mass index or gained weight. Children and adolescents are at a

Obesity is when a person has excess body fat. It is calculated by dividing one’s weight by his or her height to get the body mass index (BMI=kg/m^2). This number is also used to screen for health problems that maybe be caused by certain weight categories. A BMI of 25-29.9 is considered to be overweight and over thirty is considered obese. A third of children are overweight (CDC, 2014). Obesity leads to significant physical and mental health consequences. Obese children are at risk for bone and joint problems, sleep apnea, type two diabetes, high cholesterol, coronary artery disease and hypertension (CDC, 2014).

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

Initially, children’s diets should be regulated, because these days there are too many children facing obesity. To begin with, obesity amongst children continues to grow and it needs to be stopped. Specifically, according to “Time for Kids; Obesity Rates Falling” from 1980 to 2000 the percentage of obese kids in the US ages 9-10 tripled. Obviously, obesity is growing at a much faster rate amongst adolescents so their diets need to be regulated. Additionally, obesity in children can be severely harmful at young age. For instance, being overweight can lead to problems like heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. It is clear that, if obesity continues with children like this diseases that used to only be common in

Recent statistics have shown that childhood obesity has reached global epidemic status. In the United States alone, approximately 34% of adolescents and young adults are considered obese or overweight (Pbert et al, 2013). The rates are equally concerning across the world and appear to have rates that are disproportionate among minorities and low-income families. The root causes include factors that are genetic, environmental, societal and developmental, but it is largely caused by controllable factors such as unhealthy diets and lack of physical activity. The condition is fraught with significant risk factors such as depression, low-esteem and a further increased risk of becoming obese adults. Furthermore, there is an increased risk of adult-onset diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases (Pbert et al, 2014).

Childhood Obesity is a worldwide epidemic that causes serious health problems among children and teens, regardless of their race, age, or economic status. Obesity is a condition where an individual may be over weight or have excess body fat. Some of the risks and complications of obesity include; high blood pressure, diabetics, breathing problems, and sleep apnea, and an increase risk of heart disease.

Childhood obesity is an unmet problem all throughout the world, including in the United States of America. According to Greg Critser, a writer of medicine and science, in his excerpt, "Too Much of a Good Thing," childhood obesity is a growing health issue and has been for over a decade. He claims that approximately one quarter of all Americans under the age of nineteen are overweight (161). However, Critser states that parents are not to be blamed for childhood obesity because "a child restrained from overeating will either rebel... or suffer such a loss of self-esteem that a lifetime of disastrous eating behavior will follow" (161). He also points out how the stigmatism of being weighty can be reduced by stigmatizing unhealthy eating behaviors (161). Using a study by Pennsylvania State University on the eating habits of children, Critser displays how three-year-olds ate generally the same amount of food each serving, while five-year-olds consumed all that was on their plate (161). In addition, Critser claims, while parents believe children have the right to choose their own poor nutritional decisions, fast-food chains, such as McDonalds, spend a billion dollars a year to influence families to eat at their chains (162). By providing examples of stigmatisms for unhealthy behaviors in his essay, Critser effectively proves that childhood obesity can be expelled if people are willing to take the proper steps to do so.

Researches have shown that a lower income level of households can increase the likelihood of child obesity rate. When both parents need to work to maintain a living, fast food becomes a more convenient option that is both cheaper and simpler for the family. However, if a mother has the time to stay home and prepare meals for her children, the children will eat healthier. The costs of food in Mc Donald, Burger King, Taco Bell, and all fast food restaurants in general are less expensive and less time consuming than cooking at home. Due to the value menu, there are easier and cheaper options for a meal than homemade foods. Another contributing factor of child obesity is

“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.

Childhood obesity has become a global health problem. Almost 15% of children between 5-11 are obese currently. The number of it has more than doubled in the past two decades. The unregulated advertising which aim at children is the reason why the growth rate of childhood obesity. Industry response to the issue of obesity and food advertising to children has been pre-emptively strong. In order to cope with TV advertising have a negative impact on children's health, many countries have begun to limit their television companies advertising. In 2004, the British Government introduced a new policy to prohibit any television channel advertise "junk food" advertisement before 9 pm; in November 2006, British Telecommunications enacted a law to prohibit

The obesity in childhood is global problem, now represent an epidemic problem, not only in the developed countries, the prevalence is increasing in developing countries as well. The WHO is working in project like MONICA to fight against it. In USA the prevalence increased since 1971 and 25 % of children are overweight and 11% obese. About 70 % of obese adolescent grow up to become obese adults. The incidence rate is 26.5 % per 1000 person years between the ages of 5 and 14 years.

A growing number of children are demonstrating unhealthy eating habits and as a result are becoming obese due to lack of physical activity, nutrition and genetics. Children in today’s society are not motivated to exercise and participate in after school activities. If we were to go back in time 15 to 20 years ago, children were encouraged to explore the outdoors by engaging in activities such as camping, bicycling, walking, running and playing sports. Now, living in the 21st century, technology has taken a major toll on our children health; they are spending more time indoors watching television, playing video, games, surfing the internet and texting on their mobile phones.

“Body mass index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on your weight in relation to your height, and applies to most adult men and women aged 20 and over.” When determining if a child is overweight it is best to use the BMI percentile. “Kids who measure at the 85th to 94th percentiles are considered overweight, because of excess body fat or high lean body mass.” Anything above the 94th percentile would be considered obese.

Fast food tastes best when they are fresh out of the restaurant. No matter how big the portion is, fast food can be hardly eaten as leftovers. So children have gradually trained their stomachs-adults likewise-to hold fattier, oily, sugary foods that come in super sizes. The initial issue seemed to be just being overweight and obese, as these children who consume more fatty foods than necessary grew up to be a fat generation of adults. But now, the fast food monster has grown bigger and wilder that it brings children critical health issues at much younger ages.