Childhood obesity has reached epidemic levels in the United States as well as in many other industrialized nations. Childhood obesity, though, is not limited to affluent countries and is increasingly being found in developing nations as well. Although diet plays an important role in exacerbating the problem, the failure to make healthy choices in food selections is not the only problem. One of the unfortunate consequences of innovations in telecommunications and video game technologies has been an increasingly sedentary lifestyle for many American youths, a trend that has been further reinforced by participation in social media networks. In this environment, it is little wonder that many young people become overweight, but the implications of obesity in childhood have lifetime implications, making the need for studies of childhood obesity and the identification of evidence-based interventions a timely and relevant enterprise. To this end, this paper provides a review of the relevant literature concerning childhood obesity, the stakeholders that are involved and several potential evidence-based interventions that have proven effective in the past. Finally, a list of policy recommendations based on this analysis is followed by a summary of the research and important findings in the conclusion.
Obesity is the second leading cause of death in the United States. Obesity often begin in childhood and is linked to many psychological problems such as asthma, diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors in childhood. Childhood obesity is related to increased mortality and morbidity in adulthood as many obese children grow up to become obese adults (Johnson, 2016). In the last 30 years, childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents. In the United States, the percentage of children aged six to eleven years who were obese seven percent in 1980 has increased to eighteen percent in 2012. In 2012, more than one third of children and adolescents were overweight or obese. Overweight is defined as having excess body weight for a particular height, whereas obesity is having excess body fat. Childhood obesity can lead both immediate and long term effects on health and well-being. Obese children are likely to have risk factors for cardiovascular disease such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol. A population based sample of five to seventeen year old shows 70% obese children have at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Obese children and adolescents are at risk for bone and joint problems, sleep apnea, and social and psychological problems such as poor self-esteem and stigmatization. Children and adolescents who are obese are likely to be obese as adults and are at risk for adult health problems such as heart disease, stroke, type 2
What does childhood obesity means? Obesity can be defined as a condition in which the body carries abnormal or unhealthy amounts of fat tissue, leading the individual to weigh in excess or 20 percent more than his or her ideal weight (Health & Illness).Obesity in America is an ever-growing problem and has boosted America to the number one spot in terms of obese population. It also stands as the most prevalent medical issue in American Children. In the past thirty years, obesity has affected many different age groups of kids. Preschool group, two to five years in age, and the youths between the ages of twelve and nineteen the obesity rate has more than doubled (Childhood Obesity Statistics and Facts 2v007). Childhood obesity has more than tripled in kid’s ages six to eleven years old. Children can become obese due to many different things like parents or schools. Although obesity may linger for a lifetime, there are many ways to overcome childhood obesity and not have to deal with the weight issue. Childhood obesity causes many problems and concerns in many American families, but families need to work together to overcome obesity. One out of three children in the United States falls into the overweight or obese category (Ding). Children face many different problems and issues at a young age because of obesity. Children obesity causes type 2 diabetes, fatty liver because of excessive weight issues, social problems, depression, anxiety, and eating disorders (Ludwig). Childhood
Childhood obesity is an epidemic that is sweeping through America. The key to understanding the threshold for the term obesity is to know the clinical definition. Obesity and overweight are two terms that are intermittently misused. Overweight is clinically defined as the excess body fat one has in terms to their height, muscle, bone, or in a combination of all factors (Childhood Obesity Facts). Obesity is simply the concept of having excess body fat (Childhood Obesity Facts). Adult obesity is the cause of multiple disease that are difficult to treat and most are fatal. Childhood obesity should be seen just as fatal, if not more, than adult obesity due to the higher risk children have to contracting
Since the 1980s, obesity among America 's children has just about tripled (Sarring, 2013). It is clear that childhood obesity is a developing pestilence in America. Obesity in childhood causes an extensive variety of genuine entanglements, and builds the danger of untimely disease and demise further down the road, raising open wellbeing concerns (Ebbeling, 2002). The Center for Disease Control is an essential hotspot for creating protection measures to plagues, for example, childhood obesity. The expanding predominance of childhood obesity through the United States has headed approach creators to rank it as a basic open wellbeing danger (Koplan, 2005). To help the Center for Disease Control in its drive a communication plan has been built to complete its mission of advertising wellbeing and forestalling disease. The objective of the arrangement is to give information in regards to counteractive action, recommendations mediation projects, support in bringing awareness, advertise solid living, and publicizing the impacts of childhood obesity.
