Childhood Obesity And Its Effects On Children

Social Factors: Children of many various ethnicity have greater implications with obesity, however studies have shown that Hispanic American children (both genders) and African American female children are effected at higher rate than European Americans and Asians (Salinas, Leyao, & DeWan, 2016). Numerous studies including BMC genetics have directly associated low household income to higher likelihood children being obese or overweight. According to the CDC 2000 growth reference, adolescence ages 12-19 are obese or over-weight with the body mass index (BMI) ≥95th, that is one in six child in the United States (Diesel, Eckhardt, Day, Brooks, Arslanian, & Bodnar, 2015).

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 rate of obesity in children has nearly tripled in the last quarter century”(American Psychological Association). Children receive the most exposure to advertisements due to the amount of television they watch and online games they play. At an early age, children shape their first opinions on what they like and dislike, so just by watching advertisements they can develop product preferences for unhealthy foods that lead to poor eating habits. “In very young children, research has found that for every one-hour increase in television viewing per day, there are higher intakes of sugar-sweetened beverages, fast food, red and processed meat, and overall calories”(American Psychological Association). Advertisements targeted at children use colorful images and characters to attract them to their products and add labels like “multi grain,” “no sugar added,” and “all natural” to influence parents to buy their products. But most of these food claims are unregulated and open to abuse. “Approximately 20 percent of our youth are now overweight with obesity rates in preschool age children increasing at alarming speed”(American Psychological Association). Naturally, being obese as children puts them at risk of being obese as adults, which can lead to health problems such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and some forms of cancer. In addition, advertising causes

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

Obesity is a condition where someone is significantly overweight for their age and height. On a child, it can lead to life-threatening diseases and health problems in the future. This excessive amount of weight that a child bears can lead to future diseases and mental abuse from peers and even on rare occasion 's parents. Childhood obesity has become a national problem in the United States and continues to grow at a substantial rate. This growing health problem presented with children is affecting them negatively for the future. Is fast food really to blame, or is it the new lazy lifestyle that revolves around technology? With technology growing quickly, children seem to be less likely to play outside and live an active lifestyle than

Childhood obesity is a condition that affects children in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the rates of obesity in children have more than doubled in children in the past 30 years. There was increase of 18% from 1980 to 2012 in children 6 to 11 years of age, estimating that more than one third of children are overweight or obese. ("Childhood Obesity Facts," 2014) Obesity usually begins in children during the ages of 5 and 6. The most troublesome fact is that studies have shown that obese children between 10 and 13 have a predisposition of becoming an obese adult. ("Obesity in Children and Teens," 2011) Consequently, overweight teenagers have a 70 percent chance of becoming obese or overweight adults, and if at least one parent is obese the child’s predisposition rate increases to 80 percent. (Bishop et al., 2005)

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.

Childhood Obesity has become one of the leading causes of death in our nation today. Sadly, our society in whole is one of the heaviest. Putting an emphasis on the fact that “obesity rates among children of all ages are dramatically higher then they were a generation ago” (Green). Society has made it, with little to no trouble, that kids can get what they want, when they want it. Children are unaware of the harm and trauma they are putting their bodies through at such a young age. Childhood obesity effects the lifetime of a person, and can potentially make that lifetime shortened. Little do children know, once they put on so much weight, it seems to be nearly impossible to take it off. Childhood obesity can rapidly reduce if we alter influences, education, media, the fast food industry, and most importantly, themselves. Also, “According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2004), over 16 percent of children and adolescents from six to 19 years of age are overweight and/or obese. This number has more than tripled since 1981” (Green). As a society, we need to put a stop to the influences and causes of childhood obesity because it can take over our society and cause serious issues for ourselves, and the world we live in.

If you have been anywhere near a TV screen or any other form of media outlet, lets say in the past ten years, you are probably aware of the word obesity. Probably not only just aware but have come to understand that as a nation we have been battling our own obesity epidemic on a super sized scale. We are continuously reminded of the physical consequences of obesity but not much coverage has raised awareness to the psychological outcomes. It has always been declared that the future of our nation lies in the hands of its children. They are the dreamers and the doers. The future depends greatly on the ideals and habits of its youth. So it is only logical that we continuously ensure both the health and strength of our youth. But with childhood obesity invading both mind and body of our children it is time we truly understand all aspects of this childhood obesity issue. As a nation if we begin to examine all influences and outcomes of childhood obesity, we will be able to more effectively fight it. Childhood obesity is not merely over eating. Childhood obesity is a result of a child’s surrounding environment and the influence of its society that hinders more than a child’s physical appearance. Childhood obesity in observance evidently leads to a lower quality of living and a long list of mental obstacles, obesity is caused not by an increased intake of calories but by the stress and quality of living a child has experienced.

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 gained a lot of attention in the last 15 years. Obesity is also so much more than just being fat; it is a serious medical condition that affects children and adolescent. Before they reach the age of five, 40 million of the world's children will become obese. According to Primary Health Care, “one in three children is overweight, very overweight or obese” (Bishop 12). Childhood obesity is a well known health issue in society today. Some may think of it as a disease such as cancer, but others disagree with this. According to a Health Progress, “Obese youth also are more likely to have pre-diabetes, bone and joint problems, sleep apnea and behavioral and psychological problems” (Donahue 80). The progression of childhood obesity

Childhood obesity, particularly within Australia, is increasingly becoming more and more of an issue in today 's society; with obesity expecting to raise around 33% by 2025 (Figure 1). In place are current policy 's, legislations and campaigns to assist and promote the prevention of obesity within children and their families. However, looking at statistics, these factors are only making a slight impact on the overall population, this creates an even smaller outcome in the avoidance of childhood obesity in particular. 'Hit the 100 ' is a new campaign created to strive to prevent obesity, whilst encouraging healthy living and providing education to children and their families. The health problems arising from obesity are significantly dangerous to one 's health and need to be prevented early on, which is why the 'Hit The 100 ' campaign targets children.

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).

Child obesity affects 30% of the children, nearly three times what it was fifty-two years ago. Obese children are more likely to have health problems that were once only adult concerns. These include type 2 diabetes, asthma, Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD; can cause liver damage), hypertension, and high cholesterol, as well as other health concerns. Kids who are obese are more likely to be obese as adults. Childhood obesity is also linked to both higher and earlier death rates in adults.

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.