The Role Of Physical Therapist

Obesity in our youth has been identified as one of the most serious public health challenges of the 21st century. (Lobestein). Overweight children and adolescents are more likely to develop sleep apnoea, breathlessness on exertion and reduced exercise tolerance, some orthopaedic and gastrointestinal problems, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and early signs of metabolic and clinical consequences, such as hypertension, hyperinsulinaemia, hypertriglyceridaemia and type 2 diabetes. (WHO, DENNY W) A major long-term consequence is that overweight children are more likely to become overweight or obese adults, with an increased risk of chronic diseases and early mortality. (BRIO FM)

Everyone has some link to someone overweight or obese, whether you have a parent, grandparent, or other relative, or just a close friend who struggles with weight. Or maybe you’ve struggled with your weight. Obesity impacts everyone in some shape or form. Today I will share with you the dangers of pediatric obesity and how it relates to the public affairs mission here at Missouri State.

The CDC defines overweight as having excess body weight for a particular height from fat, muscle, bone, water, or a combination of these factors. They define obesity as having excess body fat (Childhood Obesity Facts). The official “Let’s Move” website states Childhood obesity rates have almost tripled in the last three years, leaving one in three children obese or overweight (About Let’s Move). This is a serious problem as kids, but can lead to even greater issues in their teen ages and as adults. This means nearly one third of the kids sitting in our elementary school have a chance of developing type two diabetes, heart disease, or even cancer at some point in their

The terms overweight and obesity are compared on the website called The Center for Disease Control. The term overweight means that a person with a much higher weight being compared to other people that are his/her same height and to be technical has nothing to do with the specific persons body fat percentage. An example for this would be, an individual could possibly have a much higher body weight due to having an excessive amount of muscle mass. To put into examination, a source explains that it is more accurate to use the term overfat, when we are

In addition to these immediate health consequences, they are much more likely to develop weight-related problems as adults. Obese children often have risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD), which includes abnormal glucose tolerance, high cholesterol levels and elevated blood pressure (Bryan et al., 2013). In a sample of 5-to 17-year-olds, almost 60% of overweight children had at least one CVD risk factor and 25% of overweight children had two or more CVD risk factors (National Center for Health Statistics, 2011).

This increased prevalence of childhood obesity has correlated with a rise in serious health concerns, once only seen in adults including hypertension, hyperlipidemia, impaired glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea and asthma (Freedman, Srinivansan, Berenson, Dietz, 2007; Whitloc, Williams, Gold, Smith, Shipman, 2005; Han, Lawlor, Kimm, 2010). Additionally children who are overweight or obese are at increased risk for being bullied, experiencing psychological distress, mental disorders such as depression and anxiety and low self -esteem (Halfon, Larson, Slusser, 2013). Furthermore, obesity in childhood is a strong predictor of adulthood obesity and therefore a precursor to more serious health consequence throughout the lifespan (Halfon et. al, 2013).

In America, most of the people tend to drive to places, so people don’t get exercise on daily. Sometimes, children can’t exercise or do sports because lack of open spaces, and parents will refuse children to go for a walk in an unsafe community. Children generally like to eat food that contain high calories, fat, and sugar. Physical activity can help children to lose weight, it burns the extra calories and decrease total body fat. Children who prefer indoor activities, for examples, playing video games or watching television are always neglect doing exercise. Overweight and children with obesity are especially targeted by bully in school. They have higher chance to develop depression, low self-esteem, and insecurity. (Childhood Obesity Causes & Consequences, 2016). Over 24% of overweight boys have experienced bullying, teasing or rejection and almost 30% of overweight girls also experienced the same treatment because of their physical appearance according to a survey of six graders that are overweight (Stevelos, n.d.). Being bully can affect children’s performance in school or social events, in the worst-case scenario, children may not want to attend school or go out attend events which can worsen children’s social skills. Many people may not know, there are many complications result from obesity. Obesity can raise blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels which increase the risk of heart disease. Hypertension is also result from obesity and lead to stroke (Obesity Information, 2018). In long term, obesity children have better chance of developing adult obesity, which is associated with serious health conditions, such as type 2

