Childhood Obesity As A Public Health Problem

Obesity in children (from childhood to adolescence) is associated with psychological, social and physiological consequences. Most of these consequences are evident in childhood and others are evident at later stages in life. The biggest challenge with obese children is that they stand a higher risk of becoming obese as adults too (Wang et al., 2008). Additionally, the youths today have a lower life expectancy compared to their parents because of increased rate for obesity (Olshansky et al., 2005). Obesity has also financial consequences: a study estimates that $3 billion is spent on obese children who are enrolled in Medicaid (Marder & Chang, 2005).

Childhood obesity is defined as having a age and sex specific Body Mass Index (BMI) at or above 95th percentile. The prevalence of childhood obesity has risen dramatically with the increase more than triple since the 1970 in the United States. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about one in five children from age six to nineteen are in obese. The consequences of childhood obesity include high blood pressure and high cholesterol, these are the risk factors for cardiovascular disease; type 2 diabetes mellitus, fatty liver disease, gallstone, and breathing problems such as asthma and obstructive sleep apnea. If children are obese will more likely to become adults with obesity, and their obesity and risk factors

Estimated healthcare cost for childhood obesity in the United States is approximately $14 billion yearly (Miskin 31). The epidemic of childhood obesity is expected to increase billions of dollars to any future health-care bills (Levine and Stein 35). The amount of illnesses and diseases associated with childhood obesity is expected to create large demands for emergency room visits, inpatient hospital visits and outpatient procedures, further driving up health care costs (Levine and Stein 35). The result of childhood obesity may not be felt immediately, as an individual age and starts out in the work force the possibility of missing work due to complications of obesity increases. If an employee with diabetes starts to have problems with his or her sugar level, constant trips to a specialist or emergency room as well as time off is another example of the increased cost of

There is a giant threat looming over the United States, a catastrophic event of epidemic proportions which is threatening to capsize the health care system and that epidemic is childhood obesity. The awareness of this epidemic as a national problem developed in 1999 with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) publication of a compilation of yearly state-based maps that indicated the increase in the levels of childhood obesity. There were earlier studies done by the CDC regarding this epidemic, but the maps gave physical proof of the dramatic increase for this pressing issue (Dietz, 2015).

Obesity rates in the United States are alarming, with more than one-third of U.S. adults and 17% of children qualifying as obese with a Body Mass Index greater than 30.0 (Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 2015). Even more frightening is the growth rate of this crippling health epidemic; between 1980 and 2014, obesity has doubled for adults and tripled for children (CDC, 2015). The physical consequences of rising obesity rates in our country include an abundance of physical ailments including type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, sleep apnea, arthritis, elevated cholesterol, and even some cancers. Additionally, obesity-related health care costs to our country are estimated at $147 billion annually, plus the costs of productivity lost at

“The rise of childhood obesity has placed the health of an entire generation at risk” (Brainy Quote,1). There are many problems that are associated with childhood obesity. The causes of obesity can be life threatening or fatal. Some problems that are caused by obesity include heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and diabetes (Obesity Epidemic,1). Obesity can also cause sleeping disorders that can cause children to do poorly in school due to a lack of sleep. During school activities, 69% of children worldwide do not attend Physical Activity classes daily (Obesity Epidemic,1). Childhood obesity leads to health problems that are sometimes out of a person’s control.

Childhood obesity is becoming a major public health crisis in both children and adults. The American Heritage dictionary simply defines obesity as a condition of increased body weight that is due to excessive build up of fat in the body. The CDC (Center for Disease Control), use the BMI (Basal Metabolic Index) and CDC growth charts to determine obesity and overweight in adolescents and children. The BMI-for-age percentile is determined by plotting the BMI value. Using this chart, obesity is defined as a BMI value that is at or above the 95th percentile for children who are of the same sex and age. Overweight is described as a BMI value at or above the 85th percentile but lower than the 95th percentile. Between the year 2003 and 2006, a National Health and Nutrition study indicated that at least 31.9 percent of both children and adolescents were overweight, and 16.3 percent were obese (Lossing, 2010). The number of obesity has increased significantly over the years causing it to be designated as a global epidemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1998(Jadavji 2006). Cases of childhood obesity are highest in developed countries. However, there is a steady increase in its prevalence in developing countries also. Interestingly, there are proportionately more overweight girls than boys, especially among adolescents. Childhood obesity has significant consequences on both the psychological and physical health of a child. These consequences include; abnormal

In the United States, childhood obesity has become such a pervasive problem that it is now the number one concern for parents and doctors, even more than drug abuse and smoking. Obesity can lead to many health issues as any child transitions into adulthood; if any bad habits that may have led the child to become overweight persists, they are likely to have an unhealthy future.

