Effects Of Obesity On Children And Adolescents

There have been studies conducted to find out what has caused or what the leading factors to obesity are. Researchers are currently still doing research to find out what causes or what may be the lead to obesity. Childhood obesity is a serious medical condition which considers a child to be obese if their Body Mass Index (BMI) is at or above the 95th percentile for children and teens of the same age and sex. (Rendall., Weden, Lau, Brownell, Nazarov & Fernandes, 2014). Obesity is on a rise in the Unites States and all over the world and can lead or result to other health complications later in life. The crucial breakdown serves as an implication of outlining childhood obesity, collaborating problems of the disease and resolutions, as well as applying critical thinking to give a complete approach to deliver information on childhood obesity. This will be done through citation of scholarly articles, samples and other modes of supporting details.

Social Factors: Children of many various ethnicity have greater implications with obesity, however studies have shown that Hispanic American children (both genders) and African American female children are effected at higher rate than European Americans and Asians (Salinas, Leyao, & DeWan, 2016). Numerous studies including BMC genetics have directly associated low household income to higher likelihood children being obese or overweight. According to the CDC 2000 growth reference, adolescence ages 12-19 are obese or over-weight with the body mass index (BMI) ≥95th, that is one in six child in the United States (Diesel, Eckhardt, Day, Brooks, Arslanian, & Bodnar, 2015).

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.

Los Angeles County, the second largest city in the United States with a county population 10,441,089 in 2010 has been reported to have the highest levels of economic hardship (Dunn et al., 2013). According to County of Los Angeles Public Health (2013, January), “poverty in childhood has long-lasting effects limiting life expectancy and worsening health for the child’s life, even if social conditions subsequently improve” (p.3). A recent study in Los Angeles County showed that adolescents living in low-income neighborhood were nine times as likely to be overweight as those living in well-off neighborhoods (“Policy Priorities: Childhood Obesity,” 2012). These residents, like those

One of the greatest health risks that children face today is not an atrocious disease like cancer nor is it learning or behavioral problems—it is obesity! The Mayo Clinic, a nonprofit organization committed to clinical practice, health education and research, defines child hood obesity as “a serious medical condition that affects children and adolescents, that occurs when a child is well above the normal weight for his or her age and height” (Mayo). The Mayo Clinic goes on to say that childhood obesity is particularly troubling because it starts kids off on an early path to health complications that they could encounter later in life (Mayo). The Centers for Decease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recently started referring to obesity as an “epidemic” and new national statistics show that about 16.06% of American children, ages six years old to eleven years old, are considered to be overweigh (Childhood Obesity Facts). The California Department of Public Health Nutrition concluded that in California, 15.8% of children, ages six to eleven years old, are considered overweight (Obesity in California: The Weight of the State, 2000-2012). With these percentages in mind, Childhood Obesity must be viewed as an immediate serious concern that is impacting our children at the national, state, county, and local level.

Obesity in America is a very popular issue that has been addressed countless times. America is given the title of being lazy and fat from other people in other countries. As much fun as it is poking at useless stereotypes, it is still a very serious issue plaguing the minority children of America. Why are minority children more likely to become overweight than non-minority children? Is it based solely on genetics or are other factors involved? Not many parents are aware of their children’s increasing waistline, because some of these factors are sometimes overlooked when trying to prevent obesity from children. Most children can not make decisions by themselves without their parents, like deciding what to wear and when to go to sleep. Children should not be responsible for their bodies at a young age; they need to rely on parents to help guide them at an early age. However there are factors that can influence whether a child becomes obese or not. These influential factors, specifically to minorities in America, include ethnic cultures, socioeconomic status, and psychological factors.

If current adolescent obesity rates continue, predictions say by 2035 there will be more than 100,000 additional cases of heart disease linked to obesity (Collins 1). Childhood obesity has become more of an epidemic over the last few years. Although there are debates of childhood obesity being a problem, several factors contribute to childhood obesity such as parental feeding styles and fast food, nonetheless, which can all be prevented.

Childhood obesity is associated with a lot of health-related problems and leads to health risks in adulthood. Problems with obesity are not only physiological but psychological and social as well. Physically, overweight children run the risk of heart diseases, Type 2 diabetes, arthritis, gall bladder disease and asthma(Spark). The cost of obesity is very high. Obese people have to pay not only in their reduced lifespan but also more in their medical bills. Obese children tend to have a negative body image, which lowers their self-esteem. Most of them feel dispirited and are nervous about their obesity issue. These cause stress and can negatively affect their behavior. These children can be discriminated by their peers in school, and have some

