Childhood Obesity Research Paper

One of the biggest medical issues in America today is childhood obesity. A child is considered obese if that child is above the normal weight for their age and height. Childhood obesity is a “national epidemic” problem in America that needs major attention. In the article,”The Extraordinary Science of Addictive Junk Food,” by Michael Moss he acknowledges that “Among children, the rates had more than doubled since 1980, and the number of kids considered obese had shot past 12 million”(473). Moss’s point is that the rates of childhood obesity has increased tremendously over the past years. And the number of children that are overweight are at risk of becoming obese keeps growing. In addition, they are at greater risk for serious medical

Within the last 30 years, there has been an increase in childhood obesity that is alarming for parents, health care professionals, and children advocates. This epidemic is a result of children not participating in regular exercise and eating high caloric, fast food. We can combat this epidemic by increasing the education to the family and encourage more physical activity and nutritious foods.

In America childhood obesity statistics show that almost 60 percent of children are obese. This statistic continues to grow at an alarming rate. 70 percent of obese adolescence become obese adults. This means when these children grow into adults they will have more health problems than they already do and their quality of life will decrease. The amount of children who are obese between ages 6-11 years old has risen from 6.5 percent in 1980 to 19.6 percent, in 2008. In adolescents ages 12-19 years old the obesity rates risen from 5.0 percent in 1960 to 18.1 percent in 2008. Last year the United States government stated that obesity and type 2 diabetes have become a national epidemic.

Many researchers have conteracted with each other and have shown the health effects obesity has brought up. They have seen many kids suffer from type 2 diabetes, strokes, variety of cancer, and even osteoarthritis. As for another effect they seem to have a high risk of cardiovascular diease or high blood pressure.Along with that they also have a greater risk for bone and join problems,sleep apnea, social and psychological problems. They have estimated about 70% of children have cardiovascular diease and some start of prediabetes.The centers for Diease Contol and Prevention say that more than one-third of kids and adolescents in the U.S. are overweight. The medicare cost for Obese Children cost for a lifetime 19,000, which is more than the lifetime for normal weight kids. Obesity health effects are caused by not getting enough physical activity. Schools

It is an established fact that childhood obesity in America is a developing disease that has become an epidemic with ongoing psychological effects, this is due to many reasons, among them are the wide spread of fast-food advertisements and bill boards, the lack of physical activities and parental control. This has made food become a major health issue in many young teenagers’ life today.

There are short and long term impacts of childhood obesity. One short term impact is having a low self-esteem. A child that is obese is likely to be bullied and teased by peers. These children are then likely to isolate themselves from others. This then leads to them think negative about themselves.

Over the past three decades, childhood obesity rates in America have tripled, and today, nearly one in three children in America are overweight or obese. (“Data & Statistics.” Childhood Obesity in America, childhoodobesityinusa.weebly.com/data--statistics.html). The reasons why the numbers are increasing are because children are eating more empty calories than ever before. Instead of healthy fruits, veggies and nutritious snacks and lunches, parents are packing and serving processed snacks that contains high fructose corn syrup. If this problem is not solved, one third of all children born in 2000 or later will suffer from diabetes at some time in their lives. (National Archives and Records Administration, National Archives and Records Administration, letsmove.obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/learn-facts/epidemic-childhood-obesity). Childhood obesity should be prevented because it is a risk to kids' health, low self-esteem, and they can be bullied because of it.

Since 1980 the rates of child obesity have more than tripled which has caused a growing pandemic of childhood obesity in the United States. Out of all the young children and adolescents within the age group of two through nineteen about 12.7 million are obese. That is the equivalent of about 17% of America’s population that is suffering from childhood obesity. Childhood obesity is too prevalent in all American households. Childhood obesity is detrimental on a national scale, since it has been growing at a steady rate in the United States of children not reaching the daily-recommended physical activity, the absence of a balanced diet with overconsumption of eating, and more critically the increase of type 2 diabetes.

When you think of the word “epidemic,” you often associate it with disease such as the flu, or much more serious ones like the plague. What most people often do not think is the much more common, relatable epidemic of childhood obesity. While we may not be the generation that is being affected the most, chances are the children we see today and children of future generations will be affected if we do not take action now. A fast-food frenzy has swept the nation, technological advances both in and out of the classroom seem to be taking over children’s lives- leaving less time for being physical active, and obese kids are posing a higher risk for an already damaged healthcare system. Childhood

States many facts that have occurred in our time related to childhood obesity. Childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past 30 years. 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. Similarly, the percentage of adolescents aged 12–19 years who were obese increased from 5% to 18% over the same period. In 2008, more than one third of children and adolescents were overweight or obese. The CDC defines being overweightas having excess body weight for a particular height from fat, muscle,

For the past few decades, the dire situation of obesity in America has gotten worse and is now affecting new generations of young Americans. Every day the poor eating and physical choices that children make can lead them to a life with diabetes, heart disease, and cancers. The unhealthy lifestyle that children have is influenced by their parents and the society that surrounds them. This unprecedented surge of poor lifestyle choices has lead to an epidemic that young children are now facing. Ultimately, the health of young children is at stake.

According to the CDC, childhood obesity in the United States is at a steady incline and has seen an exponential growth in the past 30 years. (“Childhood Obesity Facts”, 2015).

Child obesity is a serious problem; several causes and consequences are overlooked. There is a variety of reasons for a child to become obese, in most cases its genetics. In other situations, it can be the lack of physical activity or unhealthy eating, and consequences include High blood pressure and high cholesterol, Breathing problems, Joint problems, and Fatty liver disease. The list goes on and on, and the scary truth is 63% of obese children become obese adults. So, these

Childhood obesity is a real world problem, and it’s growing. Childhood obesity is when a child has excess body fat for his age, height, and gender. It has been estimated that one out of every three children are considered obese. Not only do children suffer from obesity but also with the problems that obesity carries. Children with obesity may suffer from high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, asthma, depression, upon many other diseases and health complications. I have seen many children that are above their suggested body weight in my own community. Children at fast food restaurants eating a meal made for an adult. Parents buying each of their children the “king size” candy bars and “party size” chip bags. It is not the child’s fault that they are obese, it is their parents for buying them foods high in fat, sugars, and calories. Both the parent and the child should work together to put an end to childhood obesity.

There are many effects of obesity; this is especially true for children. “Long term health consequences of childhood obesity and obesity in general can include liver degeneration, sleep apnea, kidney failure, polycystic ovary syndrome, hip and knee pain, a higher risk of bone fractures and hypothyroidism” (Johnson). Childhood obesity is a disorder that left untreated can lead to other complications that will follow a child throughout his/her adult life. Being overweight puts extensive strain on the body. The organs have to work overtime, so they are more likely to give out earlier. Children should not have to worry about high blood pressure and diabetes before even reaching adulthood. In the article, “Childhood Obesity: A Lifetime of Danger” Daniel Jones, president of the American Heart Association states “If something is not done about the current childhood obesity epidemic, many of these kids will be at higher risk of dying young from heart disease and organ failure” (qtd. in Hellmich). Overweight children have additional health risks and are prone to more injuries. They tend to spend more time in the hospital than children who are of normal weight. Children that are at a healthy weight are free of these weight related diseases and are less likely to develop these attributes in adulthood. Being obese can shorten a person’s life and can make a difference on how long or how fulfilling a child’s adolescence years are.