Literature Review on Childhood Obesity Essay

Child obesity is a condition characterized by the child having too much fat in the body to an extent of his or her health being in danger. In adults, it could be described as a state of having a body mass index of more than thirty (Paxon, 2006). Parents feeding them with too many calories bring about obesity in children. The excess calories are converted to fats that accumulate in the child’s body. This child will develop a big body because he or she will add weight and become quite fleshy. Obese children are at a risk of getting very adverse health effects, some of

viii. Fast foods are high in calories, provide less fruits and vegetables, and are packed with sugar, fat, and sodium

Today, about one in every three children, in America, are obese or overweight. Child obesity is a health issue where a child is obese for their body mass index (BMI). A child has to be in between the eighty-fifth and ninety-fifth percentile to be considered overweight. According to (heart.org), ”The prevalence of obesity in children more than tripled from 1971 to 2011.. With good reason, childhood obesity is now the No. 1 health concern among parents in the United States, topping drug abuse and smoking.” (heart.org) Child Obesity is an increasing problem in the United States due to poor nutritional habits, lack of physical exercise and an increase in availability of fast food. Child obesity also leads to long term physical and mental health problems. Although, there are many negative effects of child obesity, there are slight changes that can be made to slow or stop childhood obesity. Prevention can be managed by keeping a balanced diet and staying active.

According to The State of Obesity: Better Policies for a Healthier America 2015, a report from Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, obesity is defined as “an excessively high amount of body fat . . . in relation to lean body mass.” Body Mass Index (BMI), while not a diagnostic tool for children or measurement of body fat directly, is an indicator of body fatness and is used to assess whether a person is overweight or obese (as well as normal or underweight). BMI differs for children and adults, as well as males and females. It is measured by dividing a person’s weight by the square of height. Childhood obesity is defined when BMI is at or above 95th percentile. Generally, obesity is associated with higher energy intake and lower energy expenditure. Egger and Swinburn (1997) call it a “traditional” view and suggest the need in a paradigm shift; their ecological approach to the problem suggests that the impetus for rising obesity is the “increasingly obesogenic environment” (p. 478), which they define as “the sum of influences that the surroundings, opportunities, or conditions of life have on promoting obesity in individuals or populations,” rather than individual’s genetics or metabolic disorder (as cited in Lake and Townshend 2006:262). Hence, Egger and Swinburn (1997) see obesity as a normal physiological response to a pathological environment. Increasingly, researchers view obesity epidemic as the product of changes in vast and underrated

Although the issue of what constitutes obesity is not black and white and some experts object to the statement that is what really matters. I agree with the above statement because achieving results benefits young and old. I also feel that childhood obesity is not an epidemic. I do feel that a parent should show their child right from wrong when it comes to eating habits. However, I feel that once the child is seven years old he/she should be able to choose what kind of foods are good and bad for you. When it comes to allowing your children to watch television, and play video games over going outside and riding, their bike is to blame on the parent.

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

Obesity has been around for centuries and over the years it has become vastly more common in our society. Originally obesity was not as much of a problem as it is now, but over the past few decades it has transformed into a serious issue in the United Sates and even across the globe. It has turned into such a widespread issue that the World Health Organization has even labeled it as a global epidemic in 1997 (Spruijt-Metz 129). Childhood obesity specifically has become a major issue as obesity rates in young children have tripled over the past 30 years alone (Spruijt-Metz 130). This has a huge impact on our society because childhood obesity is a common indicator of adult obesity and this leads to an increased chance for harmful health problems

Their BMI (Body Mass Index) chart for children is only compared to the height and weight to other children of the same age and sex. Childhood obesity has grown over the years, having researchers querying if parents are incriminating for these habits, which led the children into obesity, children are eating too much. Child is an example of the environment; it can be genetic or parent lifestyles. If the parent is not doing anything to avert obesity, children are going to follow the same habits, cerebrating it is okay which led to the growing number of obesity in childhood. According to National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, a normal body mass index is lower than 25%. People who are considered obese have a body mass index in the range of 25% to 29.9% more than their body weight. The term obese is used to define children, who are 2 to 18 years of age whose body mass index is higher than the 95th percentile of the age-gender-concrete body mass index, which was conducted by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Having a body mass index lower than the 85th percentile for his age puts the toddler at a rate of

Childhood obesity has doubled in children and quadrupled for adolescents in the last thirty years. Obesity and overweight rates in children are higher among families living below the poverty line. The diabetes rate is higher in children living in poverty. Families that are living in poverty cannot afford the fresh produce and healthier foods due to the rising cost.

According to the Obesity Action Coalition, childhood obesity is a growing epidemic in the United States. More than thirty percent of American children are obese which makes this the most common chronic disease in children. A child is defined as obese by body mass index-for-age. If a child’s BMI-for-age is greater than eighty five percent and lower than ninety five percent that child is considered overweight. Children with a BMI-for-age over ninety five percent are considered obese. Children are becoming overweight and obese at an alarming trend. Many of the health problems adults with obesity face are becoming more predominant in children (obesityaction.org). Many kids are spending less time exercising

Parents and children should watch their everyday eating habits because childhood obesity causes a decreased lifespan for children. Obesity for children can start at an early and if a child and parent are not careful then the outcome could lead to health problems and this evidence includes such things, "Debilitating effects of obesity range from type-2 diabetes, stroke, heart disease, several forms of cancer, sleep apnea, hypertension, and other related chronic diseases.” (Childhood Obesity Issues

Obesity is a major public health issue. Obesity contributes to an estimated 112,000 preventable deaths a year. Obese adults are at increased risk for many bad health conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, and respiratory problems, also endometrial, breast, prostate, and colon cancers. Children with high body mass index which means obesity or unhealthy eating, are more likely than those with a normal BMI to have insulin resistance, high blood pressure, and unhealthy levels of fats and other problems. Obese children often become obese adults,

Childhood obesity is a disease where excess body fat affects a child's health or wellbeing. With the number of children affected by the disease increasing, it is important to understand the consequences. Not only will obesity influence a child’s physical heath, but it can also affect their emotional and social health as well. Acknowledging that obesity is a preventable disease should help lower the number of children affected by it. It is not about dieting; it is a lifestyle change that should be adopted and practiced by the whole family. Being obese increases a child's risk of being an obese adult. I will argue that parent education regarding the physical and emotional effects of childhood obesity can protect the lives of children.

In Union County, located in the Piedmont of North Carolina, like the rest of the state, childhood obesity and decreasing physical activity are contributing to multiple health problems. Over the last three decades, these health issues have continued to rise, causing younger and younger children to be diagnosed with serious long-term disorders like Type II diabetes, asthma, sleep apnea, and cardiac disorders such as hypertension. In addition, there is the opportunity for psychological and behavioral problems associated with social discrimination based on the perceived appearance of overweight children or their increased size in comparison to their peers. There are many with a “call to arms” attitude, but until there is a workable solution, this problem will continue. ("Health Problems and Childhood Obesity | Let 's Move!”. 2016)

With increasing developments in technology and activities involving sedentary behaviour, childhood obesity levels are on the rise as physical activity among children decreases. In conjunction to this, unhealthy foods and beverages are much cheaper than healthy alternatives and advertising for them is heavily aimed at children. Therefore, my aim is to reduce the rates of obesity among children in New Zealand.