Childhood Obesity : A Common Illness

Obesity is defined as an accumulation of excessive fat that impairs a person health or a body mass index (BMI) that greater than or equal 30 (WHO, 2012). Childhood obesity is a major public health epidemic in which the prevalence has doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents in the United States over the past three decades with the highest prevalence in Blacks, Hispanics and Native American children and the number is

Childhood obesity is a growing epidemic in the United States. More than one third of children are overweight. This figure is increasing rapidly. This epidemic puts children at risk for various health problems such as type two diabetes and heart problems. Although they are several risk factors for obesity, parents play a significant role in this issue. This paper will look into how parents are influential to their children, how they contribute to this problem and how they may help fight the fight against obesity. Obesity is a very serious problem and there are solutions that parents can apply to help their children lead a healthy lifestyle. Obesity does not only affect a person physically, but mentally and psychologically as well.

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

The 5-2-1-0 guidelines recommend that kids eat at least five serving of fruits and vegetables a day, spend less than two hours in front of screen (including TV, computers, videogames and mobile devices) fit one hour of physical participation into their day and they consume zero sugar-sweetened drinks. Besides, suggest that children trade soda, fruit juice and sport drinks with water or low –fat –milk.

Being fat takes the fun out of being a kid. Paul Campos in his article “There is no Childhood Obesity Epidemic” discussed the there is a “stunning” drop in childhood obesity rate. He claims that obesity rates among two to five year olds have plunged over the past decade, and that the so called “obesity epidemic” had ended. I strongly disagree with Campos view that there is no childhood obesity epidemic, this is due to the researches that was done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention which shows that childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescent in the past years.

Eating habits are developed from the first couple of years of a child’s life, and parents must be sure to implement a well-balanced diet so that their children get the sufficient amount of nutrients that our bodies require. Other studies conducted by CDC.gov suggest that if parent consume fruits and vegetables around their children’s, chances are that the children will adopt the healthy way of eating from their parents and their chances of becoming overweight or obese decrease.

Kids will live longer because they will not become obese and they will be more active. Kids will also live longer because they will not have diseases and health problems when they are older (Maslow, O’Hara, 2015). “Obesity is the most common health problem associated with an unbalanced diet. Cardiovascular problems are some of the more serious health complications of an unbalanced diet. Another potential risk of an unbalanced diet is type 2 diabetes, particularly when this diet leads to an excessive amount of weight gain” (Severson, 2015, para. 2, 3, and 4). Eating healthy food prevents body fat and keeps skin, nails and hair healthy. Outfits will fit better and the lack of sugary foods keeps teeth white and attractive. People tend to react more positively to other people that look healthy (Benjamin, 2015). In order to meet the nutrient requirements crucial for good health, kids need to eat a variation of each of the five food groups daily, in the recommended amounts. It is important to enjoy a mixture of foods within the five food groups because different foods vary in the amount of the nutrients that these foods provide (Cox, 2015). Kids need at least 60 minutes of moderate to strong physical activity each day. Schools can assist the prevention of obesity by recommending higher quality and more active physical education for kids (“School Obesity Prevention,” 2016). Healthy selections,

Childhood obesity is more than a major issue in the United States: it is an epidemic. The number of overweight and obese children in America has increased at an alarming rate over the past years. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and tripled in adolescents in the past 30 years [1]. American Heart Association stated, “Today one in three American kids and teens are overweight or obese; nearly triple the rate in 1963” [5]. Unfortunately, this affects our children physically, mentally, and long-term.

This can be done by relating a healthy diet to activities which the child enjoys and recognizes. If a child asks why they should eat broccoli, one can answer by explaining that eating broccoli gives you more energy to run and jump. Because playing is an activity which children tend to enjoy, they will then relate the healthy food choice of ‘broccoli’ with pleasure. At all times a child ‘must be supported in developing and understanding of the importance of physical activity and making healthy choices in relation to food’(EYFS (2007) in Macleod – Brudenell, 2008, p70)

Childhood obesity is an epidemic that goes on throughout the United States. Studies have shown how obesity in children may start, and how it affects each and every child in America. Childhood obesity has been getting attention in the media from famous celebrities all the way to the First Lady of the United States. There are many things that cause childhood obesity and very few ways to stop it. However, there are people out there who are trying to help by getting children active, eating healthy and getting back on track to having a healthy and long life.

The spike in childhood obesity has prompted great concern in the healthcare community and resulted in vast public health efforts aimed at reducing the incidence. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that in the past 30 years, childhood obesity has increased by more than 50% in children, more than quadrupled in adolescents and currently over one third of children in America are overweight or obese, according to BMI (CDC, 2012).

Chapter 1: Childhood Obesity – A General Overview Childhood obesity is defined as a serious health condition that affects children and teenagers. This condition takes place when a child’s weight is way above the normal for his or her height and age. This health condition is specifically worrisome since the extra pounds usually start children on the path to medical conditions that used to be confined with adults such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes.

Childhood obesity is a medical condition of being overweight or obese. This condition has continued to grow and increase over the past five decades. In the US alone there are more than three million cases per year. For one to be obese it means that the individual is significantly overweight for their age and height. The way to tell if someone is obese or overweight is by a BMI, which stands for body mass index. Being overweight is defined as having a BMI that is at or above the 85th percentile to the 95th percentile for children and teens. Childhood obesity is a common problem in America today and changes need to be done to save the future youth from having these health problems.

My enquiry question will identify the leading causes of childhood obesity in New Zealand. Childhood obesity is a serious medical condition that affects children and adolescents (Mayo Clinic, 2014). It occurs when a child is well above the normal weight for his or her age and height (Mayo Clinic, 2014). This enquiry question will mainly focus on children who are obese in New Zealand. Through survey, The 2012/13 New Zealand Health Survey found that 1 in 9 children aged 2–14 years were obese (11%), in New Zealand (Ministry of Health, 2014). Childhood obesity arises because of the differences in health and lifestyle outcomes among different cultural people in New Zealand. The major causes which contribute are socio-economic inequality, access to and quality of health care, and health risk factors (Statistics New Zealand, n.d). The environments with lower than average neighbourhood availability of healthful foods and higher than average availability of fast food restaurants, may contribute higher calorie foods and beverages, which can be socially and culturally valued (Shiriki K. Kumanyika, 2007). By identifying the leading causes of childhood obesity in new, I will also be able to explore…..

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.