Health Policy Issue: Childhood Obesity

Childhood obesity has become an epidemic in the United States in the past three decades. In 2012, roughly 17% or 12.5 million children and adolescents are overweight or obese” (“Childhood Obesity Facts,” 2014). According to the Centers of Disease Control and

Childhood obesity is a growing epidemic and continues to be the focus at the national level (Washington, Reifsnider, Bishop, Ethington, & Ruffin, 2010). Furthermore, many comorbidities and health issues, such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and depression are associated with this disease. Hence, combating childhood obesity would involve a collaborative multidisciplinary team consisting of family members, the client, health care providers, and policymakers. Therefore, radical changes need to be implemented into law to combat this issue. As a health care provider, this writer has seen the devastation that childhood obesity has not only on the child, but the family as well and wishes to propose a

Childhood Obesity has being a problem in the United States and keeps increases by time. According to (Phipps, S. A., Burton, P. S., Osberg, L. S., & Lethbridge, L. N. (2006) ) The United States has one of the most low level spending in

Childhood obesity is affecting 1 out 3 kids in our society. These children are being classified as being obese or overweight. Obesity has gained recognition as an important worldwide public problem and in the U.S., appears to be overtaking tobacco use as the number one cause of preventable death (Dennison, B. A., Edmunds, L. S., Stratton, H. H., & Pruzek, R. M. (2006). This is the first time we have ever seen our children in this state and the percentage of overweight or obese children is growing at a rapid rate. If something is not done about this issue, this generation will be the first generation to not outlive their parents because of the health issues that arise because a person is overweight or obese. Children are not being entertained outside anymore while getting exercise; the entertainment is inside on the TV, computer, or video-game console (Kid’s Health). Many kids are spending less time outside exercising than previous generations. In today’s world, a quick and easy solution to a problem is the most common answer; this is true for our electronics and our food choices. Families have little to no free moments to prepare nutritious, home cooked meals(Kid’s Health). Our goal has to be finding ways to prevent children from becoming overweight. This is the parent’s responsibility. Parents have to learn to adopt a way to lead a healthy lifestyle of eating healthy and exercising for their

Childhood obesity has placed the health of an entire generation at risk. Obesity in America is a big problem that has been growing over the years. “An estimated 12.5 million children between the ages of 2 and 19 are obese, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention” (Loop 2015). As the number of children being affected keeps growing, parents or guardians do not change the habits that lead their children to become obese. “Among children today, obesity is causing a broad range of health problems that previously weren’t seen until adulthood” (American Heart Association, 2014). Not only is obesity causing health problems more than before, but it also causing a big problem in America. More and more children every year become obese and it keeps growing. Even though some people believe the lifestyle of a person is not to blame for the childhood obesity problem in America, the technology, the parenting style , and the media of the outside world are huge factors that contribute to childhood obesity.

In the recent decades, obesity has grown into a major health issue in the United States. Obesity in the United States has become the country with the highest rate of obesity in the world. Obesity seems not to be only found in adults anymore, appears to be found among children and it’s a serious life threatening. Childhood obesity turned into a medical situation that children are destined to suffer from psychological, health problems and health care cost that affect children’s.

The number of childhood obesity cases were increasing in the State of Illinois that it required that the state demonstrate and execute The Obesity Prevention Initiative Act and Illinois Alliance to Prevent obesity. The Obesity Prevention Initiative Act was started in 2010, to address the need of starting a campaign that focuses on changing the sugary snacks and beverage provided in schools. The focus is on educating parents of children in the communities to facilitate the success of the policy.

The widespread of childhood obesity in Illinois has required that the state establish and implement “The Obesity Prevention Initiative Act” and Illinois Alliance to Prevent obesity. The Obesity Prevention Initiative Act was started in 2010, to address the need of starting a campaign that focuses on changing the sugary snacks and beverage provided in schools. The focus is on educating parents of children in the communities to facilitate the success of the policy.