Unfortunately, there is no uniform definition of childhood obesity. Childhood obesity has been variously described by absolute weight , triceps skinfolds , weight-for-height percentiles, percent of ideal body weight and, most recently, by body mass index (BMI weight in kg=height in meters squared). Although these measures reflect slightly different aspects of body composition or body size, they are moderately well correlated with body fat, even in growing children. In addition to the lack of consistency in the anthropometric measure , the degree of obesity varies from study to study; however, for the majority of studies, a BMI greater than either the 85th or 95th percentile, or a weight-for-height greater than 120% of ideal was considered obese.
Obesity is not specifically just being a few pounds overweight. A child is considered obese when his or her weight, compared to height, is abnormal by ten pounds or more. This is a growing issue in children ages 7-17 and is getting worse. The most effective methods of hindering this epidemic are by mandating a quality and nutritious school lunch program, increasing childhood activity initiatives, and educating caretakers at home.
Childhood obesity has expanded tremendously within the past thirty years (CDC, 2015). It is not only a state, but also a nationwide issue. For many children, they depend on their school lunches to provide them the nutritious meals they cannot afford to have at home. As a community, we need to get our children into better shape. Not only will they become more astute, but they will also live healthier lifestyles, and have less health complications as they age. When you are overweight or obese, you are much more likely to develop health problems like heart disease, diabetes, or even a stroke. It is our responsibility as a community, state, and nation to offer nutritious meals and activities for our youth and future.
Childhood obesity is one of the largest public health epidemics in the united states. I personally have dealt with it and have realized how obesity can affect your wellbeing. Childhood obesity is more existing now than in my grandparents’ generation.
Children are our future, and therefore, everyone should protect the young community. Childhood obesity is an epidemic that should be prevented. Children have the right to live a long, healthy life. However, the rise of obesity is affecting the young community. Childhood obesity attains negative repercussions. Yes, doctors have found many ways to combat obesity. As a matter of fact, they emphasize how important one’s health is. It is crucial to acknowledge that obesity alters a child’s health. Obesity has the power to affect a child mentally, emotionally, and physically.
Being overweight and obese are associated with serious health risks for children. According to Crawford et al. (2013) one-sixth of all school-age obese children have developed an early onset of health problems compared to those within the healthy Body Mass Index (BMI) range. Children who are overweight and obese have an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease due to high cholesterol and high blood pressure (Crawford et al., 2013). In addition, one-third of children will develop type-2 diabetes due to high-fasting insulin and various
One of the serious public health issues in the United State is obesity in children.”Obesity a condition with an excess accumulation and storage of fat content in the body is also defined as a BMI at or above the 95th percentile for children of the same age and sex. (CDC, 2014). The rationale to choose this specific population is that obesity increases the risk for any serious physical complication in children such as diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, sleep disorders, breathing problems, hepatic
Obesity in today’s world has become a very well recognized health concern. Childhood obesity may be even more concerning because it has potential to lead to obesity in adulthood. Shockingly, one in ten infants and one in four toddlers in today’s society are obese. (Davison, Jurkowski, Li, Kranz &Lawson, 2013) Seeing these numbers solidifies the need for interventions early on in childhood and illustrates the prevalence of this problem. It is essential to understand the physical and psychological health risks involved in childhood obesity in order to grasp the severity of this epidemic. The difficulty to pin point a direct cause for childhood obesity cannot be over
Childhood obesity is a staggering problem. According to CDC, child obesity rate has triple in past 30 years in United States. Children who are obese will have impact on their both physical and psychological health. Children who are obese during childhood are more likely to be obese in their adulthood as well, and then suffer from diseases like heart disease, asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure, depression and more. Due to change in lifestyle kids now a day’s eat more calories than they burn calorie. They tend to overeat and enjoy junk food rather than healthy food. They also prefer to use computer, play video games or watch television instead of going out to play and exercise.
Childhood obesity affects more than 30 percent of children in the United States, making it the most common chronic disease among children. A child is defined as being “obese” if their BMI-for-age percentile is greater than 95 percent. A child is defined as being “overweight” if their BMI-for-age percentile is greater than 85 percent and less than 95 percent. (Obesity Action Coalition, 2017). Childhood obesity has rapidly become one of the most serious health challenges faced in the United States. Usually obesity is caused by living an unhealthy lifestyle although genetics can play a factor, it is more common now for children to be obese or overweight because of environmental and behavioral factors. In order for us to fight childhood obesity