Social and Environmental Factors Causing Obesity in Children

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

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.

Childhood obesity is rapidly becoming an epidemic in America. Children are becoming overweight from lack of exercise and overeating. A average US child eats fast food daily without exercise. More than 15 million US children live in “food insecure” homes which means they have limited access to the foods they need to stay healthy due to the cost of the items according to the Trust for America’s Health and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Children are consuming much more than they burn off from exercise daily. Due to children eating more than they burn off, they are suffering from different types of diseases. Researchers are still studying these epidemics. So far, statistics have shown that children are in fact becoming obese from not exercising

Why is it Sociological & Social? Obesity has become a large and dark reality in United States. For someone who does not have sociological imagination being overweight is the result of bad personal choices or genetic predisposition. (Crosnoe) Cultural beliefs and practices related to food and feeding vary among ethnic groups, and these differences may contribute to different patterns of obesity in children and youth, related to their ethnicity. As described in the epidemiological overview show higher than average obesity prevalence in non-Hispanic, black and Mexican American children compared to non-Hispanic white children at most ages. In boys excess obesity ages 2 through 11 compared to girls ages 6 through 19. (Kumanyika 61-70)

The increase in childhood obesity is a new phenomenon in the United States, childhood obesity is the result of a sustained energy imbalance. According to (Moore, Wilke, & Desrochers, 2017) only one in five youth (21 %) eat the required daily servings of fruits and vegetables. Another 40 % of the calories children consume are empty calories due to solid fats and added sugars, about half of the six popular foods-soda, fruit

Obesity is a health crisis amongst children and young people, which arises when there is a shortage in energy outflow and greater consumption of energy from food and drink; thus a build-up of excess fat is a result of this which indicates a risk to health (WHO,2015). Contributing factors increase in childhood obesity such as the availability of cheaper higher calorific food and physical inactivity (Marmot 2010). In addition the correlation between poor diet and obesity is evident from the figures released by the National Child measurement programme, which states that 22% children in year one in primary school are overweight or obese (Nutrition and Food Science 2011). Moreover, plummeting obesity in children is fundamental, as overweight or obese children are more likely to become obese adults (Bhadoria et al 2015) (Marmot,

Childhood obesity fast becoming a worldwide epidemic, and according to the Bureau of Statistics (cited in Browne 2012, p.20), 23 per cent of children are overweight or obese in Australia. Browne (2012, p.20) suggests that by children being weighed regularly by their doctor, just as they were when they were babies and toddlers, it will help doctors and parents to closely monitor their weight. Although obesity is caused by an imbalance of the calories consumed with the output of energy through metabolism and exercise (O’Gorman et al., 2011; Wang, 2008), the reason/s for this imbalance can arise from several of the 10 social determinants (the social gradient, stress, early life, social exclusion, work, unemployment, social support, addiction,

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.

This informative study is an attempt to inform and investigate the risk factors of childhood obesity. Childhood obesity increased significantly in the recent decades and it is a major health issue in the United States of America. Obesity is a big concern because of its short term and long term consequences. Since identification of the factors is the key to prevent childhood obesity, this research will inform general audience about risk factors which lead to childhood obesity. Childhood obesity occurs when a child is above the normal weight for his or her age and height. If a child’s weight pose health problems for her or him, this can be a sign of childhood obesity. Obesity results from little calories expended compared to the amount of calories consumed. This research will talk about environmental, genetic, decreased physical activity, and lifestyle factors that contribute to childhood obesity. Childhood obesity has both immediate and long-term effects on the health and well-being. The immediate effects are health related issues, such as cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure. The long term effect is that if a child is obese, he might grow up as an obese adult. Taking proactive measures such as choosing healthy lifestyle habits which include healthy eating and physical activity can lower the risk of becoming obese and having health issues. If possible measures that has been taken

Initially, children’s diets should be regulated, because these days there are too many children facing obesity. To begin with, obesity amongst children continues to grow and it needs to be stopped. Specifically, according to “Time for Kids; Obesity Rates Falling” from 1980 to 2000 the percentage of obese kids in the US ages 9-10 tripled. Obviously, obesity is growing at a much faster rate amongst adolescents so their diets need to be regulated. Additionally, obesity in children can be severely harmful at young age. For instance, being overweight can lead to problems like heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. It is clear that, if obesity continues with children like this diseases that used to only be common in

Recently, a claim was made that worldwide obesity has become a growing issue. The global population is expanding, as well as the weight of humans. Obesity rates throughout the world have increased, as 1.9 billion adults have been overweight and 600 have obese since 2014. A majority of countries have experienced an increase in obesity rates between the years of 2010 and 2014. Obesity is not just a worldwide issue for adults, but is also an issue for children. 42 million children were known to be obese and overweight in 2013 causing countries to fight against obesity among children. The increasing rates of

The problem of childhood obesity has been increasing for the past 30 years, many children do not eat family home made meals anymore, like it used to be decades ago, in this new generation children do not have the support they need or the motivation to believe that they can be on shape. According to the Alliance for healthier Generation. Nearly 1 in 3 children (ages 2-19) in the United States is overweight or obese, putting them at risk for serious health problems. This is a big issue that needs our critical attention. Consequently, the increasing epidemic of childhood obesity has been on the rise, some contributing factors are the lack of physical activity, the technology and marketing unhealthy foods. Our children are the heart of this wonderful planet.

Child obesity in the Unites States is very serious. Parents need to take their child’s health seriously and not allow them to eat too much junk food or to be inactive for long periods of time. Children must eat healthier and become more active to reduce their risk of becoming obese and having health problems later in their

Summary: This article looks at childhood obesity. First, they evaluate what the main causes of obesity. They state that obesity is the result of an energy imbalance. How when a person consumes more calories than their bodies need those calories are then stored as fat. This article states that “In 2012, about one-third of children in the united states were overweight, and more than half of those children were obese.” This article goes on to discusses health risks that are associated with childhood obesity. Including type 2 diabetes, asthma, insulin resistance, fatty liver disease and more. Obesity effects not only the physical conditions of the child but also the mental health of the child. Children who are obese are more likely to be obese

In the age of television and fast food, diet and nutrition for children seems to be severely taken for granted. We are now seeing the effects of fatty foods and a sedentary lifestyle. It is becoming more and more common to see overweight children or obese children. What was once unheard of in children is now a reality so many families live with.