Childhood Obesity Research Paper

A tool known as BMI (body mass index) is used by medical providers to calculate an individual 's body mass index. It calculated by measuring a child’s weight and height and the found value is then compared to percentiles relative to other children of the same age and sex. For example, if a child aged anywhere from 2-19 is “more than 85% and less than 95%” they are considered overweight. (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2009). This tool is not a method used to diagnosis childhood obesity but it 's a valuable way to measure the prevalence of obesity worldwide.

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").

Acquiring a clear cut definition of overweight and obese criteria is beneficial in reading through data on childhood obesity and will further simplify future statistical findings in my upcoming research. The Body Mass Index assessment, given by the author, helped clarify the mathematics behind the diagnosis. Additionally, many ways were presented in which body fat percentages can be attained, including the well-known skinfold test, and underwater weighing, among others. In my opinion it would be highly advantageous for children suspected of being overweight or obese to obtain a body fat evaluation; early intervention could prevent a lifetime of physiological and psychological health problems. Ultimately, the earlier a parent can set

“Total costs for childhood obesity are estimated at eleven billion for children with private insurance and three billion for children with Medicaid (Mulheron, Joyal, Vonasek 13).” According to Centers for Disease and Prevention, childhood obesity is a medical condition in which weight significantly exceeds what is normal for age and height (Crothers, Kehle, Bray, Theodore 787). Childhood obesity is calculated according to a child’s body mass index. The formula used to calculate body mass index is formed by dividing children’s weight by their height squared. Therefore, every child’s body mass index is then compared to a standard chart, averaged from other children in the same age category. “Children whose BMI exceeds 25-30 kg/m2 are

The prevalence of obesity in childhood is a big concern because of its adverse consequences in the short and long term. According to World Health Organization (WHO, 2010), the rise in childhood obesity for the past ten years has been very alarming. It was noted that obesity now rank as the 5th leading risk factor for death (Larsen, 2015). It is also estimated that obesity is attributed to 44% in diabetes development, 23% in ischemic heart disease and 7 to 41 % of some certain cancers (Larsen, 2015). Childhood obesity is defined as a body mass index equivalent or greater than the 95th percentile of a child's body weight or body mass index more than 30 kg/ms (WHO, 2010). Obesity identifies biologically those children who will later in life

In adults the body mass index or BMI is used to calculate a person’s body fat by using the weight and height of the adult. In children, the BMI method is also used to find out a child’s body fat and to determine if a child is obese. But since a child’s body fat can change as they age there are other things that are took into account when determining if a child is obese. When a doctor is looks at a child’s BMI he also must take into account the gender of the child because girls and boys body fat differs. Also the doctor must look at the age of the child because they amount of body fat a child has changes as they grow. Therefore, a doctor with take the BMI of child and compare it with other children their age and gender based on a national standard scale. When a child is in the ninety-fifth percentile or above on the BMI growth chart for their gender and age then a doctor will diagnose the child as obese (Bernstein, 2014).

Childhood obesity is a serious medical condition that affects children and adolescents. It occurs when a child is well above the normal weight for his or her age and height. In order to determine if a child or adolescent is obese, their Body Mass Index (BMI) must be calculated. To calculate the BMI, he/she must get their weight in kilograms, divided by their height squared in centimeters. This calculation will be placed on a BMI-for-age chart to conclude if he or she is obese (“Calling Obesity A Problem” 1).

Childhood obesity is a significant and increasingly detrimental health problem on both a national and worldwide scale. National studies conducted by the Center of Disease Control and Prevention predict that, “over one third of children and adolescents were overweight or obese in 2012” (“Childhood Obesity,” 2014). Additionally, researchers who have studied the prevalence of childhood obesity over time have found that the rate of childhood obesity in the United States has been exponential increasing, nearly tripling in the last three decades. Defining what constitutes as overweight or obese has also been an issue for professionals because of the variance in body structures in relation to gender, ethnicity, height, and bone structures. Most recently, obesity has been measured using a body mass index (BMI) scale which compares weight over height. For a person to be clinically obese, their BMI must be greater than the 85th or 95th percentile, or if their weight over height is over 120% (Must, & Strauss, 1999). For years, researchers and health professionals have been aware of the serious health risks associated with adults who are extremely overweight or obese, but work done to understand the implications of childhood obesity is a relatively new field of study.

