Childhood obesity has been a longstanding issue that researchers have been analyzing for many years. Researchers Wells, Eves, Beavis, & Ong (2014) states that obesity is one of the most rapid epidemics. The prevalence of obesity has increased ten percent from 1988 to 1994 with the incidence of being overweight in adolescents (12 to 19) increasing from 11% to 17%. A different study dating back to 1998, evaluated children that entered kindergarten that same year. Researchers realized that 14.9% of the children initially entered overweight and the prevalence of obesity will reach to 20% by the time they reach the 8th grade (Cunningham, Kramer, & Narayan 2012). They make the claim that this is not only true for the specific population but the …show more content…
Both Shih et al., (2012) and Demment, Haas, & Olson, (2014), both focused on obesity rates in children in low income populations. Demment, Haas & Olson found that children who live in low income communities throughout their childhood have a greater chance of maintaining being overweight, in comparison to their counterparts that have never lived in a low income neighborhood. Regardless if the children moves to a better community, the prevalence of them being overweight will still be higher than the children in the neighborhood. This study followed 700 children from birth until the age of 2 with 18% of them below standard poverty levels. Shih et al. (2012) supports this by adding in their study that the prevalence of childhood obesity in communities with “highest hardship quartile” based on an index of six different indicators, is more than double than the “lowest hardship quartile” (26.9% versus 12.5%). Children from low socioeconomic communities, are more likely to have overweight mothers which in turn leads to a higher risk of childhood obesity (Gibbs & Forste, 2014). Additionally, the researchers believe that racial and socioeconomic status accounts for at least 24% of childhood obesity rates among different …show more content…
It is important that interventions focus on individual needs rather than one intervention for everyone no matter their differences (Pulgarón et al., 2013). For example, in a study done by Hoelscher et al. (2015) they used a Texas Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration (TX CORD) to implement and evaluate the communities through the use of both primary and secondary preventions programs within low income societies. The population was predominately people of color. Similar to Pulgarón et al., researcher explained that there were barriers to implementing interventions such as cultural issues like language and food barriers. Through the TX CORD primary intervention, through their primary intervention that specifically catered to the communities needed, they discovered that it is possible to get the ethnically diverse population if effort is put into reaching that specific audience. Branscum et al. (2013) evaluated a theory that is important in understanding behavior. Through the use of the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), they were able to evaluate a program that was done years before. Through the use of self-efficacy, self-control, and expectations, researchers were able to see how each of these related to the individuals behavior. With this theory, researchers were able to successfully target behavior change in children. For the
Children and adolescents, their health is of the most upmost importance. The child is impacting through everything they do in their lives and everything that they come face to. One of these factors that come into play into a child’s life is Obesity. Most importantly the racial and ethnic disparities that involve Obesity. Unless this issue of this inclining obesity is addressed, there will be assumptions that the amount of years a person will live will surely decline (Johnson, 2012). Obesity is a killer as it is the secondary killer and could well be our first if the people don’t take action (Johnson, 2012). Obesity increases the risk of cardiovascular disease as well as asthma and diabetes (Johnson, 2012). Seventeen percent of young adults in the USA today are obese (Rossen, 2014). The commonness of obesity has escalated throughout the years in Children and Young adults that were being seen in Adults (Caprio et al., 2008). There are many disparities in which affect children in every way but the one that affects the obesity in childhood is racial and ethnic disparities. The amount of obesity in childhood is increasing in all ethnic and racial groups but it is found that nonwhite population have the most amount of Obesity (Caprio et al., 2008). The Mexican- American and non-Hispanic black children have a heavier load to carry as of racial and ethnic subgroups (Rossen, 2014). As children are expose to different physical and social environments, they are wide-open to different
One must understand the diversity of health issues in dealing with different ethnicity groups in childhood obesities. Since my research data demonstrate that minorities are more likely to be obese than non-minorities, thus I do not want to provide an image of social labeling and stigmatizing minority children who are overweight. There are many factors that play in role in children being obese that must be taken into accounts. One of the factors, the income status of the parents and how it generally affects the child quality of life, living environment. For example, if the parents have a low yearly income it can factor in the child being obese in comparison to a child’s parent having an average or high income, including affecting the living environment and the type of food eaten. In addition, obese children are prone to psychological issues such as depression, general anxiety, emotional problem, including eating disorder (Holm et al., 2014). And different race and ethnicity deal with these types of psychological issues differently.
Childhood obesity is a growing problem in America and it is important to develop a plan to combat the issue. My plan is to stop childhood obesity in its roots by encouraging schools to promote healthy eating and exercise. I would institute programs in schools (via contacting government officials, making presentations to schools, etc.) to educate kids about the proper nutrients they need to maintain a healthy diet. Many high schools require a health class, but I think we should also require students in fifth or sixth grade to take a health class that introduces them to basic health information. By creating classes that inform students of the benefits of eating healthy early on, such eating habits will improve. Schools should also have stricter requirements on school lunches. There should be government regulations
Obesity in America is a very popular issue that has been addressed countless times. America is given the title of being lazy and fat from other people in other countries. As much fun as it is poking at useless stereotypes, it is still a very serious issue plaguing the minority children of America. Why are minority children more likely to become overweight than non-minority children? Is it based solely on genetics or are other factors involved? Not many parents are aware of their children’s increasing waistline, because some of these factors are sometimes overlooked when trying to prevent obesity from children. Most children can not make decisions by themselves without their parents, like deciding what to wear and when to go to sleep. Children should not be responsible for their bodies at a young age; they need to rely on parents to help guide them at an early age. However there are factors that can influence whether a child becomes obese or not. These influential factors, specifically to minorities in America, include ethnic cultures, socioeconomic status, and psychological factors.
