The Problem Of Childhood Obesity In The United States

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

Research has shown an ethnic and racial disparity in the frequency of childhood overweight and obesity. Specifically, minority children face a disproportionately higher chance of obesity; Taveras, Gillman, Kleinman, Rich-Edwards, and Rifas-Shiman agree: “…many risk factors for child obesity are more prevalent among black and Hispanic children than among white children (p. 693). ” They go on to write that additional variables affecting those two minority groups include belonging to a lower socioeconomic class, sleeping less than their white counterparts, and a greater likelihood of consuming sugar-sweetened beverages and fast food after age two .

Cookie Monster sang about cookies and sweets for over 30 years and some say that was a

Obesity has been a problem for many Americans. People miss out on most of life because of obesity. They can’t move, they can hardly breathe, and some people even die early because of obesity. Obesity in adults is difficult enough. But, what could be worse than adult obesity? Well, childhood obesity definitely earns the top spot.

Childhood obesity remains a chief public health concern nowadays. During the past two decades, the prevalence of obesity among children has increased 47% globally (Brown et al., 2016). The risk associated with childhood obesity including hypertension, dyslipidemia, glucose intolerance as well as mental and emotional illnesses. Individuals who are obese during childhood are more likely to become obese during adulthood. When obesity continues into adolescence and adulthood, individuals are at risks of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, stroke, coronary vascular disease, and cancer. Obesity disproportionately affects children from ethnic minorities. Approximately one out of six US children are overweight

Childhood obesity is becoming one of the top public health concerns in the United States. “Over the past three decades, childhood obesity rates have tripled in the U.S., and today, the country has some of the highest obesity rates in the world: one out of six children is obese, and one out of three children is overweight or obese” (World Health Organization, 2015). With the drastic increase in obese children over the last 30 years and the huge healthcare associated costs many programs and incentives have been implemented to fight this epidemic. Although any child can become obese “racial and ethnic inequities persist among children; 22.5 percent of Latino children and 20.2 percent of Black children are obese, compared to 14.1 percent of

adults (Paxson). These situations are tough for adults and are even harder for youths to endure. If

Childhood obesity has quickly became one of the biggest health issues in America. Without correctly addressing the source of this problem, it will not be solved. It is important that America begins to categorize this issue like it is, as child abuse. The government should intervene in incidents where childhood obesity becomes an issue because it can cause long term health consequences, economic financial costs, and early depression. An important factor in finding the solution is to know that the nation has not always suffered from this epidemic.

Childhood obesity has become a prevalent disease in America. The Center for Disease Control says that obesity in children aged 6-19 has more than tripled since 1970. Obesity is a gateway disease; a disease that leads to many other diseases, type 2 diabetes and heart disease are just a couple of examples. The problem is children in America are not learning how to live healthy balanced lifestyles. The goal at One Step at a Time is to change how fitness and health are viewed today. One Step at a Time teaches children new and creative ways to possess healthier and happier lives. One Step developed a program to help these children because they are the future of America, they deserve to be aware of how to make healthier choices, and they deserve

In the recent years, the issue of childhood obesity has gained major attention in the United States especially in the 21st century. The percentage of obesity has raised tremendously within the last decade. In a recent news article, American Obesity Rates Are on the Rise, Maggie Fox states “about 28 percent of the people in America admits that they are obese.” The United States has become the country with the highest rate of obesity in the world. Besides adults who are obese, obesity is also a common issue to children and teenagers. Childhood is an important period when parents help their child avoid being obese. Eating habits during childhood can have an impact on a person as they age. Children in the U.S who are obese, will most likely develop a higher risk of having medical issue. According to the website, letsmove.gov, children who are obese, could cause to wide range of health issues such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol, high glucose levels, and more. Also, children who are obese at a young age, are likely to remain obese in adulthood. The establishment of the bill, H.R. 2627 Salad Bars in Schools Expansion Act, could reduce the percentage of obese children by providing salad bars during lunch times. This exposure to healthy eating habits can help children to maintain a healthy lifestyle and to avoid future health issues.

