Children And Obesity / Nutrition

Childhood obesity is considered to be a serious issue among our youth. Obesity can cause many types of physical problems, which most are aware of, but it can also cause some undesirable internal feelings within children and adolescents who suffer from it. Self-esteem, or self-worth, is important as it helps develop personality and is a major ingredient to our mental health status (Wang, F. and Veugelers, P. J., 2008). Some have said obesity may even have a negative effect on cognitive development, as well. There have been studies performed to research the effects of obesity on children and adolescents, which I am going to review.

First of all, humans in general have started getting overweight. Half of which is their fault mostly because they control what they eat and when they eat. Since 1970, the amount of fast food restaurants in business doubled,

Smaller governmental initiatives have proven effective, as well as campaigns run by non-governmental organization, yet a large scale federal initiative has yet to be established. Childhood obesity is an ever growing epidemic that has increased to unacceptable proportions. In order to prevent any further escalation of this public, federal legislation must be advocated for and passed that creates more opportunities for physical activity, increased access to healthy food, and puts an end to dishonest marketing. By bringing together leaders from across the industry, academia and public health with policymakers and their advisors, the Campaign provides the information and guidance that decision makers need to make the policy changes that

Did you know that childhood obesity has tripled in last 30 years? According to Spark, a web site about childhood obesity, a child is considered obese if their BMI(Body Mass Index) is 30 or higher. This is a serious medical condition. It can lead to a variety of serious diseases and have physiological and psycological impact on the children, moreover it can cause issues in their social lives. Childhood obesity is prevalent in both developed and developing countries. Home, schools, and the community environments for children in the modern world are the main factors contributing to childhood obesity. Therefore, we need to intervene and improve those areas at once to reduce childhood obesity and be able to raise healthy children.

Childhood Obesity has become one of the leading causes of death in our nation today. Sadly, our society in whole is one of the heaviest. Putting an emphasis on the fact that “obesity rates among children of all ages are dramatically higher then they were a generation ago” (Green). Society has made it, with little to no trouble, that kids can get what they want, when they want it. Children are unaware of the harm and trauma they are putting their bodies through at such a young age. Childhood obesity effects the lifetime of a person, and can potentially make that lifetime shortened. Little do children know, once they put on so much weight, it seems to be nearly impossible to take it off. Childhood obesity can rapidly reduce if we alter influences, education, media, the fast food industry, and most importantly, themselves. Also, “According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2004), over 16 percent of children and adolescents from six to 19 years of age are overweight and/or obese. This number has more than tripled since 1981” (Green). As a society, we need to put a stop to the influences and causes of childhood obesity because it can take over our society and cause serious issues for ourselves, and the world we live in.

Childhood obesity has gained a lot of attention in the last 15 years. Obesity is also so much more than just being fat; it is a serious medical condition that affects children and adolescent. Before they reach the age of five, 40 million of the world's children will become obese. According to Primary Health Care, “one in three children is overweight, very overweight or obese” (Bishop 12). Childhood obesity is a well known health issue in society today. Some may think of it as a disease such as cancer, but others disagree with this. According to a Health Progress, “Obese youth also are more likely to have pre-diabetes, bone and joint problems, sleep apnea and behavioral and psychological problems” (Donahue 80). The progression of childhood obesity

Child obesity affects 30% of the children, nearly three times what it was fifty-two years ago. Obese children are more likely to have health problems that were once only adult concerns. These include type 2 diabetes, asthma, Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD; can cause liver damage), hypertension, and high cholesterol, as well as other health concerns. Kids who are obese are more likely to be obese as adults. Childhood obesity is also linked to both higher and earlier death rates in adults.

The HHS Prevention Strategies chosen for this paper is the CDC’s Healthy Communities Program (HCP), which falls under the initiative of Nutrition and Weight Status. The main topic that this strategy will be used to discuss is childhood obesity. The specific program under this strategy that is going to be discussed herein would be the School-Based Physical Education Plan, which falls directly under the HCP.

Public schools need to teach children more about food in the United States. Children should be taught more about where the food comes from, how the food is gathered, how the food can be prepared, and how they can eat healthier in order to guide them to live with a healthy eating habit.

