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Childhood Obesity : Obesity And Obesity

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Within the past 30 years, the rate of overweight and obese children has been growing at an alarming rate. The cause of this increasing problem is due to lack of physical activity, poor eating habits, and genetics. Childhood obesity can also lead to conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, asthma, and bone problems later on in life. The prevalence of obesity varies among ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and age. Hispanics (22.4%) and non-Hispanic black youths (20.2%) are more likely to be overweight and obese compared to the non-Hispanic white (14.1%) and non-Hispanic Asian youth (8.6%) (CDC.gov, 2014). Children of low income-to-poverty families are also more vulnerable being overweight and obesity. These families usually live in communities with little grocery stores, great availability of fast food restaurants, and limited access to healthcare. The older children get, the more the obesity rates are climbing. Younger children are less likely to be overweight and obese because their parents have more control over what they are eating. Growing up means learning to make your own decisions and taking care of yourself, which also means having the choice to intake unhealthy food and staying active. Childhood obesity trends in the U.S. vary among states and regions. The population of the Southern states has at least 15.1% of obese children compared to the Midwest’s and Northeast’s 10.1% (Caprio, S. et al, 2008). The Journal of American Medical Association did find a decline in

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