Childhood Obesity And Its Effect On Children

Through the easy accessibility of technology, the media is able to have a detrimental effect on the young people in America. According to Tiffany Rush- Wilson, Skills Development Coordinator of Counseling Programs at Walden University, the media places a greater emphasis on having the perfect body and looking thin in today’s society. This in turn causes obese children to feel negative about themselves which leads them to eat even more (Rush-Wilson 3). Technological advances have also promoted laziness through gaming systems like the Xbox. The glorification of sitting on a sofa firing pixelated guns at pixelated soldiers has been added to the list of hobbies enjoyed by children in the twenty first century. The television has also been linked to childhood obesity. Tom Robinson from the Division of General Pediatrics and Stanford Center for Research in Disease Prevention uses an experiment to show the positive correlation between the two factors:

Despite recent declines in the prevalence among preschool-aged children, obesity among children is still too high. For children and adolescents aged 2-19 years, the prevalence of obesity has remained fairly stable at about 17% and affects about 12.7 million children and adolescents for the past decade (CDC). Childhood obesity does not only affect children, but also has many long term health effects on our children as they get older, including, an increased risk of type 2 diabetes in both childhood and adulthood. (2). Researchers estimate that if obesity trends continue, obesity related medical costs, alone, could rise by $43 to $66 billion each year in the United States by 2030. (1) A major factor in childhood obesity is the inadequate amount of physical activity children are getting, as well as the school lunches that are being provided to the kids. The accessibility of competitive foods which includes things like vending machines, student stores and items a la carte in schools has been linked with negative dietary behaviors, including higher saturated fat intake, higher sweetened beverage intake, and less fruit and vegetable intake,(3) thus resulting in obesity among our children and adolescents. Research suggests that by making sure children are getting healthy school meals and getting enough physical activity in their day it will decrease their chances of having childhood obesity (3). The purpose of this review was to determine the role, school lunches and physical

Childhood obesity has placed the health of an entire generation at risk. Obesity in America is a big problem that has been growing over the years. “An estimated 12.5 million children between the ages of 2 and 19 are obese, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention” (Loop 2015). As the number of children being affected keeps growing, parents or guardians do not change the habits that lead their children to become obese. “Among children today, obesity is causing a broad range of health problems that previously weren’t seen until adulthood” (American Heart Association, 2014). Not only is obesity causing health problems more than before, but it also causing a big problem in America. More and more children every year become obese and it keeps growing. Even though some people believe the lifestyle of a person is not to blame for the childhood obesity problem in America, the technology, the parenting style , and the media of the outside world are huge factors that contribute to childhood obesity.

Being overweight and obese are associated with serious health risks for children. According to Crawford et al. (2013) one-sixth of all school-age obese children have developed an early onset of health problems compared to those within the healthy Body Mass Index (BMI) range. Children who are overweight and obese have an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease due to high cholesterol and high blood pressure (Crawford et al., 2013). In addition, one-third of children will develop type-2 diabetes due to high-fasting insulin and various

Childhood obesity is considered to be a serious issue among our youth. Obesity can cause many types of physical problems, which most are aware of, but it can also cause some undesirable internal feelings within children and adolescents who suffer from it. Self-esteem, or self-worth, is important as it helps develop personality and is a major ingredient to our mental health status (Wang, F. and Veugelers, P. J., 2008). Some have said obesity may even have a negative effect on cognitive development, as well. There have been studies performed to research the effects of obesity on children and adolescents, which I am going to review.

The article explains the risk associated with obesity in children. (Interventions of Childhood Obesity, 2016) states that “children are at risk for the development of conditions once thought to be diseases of adulthood such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, insulin resistance, fatty liver, high cholesterol, hypertension, and sleep apnea.” “The effect of childhood obesity reaches far beyond physical health”, says Leslie Peeks. Studies demonstrate a link between obesity and mental health issues; academic performance. Psychological function has been observed to be poorer and rates of absenteeism higher in overweight and obese children than in their normal-weight

According to Meryl Loonin, Children are often becoming depressed from being overweight. Children are becoming depressed from getting bullied or lack of self esteem. Children at such a young age should not become depressed, it is very unhealthy if a child is depressed. Children can also develop Hyperlipidemia, High Blood Pressure, and Diabetes. Over 20 percent of children in the society have Potbelly Abdominal Obesity Syndrome. All of these effects will affect the child while they are young and even affect them as an adult. Studies have proven that children that are overweight are 10 more times likely to become obese as an adult, which will make them have major health problems. Jimerson has written about a major disease that children can develop at a young age which is called Coronary Artery Disease. This disease is known for closing up arteries and any blood flowage, it is very deadly. Children with these health effects are in danger of early death as a child or as a young adult. The health effects can be stopped if you catch them before they get

