Childhood Obesity Research Paper

Childhood obesity is a growing epidemic in the United States. More than one third of children are overweight. This figure is increasing rapidly. This epidemic puts children at risk for various health problems such as type two diabetes and heart problems. Although they are several risk factors for obesity, parents play a significant role in this issue. This paper will look into how parents are influential to their children, how they contribute to this problem and how they may help fight the fight against obesity. Obesity is a very serious problem and there are solutions that parents can apply to help their children lead a healthy lifestyle. Obesity does not only affect a person physically, but mentally and psychologically as well.

Statement of Health Problem: Childhood obesity has been a significant problem across our nation for decades, and can be clearly associated with insufficient nutrition, health, and wellness. Obesity is defined as a body mass index (BMI) at or above the 95th percentile for adolescents within the same age group ("Defining Childhood Obesity"). The most recent data show that the national childhood obesity rate for those between 2-19 years old is 18.5% ("The State of Childhood Obesity"). This equates to nearly 1 in 5 school age children being classified as obese ("Childhood Obesity Facts").

The cause of childhood obesity is widely debated. There are some who believe childhood obesity is caused by socioeconomic factors while others believe it is caused by media marketing junk food to children. As a response to this ongoing debate, food markers, mainly fast food, try to defend themselves by blaming childhood obesity on physical inactivity and the lack of parental influence on a healthy diet. Despite what many researchers may believe, childhood obesity is caused by a combination of key factors. According to a well-written article by Erica Roth, Childhood Obesity, she along with other doctors believes that obesity could be caused by many different factors. Some may include “family history, many psychological factors, and lifestyle” (Childhood Obesity). However, the causes of childhood obesity are not limited to these life threatening factors, childhood obesity is almost always

Childhood obesity has become a growing epidemic not only in the United States but globally. The origin of obesity in children is multifaceted in nature. Many individuals emphasize genetics as the number one risk factor, however, other factors include dietary patterns, physical inactivity, secondary activities, parent-child relationship, and social and environmental issues. Parents and schools have a reflective influence on children by promoting healthy lifestyle behaviors and promoting certain values and attitudes, by rewarding or emphasizing specific behaviors and by serving as role models.

The percentage of children aged six to eleven years in the United States who were obese increased from seven percent in 1980 to nearly eighteen percent in 2012. Similarly, the percentage of adolescents aged twelve to nineteen years who were obese increased from five percent to nearly twenty on percent over the same period. In 2012, more than one third of children and adolescents were overweight or obese” (CDC.gov). Childhood obesity is now the number one health concern among parents in the United States, topping drug abuse and smoking. Among Children today, obesity is causing a broad range of health problems that previously weren’t seen until adulthood. These include high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and elevated blood cholesterol levels. There are also psychological effects: Obese children are more prone to low self-esteem, negative body image and depression

It is undeniable that obesity has become somewhat of an epidemic in America, an epidemic that has had a notably poignant effect on much of today’s youth. In addressing the problem of overweight people, especially children, one must acknowledge that “fast-food chains and food manufacturers must bear some of the blame for the country’s weight problem” (Goode 427). Though some accountability lies on parents, children and consumers, the fast-food industry integrates several components that encourage and perpetuate corpulence. For example, portion sizes have grown substantially over the years. Not only that, but the manipulation of prices makes fast food easily accessible by al social classes. Additionally, the heavy bombardment of advertisements

What is childhood obesity you ask … Well childhood obesity is a “Serious medical condition that affects children and adolescents it occurs when a child is overweight than usual “(Barlow SE, Nd.). Helping kids with childhood obesity will help everyone in particular . Childhood obesity is very common condition on kids . We should help kids at young age with this problem . This will decrease the amount of people with health issues like diabetes,high cholesterol, and high blood pressure that could lead to death . It will also save you money for doctors , medicine for them , etc.

What is childhood obesity? Childhood obesity is when a child is above the normal weight for his or her age and height. There is an epidemic of childhood obesity in the United States and throughout the world. According to Center for Disease Control and Prevention, “The percentage of children aged 6–11 years in the United States who were obese increased from 7% in 1980 to nearly 20% in 2008. Nearly 43 million children under the age of five were overweight in 2010” (Child Obesity Facts). A serious medical condition affects children and adolescents. Childhood obesity is an increasing health problem in the world and unless actions are taken to prevent it, this problem will continue. Even though there are many causes such as environment, fast food,

Just take a short drive down any main street in a popular city and you will drive past no less than eight fast food restaurants and three convenient stores within a couple of blocks from each other. If that is the route driven on your way home every day from work and you don’t feel up to making a home cooked meal, what do you think your family will be eating that night. It is sometimes cheaper to buy a cheeseburger off of the value menu rather than cooking one at home. Fast food is a large reason why childhood obesity takes place. Fast food restaurants do not

Many people are concerned about the childhood obesity epidemic in the United States. American children everyday are surrounded by the idea of food. It has become more than the idea of three meals a day. It is the pressure to eat and snack all day, everyday.

Childhood obesity in America is a growing disease that has become an epidemic that has lasting psychological effects because of advertisement of fast food, lack of physical activities, and parental control has made food become a major health issue in many young teenagers’ lives today. Who is to blame? Childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past 30 years (cdc.gov). this takes us to the focus of how childhood obesity has become an enormous issue today. For us to understand the impact of obesity and why we should prevent it, we will need to figure out the causes of obesity and what keeps people obese.

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)

Up until the late 1990s, seeing an obese child was extremely abnormal because children’s main form of entertainment was playing outside. The rate of childhood obesity drastically increased due to the fact that children’s main form of entertainment has shifted from outdoor activities, to vast outlets of easily accessible technology. Children are also being served a variety of unhealthy meals from fast food restaurants, such as McDonald’s or Taco Bell. Unfortunately, most parents do not know the underlying truth about what they are feeding their children and often choose the cheapest route for feeding their families. Research indicates that the corpulence of today’s youth is becoming severely problematic, and drastic steps are being taken to solve the obesity concern in adolescents.

“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.

Before I go on to discuss the causes of obesity in children, let me tap on the serious consequences it has on one’s health both physically, socially and emotionally. According to Framingham study and the Build a Blood Pressure study conducted a few years ago, obese children are known to be at risk for a number of health problems which include heart attack, stroke and diabetes(8). This statement proves the point I made earlier that obesity negatively impacts the physical development of a child. Likewise, Laura Dawes a historian of medicine at the Harvard University in her book “Childhood Obesity in America” wrote that obesity among children has reached epidemic proportions implying that an “overweight” or obese child is at risk for maladies ranging from asthma to cardiovascular disease(3). John Ochipinti, an eleven year old who weighed one hundred and seventy pounds attending Camp Tahoe “fat camp” was cruelly teased among his peers about his fatness and felt really disturbed by it as his peer called him names like “Fatso”, “Tubby or even “Tuba”. “For Ochipinti, it was not only a social problem but a health one” (Dawes, 2). Obesity decreases the mental and physical growth of children as they are constantly in denial and struggle with their weight. Sociologists