Childhood Obesity : A Primary Health Care Perspective

Haworth, E., Higgins, H., Hoyle, H., Lavers, S. and Lewis, C. (2010) BTEC Level 2 First Health and Social Care Teaching Resource Pack, Harlow: Pearson Education, 978-1-84690-671-8

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.

Stretch B. and Whitehouse M. –Health and Social Care Level 3 Book 1 BTEC National. London: Pearson Education Limited, 2010

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

Boys D and Langridge E – BTEC National Health and Social Care Book 1 (Nelson Thornes, 2007)

What does childhood obesity means? Obesity can be defined as a condition in which the body carries abnormal or unhealthy amounts of fat tissue, leading the individual to weigh in excess or 20 percent more than his or her ideal weight (Health & Illness).Obesity in America is an ever-growing problem and has boosted America to the number one spot in terms of obese population. It also stands as the most prevalent medical issue in American Children. In the past thirty years, obesity has affected many different age groups of kids. Preschool group, two to five years in age, and the youths between the ages of twelve and nineteen the obesity rate has more than doubled (Childhood Obesity Statistics and Facts 2v007). Childhood obesity has more than tripled in kid’s ages six to eleven years old. Children can become obese due to many different things like parents or schools. Although obesity may linger for a lifetime, there are many ways to overcome childhood obesity and not have to deal with the weight issue. Childhood obesity causes many problems and concerns in many American families, but families need to work together to overcome obesity. One out of three children in the United States falls into the overweight or obese category (Ding). Children face many different problems and issues at a young age because of obesity. Children obesity causes type 2 diabetes, fatty liver because of excessive weight issues, social problems, depression, anxiety, and eating disorders (Ludwig). Childhood

involved in caring for a patient. She told me that proper education and early prevention

NU 412 Health Policy Week 3 Discussion Board response student response to Carla Fisher by Kathryn Moultrie

“During the past two decades, the prevalence of obesity in children has risen greatly worldwide. Obesity in childhood causes a wide range of serious complications, and increases the risk of premature illness and death later in life, raising public-health concerns.” (Ebbeling, Pawlak & Ludwig, 2002 p.471) Currently in the Australian community and schools there is an obesity epidemic in young people with many children doing less and less physical activity then advised. “In 2007-08 the National health survey, run by the Australian Government indicated that 24.9% of children aged 5-17 years old were either overweight or obese” (Healthy Active, 2009). These figures show that children are not being properly educated about healthy

It is imperative to health care professionals to be able to understand the demographic of their local community in order to effectively address their needs and provide quality care. This report will outline the population profile of Gordon-Killara, located in the upper north shore of Sydney, NSW. Australia is often perceived as a multicultural country where every region has a spread of people with different race, age, gender and socioeconomic status. These are all factors which contribute to profile of a community. This has a direct influence on the health care needs and services provided to the people of this area. Moreover, this report will compare the statistics of Gordon-Killara with the

NSW MINISTRY OF HEALTH 73 Miller Street NORTH SYDNEY NSW 2060 Tel. (02) 9391 9000 Fax. (02) 9391 9101 TTY. (02) 9391 9900 www.health.nsw.gov.au This work is copyright. It may be reproduced in whole or in part for study or training purposes subject to the inclusion of an acknowledgement of the source. It may not be reproduced for commercial usage or sale. Reproduction for purposes other than those indicated above requires written permission from the NSW Ministry of Health. © NSW Ministry of Health 2012 SHPN (HSPI) 120204 Further copies of this document can be downloaded from the NSW Health website www.health.nsw.gov.au or Emergency Care Institute NSW website www.ecinsw.com.au August 2012

In 2014 –2015, more than 50 per cent of Australians reported having at least one chronic condition, and 1 in 4 (23 per cent) reported having two or more chronic conditions.

Morris Caroline. s/nvq Health & social care Assessor handbook (on-line - 13:54, 24th February 2013 )

Rural and remote Australia refers to those areas outside of major cities and are made up of many diverse towns including pastoral, farming, mining, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. The Atherton Tablelands, a highland region of northern Australia near Cairns, is classified as a rural and remote area. This essay will provide a profile on Atherton including the demographical, geographical, environmental, and cultural features as well as how these factors impact on the health of individuals within the community. It will all discuss the various theories and models of care used at the Atherton Hospital, the role of the registered nurse and the multidisciplinary team. The specific knowledge and clinical skills required for registered nurses will also be outlined, as well as examples of how these skills could be demonstrated.

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.