Childhood Obesity Research Paper

What search terms did you use to locate this research study to analyze? What database did you use? What was your rationale for selecting this particular study to analyze over the others identified in the search results? What is the full reference of for the study in APA format?

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").

“Childhood Obesity in Florida.” States of Obesity. Trust for America's Health and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 2014. Web. 14 Oct. 2014.

I will be researching childhood obesity in the United to states because I want to better understand the cause's and how it can be prevented.  I have chosen to research childhood obesity to help my readers understand the influence they may have in children's lives and in their future. By asking questions such as, when does the onset of child hood obesity occur, I hope to find out what social institutions play the biggest role. With social institutions comes the question of relevance of socioeconomic status, and the impact that has. I lastly will be asking the question of the long term effects of childhood obesity. My goal is to understand why so many

Childhood obesity has been a constant debate topic in the United States for several decades. Obesity is defined as a condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent it may have an adverse effect on health and reduce life expectancy (WHO, 2011). About 1 in every 6 American children is considered overweight or obese. Under current obesity guidelines by using the body mass index measurement (BMI) for age percentile, a BMI of below 18.5 is considered underweight, normal weight (BMI of 18.5 to 24.9), overweight (BMI of 25.0 to 29.9) and obese is a BMI that is higher than 30 for children of the same age and sex. Some experts believe that parents should be held liable and prosecuted if their children become morbidly obese. Others argue that this is not the best action to take against parents because other factors affect childhood obesity.

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

The for my evidence based project is childhood obesity prevention. Childhood obesity is a significant problem in society today. Obesity in children have almost tripled over the past three decades. Obesity in children appears to be increasing in children at a faster rate than obesity in problem. Despite the amount of research evidence and recommendations on childhood obesity many primary care providers are not doing enough to prevent childhood obesity (Vine, Hargreaves, Briefel & Orfield, 2013).

Over the last 20 years the worldwide prevalence of obesity has more than doubled, making it the fastest growing cause of disease and death worldwide1 . The expanding markets in developing countries due to globalization have attracted the influx of multinational food and drink companies into these countries with aggressive marketing strategies targeted mainly at children. This has resulted in a nutritional transition from traditional plant based diets to western high fat, energy dense diets with a consequent rise in the prevalence of Non communicable diseases2. The double burden of disease it presents alongside infectious diseases threatens to overwhelms the weak healthcare systems in these countries 3, posing a significant threat to the strides made over the last decade in improving health outcomes globally particularly child mortality rates. Primary prevention is the only feasible solution to halt this alarming paradigm. In order to achieve this goal, the United Nations Assembly must ensure the ethical regulation of transnational food companies and implement strategies that promote healthy diets and lifestyle to safeguard the health of not just the present generation but future ones to come.

Today obesity is shortening the lives of approximately 36 percent of Americans. Obesity is commonly measured by body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference. Recent studies have found that one third of Americans are on the verge of type two diabetes. The common belief is that obesity is most often caused in later teen and adult years of life, when in actuality it often occurs in infancy. Many of the milk and formulas toddlers are given are very high in calories and they end up consuming many more calories than what is necessary. Research shows that if a child is overweight before the age of five they have a high risk of going through adulthood obese.

Childhood obesity has become an epidemic, in fact childhood obesity has tripled over a 30-year span, covering nearly 40% of the nation’s children ("www.Letsmove.gov," 2010). As a pediatric nurse, I see more and more children with the beginnings of chronic disease, linked to obesity, that has historically been reserved for adults. Cardiovascular disease (CVD), Hypertension, Hypercholesterolemia, type 2 Diabetes, and Hyperinsulinemia are a few that have been noted. In a study of obese children, ages five to seventeen, 60% were found to have at least one risk factor for CVD and 25% had two risk factors ("www.Letsmove.gov," 2010). Children in their early years are now having cholesterol issue, so much so that the American Academy

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 about more than just the physical hindrances (health risks, physical appearances, and so on). A lot of people only think of the physical effects of obesity and not the emotional or mental effects. Obesity during adolescence can have a harmful effect on the mind in a variety of ways. Childhood obesity may lead to low self-esteem, troubles with social functioning, and cognitive delays.

Childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents in the past 30 years. Obesity is defined as having excess body fat. Similarly being overweight is defined as having excess body weight for a particular height from fat, muscle, bone, water, or a combination of two or more of these factors. Childhood obesity is a growing concern for parents, pediatricians, and the nation as a whole. The physical and social /emotional health effects of childhood obesity are negatively affecting our population and the norms of society.

Imagine a world where everyone was fit and the obesity rate was down to 0% that would be great wouldn’t it? Today we face an epidemic of our children and future generation to save the world from being polluted and doomed, that every generation is also in danger of people facing a very obese generation and obesity can cause many problems and all these problems can prevent our future from doing great things because they are obese and they have a lot of health problems. What my paper is about is how we can prevent this from becoming worse from what it already has become. Childhood obesity is a real problem in this world, it leads to many serious problems like type 2 diabetes and also high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and also they are put

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