When a child gets home from school, they grab a bag of chips and a soda then, they sit on the couch and turn on the television and do not move for hours. Children nowadays do not even have physical education class everyday. This is the beginning of very bad eating habits and lack of exercise habits. Even after sporting events, children are rewarded with Little Debbie's and a juice box even if they lose. Adults are teaching their kids that food is comfort. The amount of adult obesity is at an all time high. Nowadays parents are even worried about childhood obesity. The long term health effects are something people should be concerned about. Obesity in America is not uncommon. According to the most recent data,

Over the past decades, many parents did not have to get a child to move around. The children would regularly play all day long without being asked; however, nowadays the young children aren 't playing enough themselves and the children need their peers to tell them to go play outside. The peers would need need to promote the children with resources to keep them moving. As a matter of fact, the lack of exercise is a major problem, and it is increasing each year; especially, the rate of disease that were found in young adults can now be found in young children because of lack of exercise. Therefore, as the director of this facility in for future reference, the research I 'm focusing is base on the children 's improving in physical health to prevent any disease in the future or at least to minimize the situation problem of obesity that is occurring right now in the 21st century. In addition, play is an important product for young children which can also help them have opportunities to enrich in their learning and be active youngsters. It is a new exploration where children can be active during play time, which play can help having bad health problems in the future. It is letting the children to gain weight and determining their health issues to worsen than making it better for them. For instance, the Scientist are now finding out new health problems that isn 't noticeable until adulthood just like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, high cholesterol, cancer and

The percentage of children aged six to eleven years in the United States who were obese increased from seven percent in 1980 to nearly eighteen percent in 2012. Similarly, the percentage of adolescents aged twelve to nineteen years who were obese increased from five percent to nearly twenty on percent over the same period. In 2012, more than one third of children and adolescents were overweight or obese” (CDC.gov). Childhood obesity is now the number one health concern among parents in the United States, topping drug abuse and smoking. Among Children today, obesity is causing a broad range of health problems that previously weren’t seen until adulthood. These include high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and elevated blood cholesterol levels. There are also psychological effects: Obese children are more prone to low self-esteem, negative body image and depression

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.

I have decided to research Childhood Obesity. I chose to research this topic because I am currently working with families that are not aware of the types of food that promote good health for their kids and the statistics of “Childhood Obesity”. I plan to effectively limit the topic to just stating the main causes of obesity in America, statistics and the History of “Childhood Obesity”. During my research, the claim I plan to argue will be “Confronting America’s Childhood Obesity Epidemic”, and “How the Health Care Reform Law Will Help Prevent and Reduce Obesity”. In this paper I will present the truth and facts about “Childhood Obesity.” While studying here at Ashford University over the past weeks, I have learned how to properly research information pertaining to my topic. Over the years obesity has become an Epidemic and my research will touch on the areas that statistics show that are the major causes for obesity. The USA is the leading country with obesity? After my research I will have a better understanding and more knowledge in many ways and from different viewpoints about this Epidemic. The Internet has a lot of knowledge about the history of obesity, the causes of obesity and the proper steps to take to prevent this sickness that has become an epidemic from getting out of control.

One of the most recent epidemics known in the United States is obesity. America is considered worldwide to be the most obese nation (Top 10). Childhood obesity has more than doubled in the past thirty years (Childhood Obesity). Obesity in children and young teenagers is due to the amount of fast food advertisements that the children see every day that causes them want to eat fast food. Children nowadays between ages 8 to 18 “consume multiple types of media” and “spend more time in front of a computer, television, and game screens” more than any other activity expect sleeping (Fast Food Advertising). “Studies show that advertising does help push children and adolescents toward unhealthy behaviors” which include fast food advertisements (Klass).

Childhood obesity continues to be a serious health concern. It can be attributed to many factors such as family lifestyle, income or socioeconomic background, and culture. According to the CDC (2015), “the percentage of children aged 6-11 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”. Obesity is a threat to future generations of the United States citizens with one-third of children in the United States is affected from obesity. Now an epidemic, childhood obesity is stealing the health, happiness, and future of the next generation and needs an organized game plan for

Anyone can be obese at any age. Obesity is defined as having an excess of body fat. According to Huang and Horlick (2007), “Childhood obesity continues to rise in the United States, with now over 17% of children and adolescents considered overweight.” There are many factors that are associated with obesity including lack of physical activity, unhealthy eating patterns, genetic factors, and environment all play a role. Hormone is another factor that is considered to be rare. A study by the Institute of the Medicine (2001) shows that weight problems in families are a result of shared family life style habits.