If you have been anywhere near a TV screen or any other form of media outlet, lets say in the past ten years, you are probably aware of the word obesity. Probably not only just aware but have come to understand that as a nation we have been battling our own obesity epidemic on a super sized scale. We are continuously reminded of the physical consequences of obesity but not much coverage has raised awareness to the psychological outcomes. It has always been declared that the future of our nation lies in the hands of its children. They are the dreamers and the doers. The future depends greatly on the ideals and habits of its youth. So it is only logical that we continuously ensure both the health and strength of our youth. But with childhood obesity invading both mind and body of our children it is time we truly understand all aspects of this childhood obesity issue. As a nation if we begin to examine all influences and outcomes of childhood obesity, we will be able to more effectively fight it. Childhood obesity is not merely over eating. Childhood obesity is a result of a child’s surrounding environment and the influence of its society that hinders more than a child’s physical appearance. Childhood obesity in observance evidently leads to a lower quality of living and a long list of mental obstacles, obesity is caused not by an increased intake of calories but by the stress and quality of living a child has experienced.

Childhood obesity has multiplied exponentially in the past two or three decades. More than one third of children and young adults were classified as obese or overweight in 2012. Childhood obesity has become an epidemic all over the world but especially in the United States. Health is the most important part of a person’s life and it is unaccepta-ble for multitudes of people to be at a disadvantage when it comes to health at such an early and tender age. There are some trends of society that can be seen as apparent rea-sons for this increase in childhood obesity such as the rise of a more sedentary lifestyle and the growing access to unhealthy food. However, children and parents are not solely to blame, rather, society as a whole may be

Despite recent declines in the prevalence among preschool-aged children, obesity among children is still too high. For children and adolescents aged 2-19 years, the prevalence of obesity has remained fairly stable at about 17% and affects about 12.7 million children and adolescents for the past decade (CDC). Childhood obesity does not only affect children, but also has many long term health effects on our children as they get older, including, an increased risk of type 2 diabetes in both childhood and adulthood. (2). Researchers estimate that if obesity trends continue, obesity related medical costs, alone, could rise by $43 to $66 billion each year in the United States by 2030. (1) A major factor in childhood obesity is the inadequate amount of physical activity children are getting, as well as the school lunches that are being provided to the kids. The accessibility of competitive foods which includes things like vending machines, student stores and items a la carte in schools has been linked with negative dietary behaviors, including higher saturated fat intake, higher sweetened beverage intake, and less fruit and vegetable intake,(3) thus resulting in obesity among our children and adolescents. Research suggests that by making sure children are getting healthy school meals and getting enough physical activity in their day it will decrease their chances of having childhood obesity (3). The purpose of this review was to determine the role, school lunches and physical

Childhood obesity is a serious medical condition that affects children and adolescents. It occurs when a child is overweight and well over the normal weight for his or her age and height. Child obesity is an important issue because the extra weight can lead children down the wrong path to health problems, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes to name a few. Childhood obesity can cause children to become depressed and have poor self-esteem. Emotional issues such as depression and poor self-esteem are another cause of childhood obesity. Dramatic life events such as a death in the family can lead to over eating. Some children overeat as a way with coping with problems in their lives or dealing with emotions like stress or boredom (Mayo foundation). The number of obese children in America has increased dramatically over the years, and if we keep going the way we are, obesity in children will continue to grow. In order to reduce childhood obesity we need to improve the diet and exercise habits of the entire family.

“Childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the United States. As a result, children are at increased risk in myriad preventable acute and chronic medical problems- many of which are associated with increased morbidity and mortality.” (Cause and Effect in Childhood Obesity: Solutions for a National Epidemic). The issue of childhood obesity is a huge controversial problem that revolves around America. Over the last decade, children have been overweight for their height and age. It is abnormal to have a child to be gaining weight after a month and month. Many years ago, this issue was not as big as it is today. Since the year of the 1970’s, childhood obesity has multiplied by two between the ages two and five years old. Not only

Childhood obesity, particularly within Australia, is increasingly becoming more and more of an issue in today 's society; with obesity expecting to raise around 33% by 2025 (Figure 1). In place are current policy 's, legislations and campaigns to assist and promote the prevention of obesity within children and their families. However, looking at statistics, these factors are only making a slight impact on the overall population, this creates an even smaller outcome in the avoidance of childhood obesity in particular. 'Hit the 100 ' is a new campaign created to strive to prevent obesity, whilst encouraging healthy living and providing education to children and their families. The health problems arising from obesity are significantly dangerous to one 's health and need to be prevented early on, which is why the 'Hit The 100 ' campaign targets children.

The United States, the busiest country on over the world, is being threatened by the obesity, especially children. Compare with the past 30 years, in 2012, the number of children are obese increases doubled (Childhood Obesity Facts). The major elements that lead to the childhood obesity not only come from the invisible factor are family’s gene, but also the environment grow them up as school and the influence of technology in the modern society. But if the parent and school have a positive behavior on children’s eating habit, and also control the time using the technology of children, they can contribute to preventing this situation.