Obesity: Improving Health Outcomes

Attention Getter: “Approximately 17 percent of U.S. youth have obesity, and nearly one in three children and adolescents are either overweight or have obesity” (Healthier America).

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

Obesity in America is literally a growing problem, affecting every age group. Children are the most venerable group because they have no control over where they have dinner or how often they have fast food. Parents and guardians make decisions about food and are responsible for the health of children. Childhood obesity has more than doubled in the last twenty years. This is concerning because Type Two diabetes is a horrible, crippling disease that is affecting children and teens dramatically whereas the disease was primarily seen in adults. Children are said to have a shorter life span than their parents for the first time ever. In the United States sixty-six percent of adults are overweight and one in

Epidemiology is viewed as the fundamental science of public health and is key in endorsing optimal health in the community as a whole (Stanhope & Lancaster, 2008). Epidemiologic study and practice continues to reform public health and endeavors to prevent disease in communities across the world. This paper will address through descriptive epidemiology, the rising disease of obesity and will focus on the teen and adolescent population of the United States. This paper will also define and discuss the purpose of epidemiology, the methods of the science, the epidemiological triangle, and the relationship of the disease to various levels of prevention.

In America childhood obesity statistics show that almost 60 percent of children are obese. This statistic continues to grow at an alarming rate. 70 percent of obese adolescence become obese adults. This means when these children grow into adults they will have more health problems than they already do and their quality of life will decrease. The amount of children who are obese between ages 6-11 years old has risen from 6.5 percent in 1980 to 19.6 percent, in 2008. In adolescents ages 12-19 years old the obesity rates risen from 5.0 percent in 1960 to 18.1 percent in 2008. Last year the United States government stated that obesity and type 2 diabetes have become a national epidemic.

There is a new epidemic that is hitting America by storm in this day and age. It is a serious concern that can lead to serious health problems, social ostracism and, if left untreated, fatality. This disease is obesity, more specially child and teenage obesity in America which statistics show has reached an alarming 2.5 million for children ranging from 2 to 19. This teeming number is continually increasing and as a result, children are at an increased risk for diseases traditionally correlated with adults such as heart disease and Type II diabetes. Sadly enough, this can and will shorten the life span of children if measures are not taken. Now, there are many unknowns as to the actual causes of teen obesity and not just gluttony or

The United States is mindful of this deadly disease and the lives it has taken, yet little has been done to spread awareness and decrease the amount of sugar, carbohydrates, and fat in foods sold. In fact, America encourages unhealthy eating by displaying advertisements which convince the audience that the food will not have a negative effect on their health. A majority of these advertisements are directed towards children due to the fact that they are easy to convince. And this is a huge reason behind the increasing obesity rate in the United States because the decisions made as a child reflect those made in adulthood. If a child is constantly eating unhealthy food, rarely exercises, and is unaware of the consequences that come from the lack of living a healthy life, he or she will grow up continuing this lifestyle. O’Connor explains that, according to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention, seventeen percent of American children and teenagers between the ages twelve and nineteen years old are overweight (39). Unless the child is taught about the harsh reality of eating so unhealthy, it may be too late before he or she becomes obese. Similar to tobacco and alcohol, food has addictive qualities which are hard to change. Another factor to consider involving the obesity epidemic in the United States is the expense of healthy foods. This high price hinders U.S. citizen’s ability to pay for a healthy diet. One of the many low income mothers in the United States, Maria Gonzalez, comments, “When you only have a dollar to spend and you have two kids to feed, either you go to the market and try to find something that’s cheap or just go straight through a drive thru and get two hamburgers for them and say, ‘Okay, here. Eat this.’ This is what’s going to fill her up, not that one single item at the market”

The obesity rate in America has become a major national health issue over the last several decades. Increasingly alarming statistics have garnered national headlines. Current statistics place 68.5% of the U.S. population in classifications ranging from "overweight" to "super obese." Approximately 35% of all U.S. adults currently fall under the label of "obese".(Ogden, et al., 2014) Potentially more alarming is the prevalence of obesity in adolescents. U.S. youth are becoming obese at earlier and earlier ages. One out of six children ages 2-19 are now obese and fully one-third of adolescents are overweight or obese. (Ogden, Carroll, Curtin, Lamb, & Flegal, 2010) Between 1980 and 2000, obesity rates among adults doubled and tripled among adolescents. (CDC.gov)

