Nature Vs Nurture Debate Essay

In 2015, 15% of children between the ages of 2 to 15, in Scotland, were at risk of obesity, in relation to their Body Mass Index (Scottish Health Survey, 2015). For children, the BMI ranges changes as they grow and get older, as well as being dependent on gender. For example, if a 12 year old boy and a 9 year old boy have the same BMI, and the 12 year old is classed as healthy, it doesn’t mean that subsequently the 9 year old is healthy too. It can, in fact, allude that the younger boy is overweight. Obesity in childhood can lead to a plethora of health issues in later life, and the children are more likely to be obese or overweight in adulthood. The World Health Organisation identified some of the future health outcomes of being obese in childhood. These include cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, musculoskeletal disorders, such as osteoarthritis, and in the worst case; death. WHO has estimated that, globally, over two million people die annually from health problems associated with being obese or overweight (WHO, 2016). There are several contributing factors to a child’s weight, including; parental weight and activity level, geographical location and deprivation.

Childhood obesity is becoming epidemic in the developed world, and is a condition in which excess body fat negatively affects a child's health. There are a number of effects this has on children, so many that it has become a public health concern that has reached national proportions

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.

Obesity in both adult and children is a major public health crisis. Childhood related obesity is an increasing concern with respect to the health and wellbeing of a child.

Since 1980 the rates of child obesity have more than tripled which has caused a growing pandemic of childhood obesity in the United States. Out of all the young children and adolescents within the age group of two through nineteen about 12.7 million are obese. That is the equivalent of about 17% of America’s population that is suffering from childhood obesity. Childhood obesity is too prevalent in all American households. Childhood obesity is detrimental on a national scale, since it has been growing at a steady rate in the United States of children not reaching the daily-recommended physical activity, the absence of a balanced diet with overconsumption of eating, and more critically the increase of type 2 diabetes.

The causation of obesity is multifactorial. Genetic and environment factors play a crucial role in the involvement of childhood obesity and a superior role when combined.

Introduction: In 1998 the World Health Organization announced that obesity had become an epidemic in both adults and children. This epidemic is a major concern in public health yet many countries are failing to address the issue. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the causes contributing to this increasing epidemic of childhood obesity. There are many causes that factor into childhood obesity but I will focus specifically on genetics, overeating, and the lack of exercise.

After breaking down the components of the biopsychosocial model in respect to childhood obesity, the literature contained some strengths and weaknesses. In the past, heredity and environmental factors were known to operate separately, however research indicates that genes affect psychological and social factors, promoting the biopsychosocial model. The Human Obesity Gene Map, published in 1994 provided research regarding the origin of obesity to mutations in genes, disorders, obesity phenotypes, or heredity. This collection of specific genes is annually updated and provides current information regarding obesity. This is a strength to the ongoing research of the etiology of obesity and how it may cause other

Due to the rapid increase in childhood weight gain, the threat of obesity to our health, environment, and economy is enormous. According to the Economic Cost of Obesity, “The estimated annual health care costs of obesity – related illness are a staggering $190.2 billion or nearly twenty-one percent of annual medical spending in the United States. Childhood obesity alone is responsible for fourteen billion in direct medical costs." (Economic Costs of Obesity 4) Obese kids tend to become obese adults. According to Alliance for a Healthier generation, one in three children (2-19 years) in the United States is overweight or obese. There is evidence that a child’s environment has a great impact on childhood obesity. Children are being raised

Obesity is measured using the Body Mass Index formula, this calculates the body fat by dividing body weight in kilograms to determine if an individual is a healthy weight range for their height (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare [AIHW], 2004). Childhood obesity can occur from eating large amounts of unhealthy and high energy dense food and drink or a lack of physical activity or a combination of both, is then stored as fat as they are not burning enough energy, other contributing factors to weight gain include a child’s race, ethnicity, socio-economic barriers, environmental influences, the lack of parental health knowledge and guidance and genetics (Berkowitz and Borchard, 2009). Obesity has a strong genetic

Childhood obesity is becoming more of a medical concern everyday. With obesity rates up almost 10% since the 1970’s and it being the second leading cause of death in the United States it is becoming a problem that has lifelong consequence (Johnson 1 ). The cause of childhood obesity is more than just genetics, it is what influences the child from family and friends to the social aspect such as television. Although this is becoming an epidemic in the United States, there is still hope for a better future. Childhood obesity can be influenced by social factors and lead to severe medical issues but can be aided with the help of a lifestyle change.

This paper will explore and discuss the rising issue of childhood obesity by using published books and articles. I will explore five different factors that correlate to possible beliefs of childhood obesity. The factors that I will discuss include: parenting, education, technology, marketing, and the Fat-Gene theory. There has not been one specific cause to childhood obesity but there are underlying effects that can be harmful to children from 2-19 years of age. The

Research endeavors take great organization and diligence in ensuring that information is collected correctly and carefully. In the article selected, researchers collect data from both children and adults to create a bio repository for future research of childhood obesity. The following document will explore the results and opinions concluded in the research project, statistical findings, and other important information collected from the research project.

There has been numerous research on childhood obesity and many of them have offered ecological models that have been influenced by Bronfenbrenner (1979) and many others. Harrison et al. (2011) extends this model by developing the Six-Cs Model that identifies the environmental, hereditary and psychosocial influences that can be adapted at any stage from infancy through adolescence. In each sphere, the authors contributed their supports with recent studies and providing factors that has contributed to childhood overweight and obesity. The way they convey these ideas is by highlighting the important developmental stages that children undergo. A major finding

Everybody knows the child that can eat any type of food all day and never seem to gain weight. This occurrence has led researchers to investigate the role that genetics plays in childhood obesity. Not all children who are inactive or who eat poorly are obese, much in the same way that some obese children eat fairly healthy, and exercise moderately. Heredity has recently been shown to influence body fat percentage, regional fat storage, and the body?s response to overeating (Rush, 1). Children who have obese parents are 80% more likely to be obese than their lean parented counterparts (Buffington, 16). This familial correlation is contributed to genetics as well as the parents eating habits. Children with obese parents typically aren?t taught the correct way to choose when and what food to eat, leading to poor eating habits and eventually obesity. Many genetic defects can have a significant effect on obesity such as variable thyroid activity and pituitary defects. Abnormalities in any one of these regulators could be responsible for appetite abnormalities and weight gain. Furthermore, obesity leads to defects in appetite regulation, hormone production, and metabolic events (Oklahoma Cooperative, 4) that are responsible for further weight gain,