Childhood obesity is a pressing national health issue that requires policy attention at either the federal or state level. The health care costs associated with childhood obesity is staggering and according to the Duke Global Health Institute, “Childhood obesity comes with an estimated price tag of $19,000 per child when comparing lifetime medical costs to those of a normal weight child” (Duke Global Health Institute, 2014). Lack of action on the part of policymakers will only increase the number of obese children and the medical cost associated with it. The best way to address this issue is not by overt, heavy handed government action, but by policy prescriptions that indirectly influence behavior. The following three policy tools will leave

Childhood obesity is a growing epidemic in the United States. Currently, policies in place to address the epidemic of obesity are mostly designed for prevention. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2009) reports the adoption of “24 environmental and policy level strategies to prevent obesity” as part of the Measures Project evaluation to determine what tools are effective for meeting a standard required to prevent obesity. However, the parent and child should be the primary stakeholders regarding an obesity intervention with an education that includes the environment and others.

In today’s society, there has been a plethora of achievements in technology, medical advancement, and educational platforms. However, with these new, exciting gateways has come several issues, some of which have become very serious. One of the most important hot button issues is childhood obesity. In fact, statistics show that since the 1970’s, the obesity rate in children’s ages range two to five in the United States, has increased over five percent alone, as well as over ten percent in children in age ranges between twelve to nineteen in 2008 (Gale Encyclopedia of diets, 2013). With this serious issue facing the United States, it leads to question: why have children in the United States become so obese and what strategies have been implemented to curve this often-outrageous statistic? The cause of childhood obesity can be blamed on several factors that affect all areas of the child’s life. Factors including the home lifestyle and parent accountability, outside the home in school where implementation and access of unhealthy foods and beverages far exceeds their nutritional counterparts, as well as an increased portion size are adding to this overall problem. To combat the issue, many states have implemented programs specifically aimed at childhood obesity to prevent the future health risks associated with this medical issue. Also, suggestions are being acquired for schools and parents alike to assist in getting the obese target below the national level

Childhood obesity is one of the major public health challenges of the 21st century. The prevalence of obesity is increasing globally. In 2013, the number of overweight children under the age of five was estimated over 42 million. Childhood obesity can cause premature death and disability in adulthood. Overweight and obese children will grow up to become obese adults and are more likely to develop diseases like cardiovascular diseases and diabetes at a younger age. Many factors can contribute overweight and obesity in children, however a global shift in dietary habits and lack of physical activity play a crucial role. Overweight and obesity are preventable. Unlike adults, children cannot select the environment they live or the food they eat, they are unware about the long term health consequences of their behavior. Therefore, it is important to have strict policies for the prevention of obesity epidemic. School play an important role in fighting against the epidemic of childhood obesity (World Health Organization, 2016). Even after the legislature has enacted laws to support school nutrition and physical education, many states including, Texas has not yet adopted these policies. It is important to have these policies in practice to prevent childhood obesity (National Conference of State Legislatures, 2014). Government play an important role in making sustainable changes in public health. For that reason, the author is intended to

Obesity has been a major health issue in the community for the past three decades, and has recently become a spreading concern for children (Black & Hager, 2013). Childhood obesity leads to many health and financial burdens in the future, and has become a public health priority. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2016), childhood obesity has doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents in the past 30 years. Black and Hager (2013) state that pediatric obesity is a major public health problem that effects a child’s mental and physical health. Having childhood obesity also increases the risk of developing adult obesity and many other chronic illnesses. Childhood obesity will be further explored in the following sections and will include: background, current surveillance methods, epidemiology analysis, screening and diagnosis, and the plan of action.

Childhood obesity is a growing problem in the United States. Childhood obesity is defined as a child being at or above the 95th percentile for the child’s age and sex (Dietz, 1998). According to the Center of Disease Control “Childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents 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 18% in 2012” (CDC, 2017). There are several behavioral and environmental factors that affect childhood obesity as a health problem. It’s important to identify a problem, examine how behaviors can be changed, and find various determinants that may influence specific behaviors in

There is a giant threat looming over the United States, a catastrophic event of epidemic proportions which is threatening to capsize the health care system and that epidemic is childhood obesity. The awareness of this epidemic as a national problem developed in 1999 with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) publication of a compilation of yearly state-based maps that indicated the increase in the levels of childhood obesity. There were earlier studies done by the CDC regarding this epidemic, but the maps gave physical proof of the dramatic increase for this pressing issue (Dietz, 2015).