Obesity is a chronic health condition characterized by presence of excess of body fat. Obesity is measured by using Body Mass Index (BMI) in children 2 years of age and older. The BMI is calculated by the body weight (in kilograms) divided by the height squared in meters. In adults, a BMI between 25 and 30 kg/m2 is regarded as overweight and a BMI greater or equal to 30 kg/m2 is regarded as obese. Obesity in adults is subcategorized as class I (BMI ≥30 to 35), class II (BMI ≥35 to 40), and class III (BMI ≥40) (Klish, 2016). It is associated with physiological ailments such as hypertension, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, various forms of cancer, and is a key factor in metabolic syndrome (Must et al., 1999). A marked increase in the prevalence of overweight and obese children and adolescents has been observed all over the world in 80’s and 90’s. Evidence from the US suggests that this upward trend has continued into the 21st century ((Janssen et al., 2005). The prevalence of obesity among adolescents in the United States

America is facing a rigorous obesity plague that is endangering the health of millions. Moreover, we are passing our bad practices down to our children. Obesity is a stipulation in which anomalous or excessive fat buildup in adipose tissue that damages health. Obesity is defined in adults as a body mass index (BMI) exceeding 30 (kg/m). Obesity is one of the most discernible, but until recently, most deserted public health problems. The present high pervasiveness of obesity and the brisk increase in pervasiveness in the last twenty years has been referred to as an endemic (Johnson SJ, Birch LL. 1994). Children all through the U.S. are getting fatter and less fit, through potentially treacherous enduring consequences. The figure of

Adolescent obesity has been associated with major health issues in children. Health professionals have identified the serious medical issues such as high blood pressure, adverse lipoprotein, diabetes, Heart disease, and several more. Studies have shown that adolescent obesity dramatically increase the risk of adult obesity. According to (Young 2002) 400,000 deaths annually have been associated with the rise of obesity. The rate of adolescent obesity has doubled over the past 30 years(Young. et al. 2002). (Stice 2010) suggests the increase of the rapid increase in childhood obesity indicates there are some psychological

Obesity is an increasing worldwide problem today. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that more than one-third of U.S. adults are obese (CDC, 2015). Walking on the streets, one sees overweight and obese individuals on a regular basis. A BMI greater than or equal to 25 is considered being overweight, whereas anything over 30 is considered obese; as a student nurse this is common knowledge for me (CDC, 2015). Patients look to nurses and physicians to be examples of good health. If patients are seeing obese healthcare work ers, this is their example. Health care organizations should avoid hiring overweight workers due to public perception of ideal health, lack of optimum performance, risk factors related to obesity such

Establish Need/Relevance: Obesity is spreading across the United States and is becoming a serious problem that can affect anyone. Not only is obesity affecting adults but it is also affecting children as well. According to The Gale Encyclopedia of Diets: A Guide to Health and Nutrition written by the authors Megan Porter and Tish Davidson, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Obesity is a major issue not only in the United States, but also around the world. It is dangerous, and it can lead to many health problems. Obesity can causes short and long term health problems; children with obesity are more likely to have risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, and to develop pre-diabetes. Research shows that, “In a population-based sample of 5-17-years-old, 70 percent of obese children had at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease” (Childhood Obesity Facts). Obesity is a stage in which a person is extremely overweight, due to poor diet, or the lack of physical activity. It is also a serious medical condition that affects children and adolescents. It occurs when a child is well above the normal weight for his or her age and height.” ("Obesity").

Obesity is a serious and growing problem among adolescents in the United States. “In 1999, 13% of children aged 6 to 11 years and 14% of adolescents aged 12 to 19 years in the United States were overweight. This prevalence has nearly tripled for adolescents in the past 2 decades” (“Fact Sheet”). A key cause for concern is that “overweight adolescents are at higher risk of medical conditions such as hyperlipidemia, glucose intolerance, hypertension, and sleep apnea. Also, overweight adolescents are more likely to be overweight as adults, and they are at higher risk of cardiovascular disease and