Obesity a product of energy imbalance; it has become a major issue-affecting citizens globally, especially in the United States. Over two-thirds of the United States population are extravagantly overweight and another one-third of the population is inordinately obese. A human requires a precise amount about of energy from nutriment in order to keep life functions. The body will remain consistent to the number of calories the body burns, but if more calories are intake than the ones burn, it will no longer remain equal, which pushes weight gain and obesity. There are an abundance of factors that lead to not having energy inequality such as eating habits, emotions, environment, income and genetics. In this essay, I'm going to discuss how obesity
Childhood obesity has doubled in children and quadrupled for adolescents in the last thirty years. Obesity and overweight rates in children are higher among families living below the poverty line. The diabetes rate is higher in children living in poverty. Families that are living in poverty cannot afford the fresh produce and healthier foods due to the rising cost.
Childhood obesity is at an all-time high in the United States, afflicting one in every five children aged 6 to 19. The prevalence of childhood obesity in the U.S. was 17% in 2011-2014. The CDC notes that obesity rates are not equal across ethnicities, noting a prevalence of 21.9% for Hispanics, and 19.5% for non-Hispanic blacks compared to 14.7% for non-Hispanic whites. In this report, we will focus on childhood obesity in low-income communities. Youth in low-income families (which are disproportionately Black and Hispanic) are at greater risk for obesity because they are more likely to live in a neighborhood with unfavorable conditions such as poor housing, unsafe
Research suggests that obesity-related chronic diseases previously found in adults such as hypertension and osteoarthritis are now appearing in minority children. Therefore, addressing obesity during childhood, particularly in ethnic minority populations, is a priority in preventing escalating comorbidities in adulthood and the adverse health outcomes associated with such comorbidities. Minorities’ children have shown to have the greatest risk of obesity and obesity-related diseases and external components such as lifestyles behavior, and environmental factors may contribute to the problem. Interpersonal factors include self-esteem; motivation and lack of knowledge may play a role. Middle school-age children are taught about health, illnesses,
There have been many studies done in trying to find the root cause for childhood obesity and all stem back to bad dietary patterns, physical inactivity, and genetics. Additionally, factors in society that contribute to this detrimental disease is the education and skills that are taught to children at a young age along with food marketing and promotion for unhealthy foods. There isn’t a demographic group in the United States that has been unaffected by the childhood obesity epidemic, but there is evidence that supports that some subgroups of the U.S. population are more prone to the onset of this epidemic and that have been more affected than others. Certain ethnic minority populations, children from low income families, and children from the southern region in the United States display the trend of having a higher percentage of overweight
Childhood obesity is a rapidly growing public health issue in the United States. Analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, a sources of data on U.S. adult and childhood health and nutrition, indicated from the early 1970s to 2000 the prevalence of obesity doubled among boys and girls ages two to five and tripled among boys and girls ages six to 11 and 12 to 19 (Ogden, Carroll, & Flegal, 2003). The series of harmful concerns of being obese as a child or adolescent has led to research focused on understanding early life factors and prevention strategies early on in life. Majority of research have indicated rapid weight gain in the first year of life positively linked with an increased risk of obesity in childhood and
Childhood Obesity is a medical condition in which excess of fat affects children’s and teenagers’ wellbeing and development. Obesity is a growing epidemic in the United States of America that affects more than thirty percent of children, making it the most common chronic disease of childhood. To determine if a child is obese, BMI (Body Mass Index) or BMI-for-age percentiles is a method that has emerged as the favored method to measure weight status in children. This method calculates a child’s weight category based on age and BMI, which is a calculation of weight and height. Based on the measurement, physicians determine strategies to prevent or control obesity in children. This paper aims to discuss this condition in detail, including classifications,
Childhood obesity has attained notoriety as a health issue affecting children within the age group 2-18 years old. This health event is attained when a child’s weight mass or gain has peaked above average as determined by the Body Mass Index (BMI) which is calculated by age and height. (CDC, 2015)
Enhancing access to healthier nourishments is discriminating to diminishing adolescence Obesity in the United States—which influences more than 7 million kids ages 6 and more established and has tripled among young people in the last two decades.2 yet general health techniques to a great extent disregard the particular needs of these groups. Customizing state funded training messages and different endeavors to elevate good dieting to achieve low-pay groups and in addition racial and ethnic minorities would all the more adequately address the risk of expanding adolescence weight.
Children obesity is presently a critical topic in society and the number of obese children and adolescents have tripled over the past three decades. The prevalence of obesity begins with the youngest (2-5 years old), compared to the years 1976-1980 and 2003-2006, these numbers have increased from 5.0% to 12.4%. Also, elementary and middle school students (6-11 years old) elevated from 6.5% to 17.0% and high school students (12-19 years old) have increased dramatically from 5.0% to 12.6% (Li, Jian, and Ann A. O’Connell p. 391). The incredible increase of obesity of the future population implicates an immediate rise of health risks and long-term negative effects with a high cholesterol level, high blood pressure, Type II diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, young people have psychosocial problems, since an obese person does not conform to the ideal view of a person this results in depression and low self-confidence. The main concern is the propagation of competitive food (food sold at school outside of and in competition with the federally reimbursable meal programs) as vending machines in schools, beginning in Elementary schools up to
The purpose of the study was to investigate the level of success of an implemented after-school health promotion program in diverse low-income elementary schools that were in Los Angeles County (LAC). The study focused on increasing students’ knowledge on nutrition and physical activity by providing valuable nutrition education and physical activity