Childhood obesity has been a constant debate topic in the United States for several decades. Obesity is defined as a condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent it may have an adverse effect on health and reduce life expectancy (WHO, 2011). About 1 in every 6 American children is considered overweight or obese. Under current obesity guidelines by using the body mass index measurement (BMI) for age percentile, a BMI of below 18.5 is considered underweight, normal weight (BMI of 18.5 to 24.9), overweight (BMI of 25.0 to 29.9) and obese is a BMI that is higher than 30 for children of the same age and sex. Some experts believe that parents should be held liable and prosecuted if their children become morbidly obese. Others argue that this is not the best action to take against parents because other factors affect childhood obesity.

Junk food is becoming a problem in many countries in the world, specifically one of them being the United States, in which the health of children doesn’t exactly seem like top priority. While it is true that banning junk food in schools limits the children’s choices in what they buy, this decision can remove a substantial factor to childhood obesity, provide a healthier lifestyle, and reduces the spending of the student. If these snacks are removed from schools and/or banned, it would decrease school spending, lessen the calories the children would intake, and make it easier for children to lead robust lives without snacks. Not only could there be a more efficient way to make money through the use of healthier, alternative options, but

Obesity is considered to be the significant health problem in the United States affecting children and adults. It occurs when a child is well above the normal or healthy weight for his or her age and height. The main causes of excess weight in youth are similar to those in adults, including individual causes such as behavior and genetics. Different behaviors include dietary patterns, medication use, physical inactivity, and other exposures. Additional contributing factors in society include the food and physical activity environment, education and skills, and food marketing and promotion. Childhood obesity is a significant health problem in the United States. Although there was slight decrease in the rate of prevalence among preschool-aged children, obesity among children is still high. For children and adolescents aged 2-19 years, the prevalence of obesity has remained fairly stable at about 17% and affects about 12.7 million children and adolescents for the past decade (Ogden, Carroll, Kit & Flegal, 2014). Approximately 17% (or 12.7 million) of children and adolescents aged from 2 to 19 years are obese (Ogden, Carroll, Kit & Flegal, 2014). The prevalence of obesity among children aged 2 to 5 years decreased significantly from 13.9% in 2003-2004 to 8.4% in 2011-2012 (Ogden, Carroll, Kit & Flegal, 2014). In 2011-2012, the prevalence among children and adolescents was higher among Hispanics (22.4%) and non-Hispanic blacks (20.2%) than among non-Hispanic whites (14.1%)(Ogden,

Childhood obesity is associated with a poor diet and lack of physical exercise. Determining the level of a healthy weight in children is calculated by using a growth chart, such as the standard growth chart developed by the Center for Disease Control. An accurate assessment is easily determined by measuring the weight and height of a child. Body Mass Index, or BMI, is also used to further determine a healthy weight for an individual. Once the determination is made by measurement, it is necessary to consider other factors such as the type of diet and exercise that is practiced. It is imperative that a diet be well rounded and not overloaded with starches, fats, and sugars and a minimum of 120 minutes of physical exercise take place on a daily basis. There are many health issues that are associated with overweight and obese children, but luckily there are methods to stop this problem. As Ezzeldin Aly states in “Childhood Obesity in the United States of America”, the solution to childhood obesity is the community and education. An overweight child’s “community” plays an important part in their general health. This community consists of: parents, family, doctors and teachers. It is in these relationships that diet education and physical activity are developed. Childhood obesity continues to grow at an alarming rate in the United States potentially causing long-term health issues but can be reversed by incorporating a healthy diet and physical

Adolescents that belong to minority ethnic groups such as African American, American Indian and Hispanic/Latino have the greatest risk factor of being obese. Also children, who do not get adequate physical activity, have unhealthy eating habits, low socioeconomic status, sometimes genetics or a combination of all these factors. Obesity threatens the health and welfare of millions of children and adolescents, particularly the estimated 4%-7% of youth who are considered severely obese (Inge et al, 2013).