Childhood Obesity Dbq

There are some misconceptions of obesity. It may often be mistaken for being overweight, meaning weighing more than you should. Instead, obesity is a chronic illness that refers to having too much body fat. Although, both concepts mean that your child has exceeded what is considered to be healthy for his or her age and height. Another misconception is that a child carries an ‘obese gene’.(Cohen, 2013). Where it is believed that children were born to be obese because there are obese people in their family. Although that it is not true, it is true that children with obese parents have a higher chance of being obese as well. It is not because of the ‘obese gene’ though, it is because they follow the same unhealthy lifestyle behaviors as their parents. Also, another misconception is that the lack fruits and vegetables is the reason for the obesity epidemic. Rather, this epidemic comes from the choices people make. People may head to the

Childhood obesity is affecting 1 out 3 kids in our society. These children are being classified as being obese or overweight. Obesity has gained recognition as an important worldwide public problem and in the U.S., appears to be overtaking tobacco use as the number one cause of preventable death (Dennison, B. A., Edmunds, L. S., Stratton, H. H., & Pruzek, R. M. (2006). This is the first time we have ever seen our children in this state and the percentage of overweight or obese children is growing at a rapid rate. If something is not done about this issue, this generation will be the first generation to not outlive their parents because of the health issues that arise because a person is overweight or obese. Children are not being entertained outside anymore while getting exercise; the entertainment is inside on the TV, computer, or video-game console (Kid’s Health). Many kids are spending less time outside exercising than previous generations. In today’s world, a quick and easy solution to a problem is the most common answer; this is true for our electronics and our food choices. Families have little to no free moments to prepare nutritious, home cooked meals(Kid’s Health). Our goal has to be finding ways to prevent children from becoming overweight. This is the parent’s responsibility. Parents have to learn to adopt a way to lead a healthy lifestyle of eating healthy and exercising for their

America is facing a rigorous obesity plague that is endangering the health of millions. Moreover, we are passing our bad practices down to our children. Obesity is a stipulation in which anomalous or excessive fat buildup in adipose tissue that damages health. Obesity is defined in adults as a body mass index (BMI) exceeding 30 (kg/m). Obesity is one of the most discernible, but until recently, most deserted public health problems. The present high pervasiveness of obesity and the brisk increase in pervasiveness in the last twenty years has been referred to as an endemic (Johnson SJ, Birch LL. 1994). Children all through the U.S. are getting fatter and less fit, through potentially treacherous enduring consequences. The figure of

Hinebaugh and Calamaro (2011) mention that there are a variety of environmental and genetic factors that contribute to overweight and obese children. Excessive portion sizes, fast food, advertising of unhealthy foods, parents lack of control over children’s diets, high availability of snack foods, decreased physical activity, increased sedentary lifestyles, and regular television viewing are a variety of causes of childhood obesity. Genetics also cause childhood obesity due to the genetic link between parents and children. Hinebaugh and Calamaro (2011) state that “The impact of excess adiposity is substantial. Children can suffer from comorbidities such as hyperlipidemia, hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitius, and sleep disorders” (p. 146).

Child obesity is a growing problem in our society and has increased significantly in children and even more in teenagers in recent years. To help improve this issue I formed a hypothesis stating that causes of child obesity include genetic and environmental factors. The three questions I developed to support my hypothesis were, what are some of the genetic factors that affect child obesity and what causes them? What are some of the environmental factors that affect obesity and what causes them? Can we change and improve these factors and if so how? The goal of this investigation is to use the information about the causes of child obesity to form conclusions that will contribute to changing these causes and improve

Childhood obesity is an ongoing epidemic that is plaguing adults and children alike. But it is affecting our children in a way that we cannot explain. Medically there is a cure for obesity. But everyone has to play there part if we are to rid this disease from our society. We have to gain information and awareness in order to defeat this disease.

Child obesity is a global epidemic that affects adolescents all throughout the world. Medical conditions that were once thought to primarily target adult patients are now being seen in children and adolescents more than ever before. According to (Tyler, J., Fruh S., Mulekar, M., 2014), adolescents who are overweight are more likely to continue to be overweight into adulthood. This increases the chance of obesity related complications such as cardiovascular disease, renal disease, and cancers. Factors that attribute to obesity are “increased intake of sugar-sweetened beverages, calorie dense snacking, large portion sizes, and increased intake of processed foods.” (Tyler, 2014)

Gone are the days that kids would beg for the chance to play outside. My grandfather often reminisces about his childhood, when the lack of technological entertainment had very little sway over how he and his childhood friends spent their time. Most days were spent playing outdoors, riding bikes, playing baseball, or simply just running around and getting into trouble. These days however, technological advances such as smartphones, television, and tablets, have turned children’s attention away from the great outdoors. Many days are now spent staring mindlessly into a digital screen. While this may be keeping kids out of trouble, it is also causing detrimental effects on their health. With such a sedentary lifestyle, mixed with a diet that is high in sugar and empty calories, it is no wonder that childhood obesity has gripped the nation (Schmidt, 2003). Childhood obesity is a social issue that is affecting the lives of many young Americans, and children around the World.