Childhood obesity is a growing problem in the United States. More and more young people are living with video games, televisions, and computers so are living their lives in a mostly sitting position. Few children are able to spend the hours between school and dark playing outside as they used to do and even less would choose to. Most children are trapped within the walls of their homes while their parents are away at work. This has caused many of them to gain unwanted weight, creating a significant barrier to their health and well-being. For clarification, an obese person is defined as someone who has more body fat than is considered healthy for their age, gender, age, and height. Although people usually think of obesity as an adult problem, it’s actually a much bigger problem for children. While it might be possible to hide other conditions such as psoriasis under clothing, obesity is very difficult to hide and usually leads to children being teased or becoming the victims of bullies from misunderstanding classmates. In addition, the adults around them may also have uninformed stereotypical expectations about them simply because of their size. Even unconscious reactions of others, such as seeing pity or judgment in their eyes, can contribute to severe psychological damage for these children that can last a lifetime. Adults who have overcome childhood obesity often

"Did you know the parentage of overweight children and adolescents in the United States has nearly tripled since the early 1970's?" Childhood obesity is a rising social problem in the United States and affects many Americans. There are many reasons why childhood obesity is a problem in our society which leads to long term consequences. A few of the consequences include heart disease, type 2 diabetes, asthma, sleep apnea, and social discrimination. All of these conditions can shorten and cause difficulties throughout one's life if nothing is done to prevent them.

Childhood obesity is a huge problem not in just America, but all over the world. The risk factors come from all different environments such as demographic, socio-structural, and environmental. What you eat and lack of exercise performed daily are the most familiar causes of obesity but other factors play a very big role in the cause of this disease. Education plays a huge role in preventing this disease and there are many settings that you can be educated in such as the school system, hospitals or doctors’ offices, home and even work. Occupational therapists can also play a role in educate on how certain occupations can prevent obesity.

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.

According to the African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development “Twenty-five percent of children in the US are overweight and 11% are obese” ( Dehgan 1) . The Center of disease Control and Prevention defines overweight as having a body mass index, or BMI, of 30. BMI can be found by dividing an individual’s weight by their height. Childhood obesity is present in children from ages ranging 6-18. The amount of excess body fat can lead to many “heath issues and physiological issues for example, diabetes, depression, heart diseases, and self-esteem problems” (Dehghan 1). Childhood obesity has many physiological and physical on children, but these health issues and confidence issues can be

Child Obesity is a large problem in America. The childhood obesity epidemic is a serious public health problem that increases death and illnesses, and has long term economic and social costs. The American Psychological Association (APA) reports that in teens ages 12 to 19, overweight rates have tripled (5.0% to 17.6%) in the last twenty five years; this is a higher percentage than in any other industrialized country. Teen obesity leads to obese adults that are going to have poor health later like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or cancer. Prevention now is better than dealing with all these health issues later. Three approaches could help solve the child obesity problem: offering healthier foods in schools, controlling unhealthy food advertisements targeting teens, and promoting exercise.

Childhood obesity is one of the most serious public health problems in the 21st century. According to PMC, the US Library of National Health and Medicine and National Institutes of Health, over 42 million children under the age of five are obese worldwide in 2010, and that number continues to ascend at an alarming rate. Obesity occurs the body stores an excess amount of fat, and is more than what the person needs to survive. Some scientists have argued that males are considered obese when they are 25 percent over their ideal body weight, meanwhile, females are thirty percent. Regardless of these scientific calculations, the storage of excess fat is caused by many factors that leads to many health complications.