Childhood obesity has risen dramatically within the past few decades increasing ones awareness of the consequences that this disease entails. An average of 30% of children are suffering from obesity and overweight each year and yet, this condition remains to be under diagnosed and untreated (Moran, 1999). It is said that overweight children have a greater risk of developing medical problems and that these problems may ultimately lead to death for those suffering with the complications of this disease. Therefore, a research study will be observed to determine the statistical procedures used, the study findings and conclusion associated with the article, and the accuracy of these findings to

In today’s ever changing world is important to understand the statistics behind obesity. Today the number of children that are overweight continues to increase. “The percentage of overweight children in the United States is alarming, with one out of three now considered either overweight or obese” Nemours (2012). The weight of our children can be a reflection of the parents. The Body Mass Index is important for parents to understand and assist children in monitoring weight and exercise habits. In today’s education of health, the BMI calculator is taught so that children can understand where they fall in categorical measurements.

Childhood obesity is a relatively new and disturbing term. It is an extremely serious problem that many children in the United States face. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2014), approximately 12.7 million or seventeen percent of children and adolescents aged two to nineteen are considered to be obese (Childhood Obesity). This is an astronomical number and it is only continuing to rise. According to Schroeder et al. (2016), there is approximately an addition fifteen percent of children that are overweight (p. 309). The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2015), defines childhood obesity as a body mass index or “BMI at or above the 95th percentile for children and teens at the same age and sex” (Defining Childhood). This means that adolescents of the same age and sex are compared to one another in terms of their weight and height. Body mass index is calculated by “dividing a person’s weight in kilograms by the square of height in meters” (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015, Defining Childhood). This is the basis for determining whether or not an adolescent individual is considered to be obese or not. Unfortunately, healthcare professionals are having to categorize more and more adolescents as obese when they are seen for health checkups. Childhood obesity is an extremely dangerous and troubling phenomenon.

A child is defined as affected by obesity if their body mass index (BMI) for their age percentile is greater than 95% and a child is defined as overweight if their BMI for their age percentile is greater than 85% and less than 95%, this is identified on the BMI for age percentile chart (Raj & Kumar, 2012). The World Health Organization (WHO) regards childhood obesity as one of the most serious global public health challenge for the 21st century (WHO, 2016). Globally, in 2013 the number of obese children under 5 years of age was estimated to be over 42 million, nearly 31 million of these are living in developing countries (WHO, 2016). Obese children and adolescents are at an increased risk of developing various health problems and have a higher risk of becoming obese adults (Public Health England, 2016). Prevention of childhood obesity needs to be high priority, these obese children are likely to stay obese into adulthood therefore are at risk of developing non-communicable

The health promotions can essential be aim at children whom are obese; childhood obesity has become a major health emergency and the incidence of obesity has increased over the years. The purpose of conducting health promotion is to provide information on how to combat childhood obesity and educate the family on the risks of other health issues that are associated with obesity. The problem of obesity has typically originated when the child is in preschool and it continues to develop even when the child becomes an adolescent and throughout adulthood. It seems that children will grow up to become obese and this can inflict complications towards their health as the child continues to age. The term obesity is a chronic condition that is typically characterized by an excess body fat; body fat it is defined by using the body mass index (BMI) to determine if the child is overweight. The body mass index (BMI) is a calculation of the percentile this will indicate the child’s percentage of height and weight, and if the child is in the 95th percentile range it is considered that the child is overweight or obese (De Onis 2010). An overweight child can also be associated with other serious health problems of premature illness, and that can progress and even cause death. In order to accomplish and reduce the child’s body mass index, can be achieved through maintaining and controlling the child’s diet. In 2006, the World Health Organization

The percentage of children with obesity in the United States has more than tripled since the 1970s (“Healthy Schools.”). Childhood obesity is a medical condition that affects children and teenagers who contain excess body fat. This condition is very common today, having about 3 million cases per year (“Healthy Schools.”). A sign that a child is suffering from obesity is when their weight is well above the average for a child’s height and age. Today about one in five school children, ages 6-19, are obese (“Healthy Schools.”). I will be addressing the causes, health complications, treatments, controversy, and supporting obese students.

It is no secret that America has quite a problem on its hands in relation to the vast amount of the population that suffers from obesity. Sometimes people often forget to look at other countries rates of obesity, and its problems, especially associated with children and developing adults. Often overlooked as well are some of the health costs and social problems that are tied along with it. Additionally, the health of the child is in such danger, that it can often times lead to death if measures are not taken to correct it. I have selected the an Article from the EBSCOhost that is titled “The Childhood Obesity Epidemic” by Bronwyn McHuch- Master of Osteopathic Medicine at Southern Cross University. The article