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.

Childhood obesity in America and in many developed regions is a prevalent problem that, to date, has been unresolved. As noted by Tailor et al. (2010), the prevalence of obesity has substantially increased the existence of metabolic syndrome in children with prevalence reaching nearly 60% in some studies. Currently, 17% of youth in America are obese, and while the prevalence has not substantially increased in recent years, the trend has not shown a decrease either (Ogden et al., 2014). Factors contributing to obesity amongst adolescents may include physical inactivity, genetics, diet, lifestyle, and more recently surmised, basal

It’s been shown that children with obese parents are more likely to become obese. Heredity contributes between 5-25 percent risks of obesity. Other risks can be attributed to the environment and behavior. Obesity is generally linked to over eaten but in most cases its heredity problem children should be careful because genes can also pass to their offspring. The problem cannot be corrected but you can prevent it. Children should be given an appropriate diet and should be deterred from overeating. Child obesity can be predicted at an early stage and children should be aware of the consequences of obesity.

Obesity among children, adolescents and adults has emerged as one of the most serious public health concerns in the 21st century. Being overweight or being considered obese is typically a direct result from daily lifestyle choices, the consequences of which gradually accumulate. Genetics and social factors such as socio-economic status, race/ethnicity, media and marketing as well as the physical environment also influence energy consumption and expenditure (Koyuncuoğlu Güngör, 2014). Obesity seems to be the result of a complex interplay between the environment and the body’s predisposition to obesity based on genetics and epigenetic programming. Poor diets and inadequate physical activity have both been widely acknowledged as the main drivers of the obesity epidemic in the U.S. (Fung, Kuhle, Lu, Purcell, Schwartz, Storey, & Veugelers, 2012). Obesity has of recent, became a very hot topic on political agendas across the nation. We are hearing more and more how new laws and regulations are being designed and passed to improve the health of our children and lower the incidence of obesity among children and adolescents.

Children now spend more than seven and a half hours a day in front of a screen whether it be a television, computer, smartphone, or playing video games (cite). No I didn’t stutter, no I’m not exaggerating, seven and a half hours a day, can you believe that? As sad as it is, I’m unfortunately not surprised. Society continues to rapidly evolve as we continue to become consumed by technology and the latest iphone. I’m not going to lie, I do love my iphone and I fall guilty to spending more time than I would like on my phone, watching tv, or on my laptop. Obesity is a serious problem in the United States, more than 80% of adults do not meet the guidelines for both aerobic and muscle strengthening activities, and more than 80% of adolescents do not do enough aerobic physical activity to meet the guidelines for youth. (cite) This is an interesting piece of information. Most likely parents who do not exercise, do not motivate their children to exercise either. That’s why the percentages for adults and adolescents are so similar. Our youth need to be guided in the right direction, so we have a healthier world for future generations to come. Children are easily influenced so it is extremely important that we instill in their young minds the importance of exercise and being physically active. If children see their parents on their phones for hours on end, watching tv or

“Parental behavioral patterns concerning shopping, cooking, eating and exercise have an important influence on a child’s energy, balance and ultimately their weight” said diet specialist, Anne Collins (“Childhood Obesity Facts”). Childhood obesity has more than tripled since the 1980’s (“Childhood Obesity Facts”). Childhood obesity often leads to obesity as an adult which can put a person at greater risks dealing with the heart, diabetes, and many other obese related diseases. People want to blame the schools and today’s technology for childhood obesity, in reality, the responsibility lies in the hands of their parents.

Obesity has been a topic of debate for decades. The prevalence of obesity in children in the United States has continued to rise, and there is still much debate on whether one thing or another causes obese effects. According to a Micro simulation analysis, one in three children in the US between ages 2 and 19 were obese between 2009 and 2010 (Kristensen et.al, 2014). Support has been shown that these numbers have only been increasing, as researchers have uncovered more about how childhood obesity manifests itself in our youth. As with many disease processes, obesity is of multifactorial origin. Genetics, social manipulation, and environmental factors such as diet and upbringing are all delegated to being causes of obesity. As environmental factors become habits in young children, genetics carries the weight of problems that children will have later in life, including type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, and behavioral problems, just to name a few outcomes (Porth, 2011). It is important to understand the cause and effects of childhood obesity, and implicate how childhood obesity is a multifactorial disease.