Many Americans are struggling with keeping a healthy weight, and this problem even is seen through this country’s children. Schools should educate children about obesity and the consequences it has on their bodies. Overweight children are more common in today’s society because of the bad choices parents and schools make toward feeding their children. When the time comes to make healthy decisions, children can make bad choices because of the influences brought on by their environments. Children need to be taught how to eat healthy and perform more exercises. Since children are in school many hours a day, the schools need to help end this problem by preparing healthier meals, encouraging students to exercise, and educating the students about the health problems related to obesity.

A healthy diet is the foundation for achieving a healthy lifestyle. Nutrition, the intake of food in order to provide the body with its dietary needs, is important when referring to a healthy diet (Potter, Perry, Stockert & Hall, 2013). Nutrition is good when the body receives the essentially balanced nourishment required to sustain life and successfully perform bodily functions. However, poor nutrition can result in decreased productivity and leave an individual at risk for many illnesses and diseases such as diabetes, and cardiovascular disease; also social and psychological problems (Halawa, 2013). Based on experience, nutrition and weight status often have a direct relationship where one is reflected in the other. Obesity, which is an excess of body fat, is the result of a continuous high calorie diet, which creates an imbalance when not used up efficiently (Potter, Perry, Stockert & Hall, 2013). In the United States, childhood obesity has been on an incline, with approximately one in three children considered obese in 2012 (Childhood Obesity Facts, 2015). As a result, childhood obesity is a cause for major concern among health professionals, including nurses. Primary intervention targeted at nutritional intake of children in the U.S. would be a great place to start in the process of trying to eliminate childhood obesity.

As the common saying goes, our habits make us. That’s why it’s important to make sure any child has the opportunity and the resources to make healthy habits. Childhood obesity is a big problem. Almost half of all children and adolescents are overweight or obese (“Childhood Obesity Facts”). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents in the past 30 years.” Childhood obesity has its roots in poor education and meal options, and can effect someone’s health, confidence, and well-being for life.

Certain consumer behaviors adopted by children affect their mental and physical health. Studies have shown that there is a link between what children see in advertisements and the lifestyle choices they make. Studies also showed that children who viewed advertisements showing healthy eating were more likely to engage in healthy eating habits (Carter and Maria). There are large amounts of advertisements for foods and drinks high in fat and sugar. Many studies show that there is a link between childhood obesity and advertising. There has been a rise in childhood obesity in the past few years and many believe, and have evidence to support, that it is partly because of unregulated advertisements aimed towards children. The health of a child is very important childhood obesity is something to be concerned about. The definition of childhood obesity is: having a body mass index above the normal range for age and sex in children. The definition of childhood obesity may not sound very frightening, but childhood obesity has many detrimental effects and associated diseases and disorders that extend into adulthood (Dill and Moglia). Some of these include: metabolic syndrome, high insulin levels, high blood pressure, abnormal lipid levels, atherosclerosis, high cholesterol, and diabetes. Other than physical syndromes, childhood obesity also affects children mentally. Children with childhood obesity often have poor body image, low self-esteem, social isolation, recurrent anger, clinical

Childhood obesity, a monstrous disease that grabs the attention of its victims so effortlessly, is a frightening concern among many. Childhood obesity is a condition in which a child is extremely overweight for their particular age group. This disease has rapidly increased its victims by luring them in with mouth-watering advertisements, pleasurable menu items and amusement. To cause matters to become increasingly detrimental to their health, technology has been introduced to kids at particularly young ages causing them to become less active or sluggish. When unhealthy food items and lack of physical activity are combined, the child’s chances of health issues increase. Childhood obesity is an immense concern to parents with children who suffer with the disease, however; parents are not investing enough of their time into making substantial strides toward giving their children a healthy and active lifestyle. It is essential that parents allow it to become their leading priority to provide their children with healthy meals, daily exercise and regular visits to their doctor.

Childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents in the past 30 years (CDC). It is estimated that, on our current track, in about 50 years 1 out of 2 Americans will develop diabetes. These are startling facts, and it gets even weirder when you look into the causes for this sudden change. Since the 1980s, the amount of added sugar in our diets has increased exponentially. In fact, these days, around 90% of the food products in our grocery stores contain added sugar. Why? This is partially due to the diet/low-fat craze that started in the 1980s. Food companies cut down the amount of fat in their products, but