The number of overweight children in America has increased at an alarming rate. Today it is estimated that more than one-third of children and teens are overweight or obese (CDC, 2004). Obesity is the result of excess body fat. It is difficult defining obesity in younger people. Research shows that children who are obese are more likely to grow up to be overweight as an adult (CDC, 2004). Childhood obesity increases the risk of developing serious health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes, and asthma (CDC, 2004). Despite the increase in public awareness, overweight children often are teased and excluded from social activities, which can lead to low-self esteem and poor body images. Bullying can increase negative feeling including anxiety

Physical Therapists provide rehabilitation for injuries and help maintain stability. “Some history of Physical Therapist formed their first professional association in 1921 called the American Women’s physical therapeutic association. In the late 1940s, the association had changed its name to the American Physical Therapy Association. Physical Therapy was developed when the association’s membership swelled to 8,000 and the number of physical therapy education programs across the US increased from 16 to 39”(“APTA History”). Although many people may think being a physical therapist is hard because of the qualifications needed, the daily work, salary, and needs of the service have drawn my attention to the field.

From birth humans are composed of 270 bones in the body. Throughout time the Human bone structure develops as one age’s. The given total from birth changes while growing , affecting one’s posture and joint mobility.Which Result in the need of specialist, Physical Therapists is responsible for helping to recovery body function and improving patients needs throughout life. Thus, becoming a Physical Therapist is to encourage and motivate patient to conquer healthy lifestyle, as well to achieve long-term health benefits.

Obesity is always one of the biggest concerns in the United States. Being obese will hurt children from many perspectives. I used to give a presentation about school bullying. During my research, I found that overweight children are more likely to be bullied by peers compared to normal weight children. Besides being bullied in schools, overweight children are also tend to have lower academic achievement, and more likely to hate schools. Moreover, obese children’s emotions are more tend to be unstable as well. The level of feeling loneliness and helpless are higher among obese children compared to other children. In addition, obesity can bring physical diseases, such as stroke, heart diseases and high blood pressure, etc.

Obesity and overweight involves disproportional calorie intake. In other words, it is eating too many calories and not expending it to balance it out. While obesity is

Obese and overweight youth are often teased and bullied by their peers who cause them to have low self - esteem. Children who are obese and have low self esteem can have overwhelming feelings of hopelessness which can develop into severe or chronic depression. Depression in children, along with adults, must be taken seriously because it can lead people not only to endanger themselves but to endanger others. Those who face obesity or being overweight tend to have more anxiety and fewer social skills than the normal average weight children. These problems more often than not lead children to act out and disrupt their environment, or to socially withdraw. Children who socially withdraw tend to wander off to themselves and will ignore or dismiss the company and companionship of others. Along with the physical aspects of obesity comes the mental aspects that permanently affect the mind and personality of a

Psychological and social consequences of childhood obesity are more complex than the physical complications. School years encompass the critical developmental period of body image and self esteem. It is important to implement prevention programs into schools as individuals who are obese during childhood are more likely to have poor body image, low self esteem and confidence than those with adult onset obesity (Cole, Bellizzi, Flegal & Dietz 2000). Friffiths et al.(2006) study suggested that obese children were ranked by other children as least desirable friends, this is destructive as approval from peers is particularly important to the development of self-esteem. Exhibiting the potential value prevention programs can have on increasing self-esteem. A recent survey revealed that obese children rate their quality of life as low as those of young cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy (Lüsted, 2008). The probability of being bullied is increased by 63 percent in conjunction with a negative self image social isolation occurs as obese children are more likely to have smaller or no social companions(Lee, 2009) highlighting the negative repercussion evident without programs aimed at the prevention of childhood obesity.According to the Commonwealth Department of

Childhood obesity is a growing concern. During the last decades, several studies have demonstrated the obesity-related morbidities in early youth. Today’s children live in an environment that makes it easy to overeat and to be inactive. As obese children become more common, the physical, mental and social consequences of childhood obesity become far more severe. Childhood obesity and its long-term physical risk factors such as high blood pressure, T2DM and orthopedic complications not only affect the current health of children, but tend to persist into the future adulthood as well. Additionally, the exposure to obesity will also lead to psychosocial issues, especially the poor peer relationship and social isolation. As social beings, relating