Childhood_Obesity

Childhood Obesity Matthew Farrell ENG 122 Professor Denean-Cobb September 26, 2011 Childhood Obesity Childhood obesity is a growing problem in the world today. There are many health and social concerns for our children suffering from this, but what can they do about it' Research has proven that parental involvement can have a huge impact on childhood obesity. Based on research conducted by Anna Lindsay, “Parents influence children’s genes, eating, and physical activity habits at all stages of their life from infancy to adulthood” (Lindsay, 2006). Parents are important forces in preventing childhood obesity by promoting healthy eating, and promoting an active lifestyle (Lindsay, 2006). Childhood obesity carries many health and emotional risks that can negatively influence today’s generation. Parents cannot afford to sit here helplessly or resign to the fact that our children are becoming more susceptible to high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer to name a few (Okie, 2005). For example, one study suggests in a population-based sample of 5 to 17 year olds, 70 percent of obese youth had at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease (Okie, 2005). Another study found that the heaviest children were twice as like as the thinnest to die before the age fifty-five (“Institute of Medicine,” 2005). Lastly, a study showed that overweight adolescents have a seventy percent chance of becoming overweight or obese adults, which increases to eighty percent if one or more parent is overweight or obese (“Institute of Medicine,” 2005).This wealth of research proves that obesity is a serious problem affecting today’s society of children. Childhood obesity has the capability of shortening the precious lifespan of our future generation. Given this situation, it is vital that they come up with solutions to alleviate this problem, and it starts at home with the parents. Parental knowledge on healthy eating has been proven to be a solution for preventing the childhood obesity epidemic affecting the world today. A recent study conducted shows that it is vitally important for parents to demonstrate healthy eating habits, introduce many healthy choices, and monitor food intake at a stage where children are forming their eating habits (Lindsay, 2006). Another study recommends that parents incorporate healthy foods into the family diet such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins; while limiting eating processed foods like sugary beverages, salts, starch, or fat (Okie, 2005). Furthermore, the Bogalusa Heart Study analyzed children’s eating pattern over two decades, and concluded that changes in children’s overall eating patterns included: increased incidence of missed breakfasts, increased number of children eating dinners outside the home, and increased snacking (Okie, 2005). Several studies also suggest that breastfeeding offers a protective effect against childhood obesity starting at early childhood (Lindsay, 2006).When parents expose their children to healthy choices from an early age, children learn to enjoy and eat more of these foods on a regular basis. As proven, parental intervention can have a positive influence on healthy eating by implementing healthy meal choices and monitoring their children’s eating behaviors from an early age. According to Marcus Kiess, improving the knowledge and skills of parents to increase competence is critical in preventing excessive weight gain (Kiess, 2004). This comes down to time constraints where parents may order fast food, leaving children alone after school for long periods of time, and unsupervised children spending large amounts of time indoors due to possible safety concerns. There are many ways for parents to have a positive influence on their children’s lifestyle, but they have to be willing to work and implement these solutions available. Although it is difficult for some parents to drop their tasty food choices that may be unhealthy, it is vitally important to set a good example and lead our future generation to a healthy life. Fostering an active lifestyle consisting of sports, and other outdoor activities can help parents eliminate the growing rate of obesity in the technological world of today. According to the electronic book “Fed Up! Winning the War Against Childhood Obesity,” Susan Okie (2005) says “Efforts to reduce obesity levels by ramping up school physical education programs have failed miserably. Even when student are given intensified P.E. classes, most studies have found that they do not get enough minutes per week of exercise to have any impact.” The Association of Sports and Physical Education recommend children to participate in a minimum of sixty minutes of physical activity each day, yet surveys suggest that most children do not even come close to that amount of physical activity (Okie, 2005). Another study suggests that one third of adolescents are not getting the recommended amount of moderate or vigorous activity, ten percent are completely inactive, and physical activity levels fall as children get older (Lindsay, 2006). This certainly proves that children cannot learn the active lifestyle they need in their school systems. It must start at home with the parents. Parents can limit watching television and playing video games; encourage their children to participate in sports and after school activities, and suggest family outings like bike rides and walks with the dog. According to Marcus Kiess, many studies document cross-sectional and prospective relations between greater television watching and higher childhood obesity (Kiess, 2004). Being active as a parent certainly has benefits when trying to teach children to be active, but all parents can start somewhere and lead their children to an active lifestyle to prevent childhood obesity. Educating parents is a proven step toward limiting childhood obesity. For example, according to Parents’ Action for Children, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the interests of family and children, suggests that parents get involved in their children’s school wellness programs (“Institute of Medicine,” 2007). Additionally, there are other helpful resources that teach parents such as the Parents as Teachers National Center, which works to expand the knowledge of parents of childhood development, as well as the National Parent Teacher Association to promote health and wellness and prevent obesity in today’s young generation (“Institute of Medicine,” 2007). Furthermore, it has been concluded that most parents do not understand that the social context when a child is introduced to food is a large factor in developing the child because of the eating environment and being in the presence of role models that may be making unhealthy choices (“Institute of Medicine,” 2007). These organizations have proved to make large steps toward preventing childhood obesity by educating parents on solutions and daily practices. When talking about ways to prevent childhood obesity, it is hard to argue about the influence parents can have over their children toward preventing this epidemic from spreading worse to our future generation. As proven by many research studies, parents will remain in an important role toward preventing childhood obesity by promoting healthy eating, an active lifestyle, and improving daily activities for their children’s health and well being. The influence of parents on children’s eating and activity habits go all the way from a toddler to a young adult. This task will not be easy, but with parents taking these small steps now, we will prove able to fight this problem affecting today’s youth all over the world. References Huffman, F., Kanikireddy, S., & Patel, M.. (2010). Parenthood-A Contributing Factor to Childhood Obesity. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 7(7), 2800-2810.  Retrieved September 26, 2011, from ProQuest Science Journals. (Document ID: 2102389951). Institute of Medicine. (2005). Preventing Childhood Obesity: Health in the Balance. Retrieved from http://www.iom.edu Institute of Medicine. (2007). Progress in Preventing Childhood Obesity: How Do We Measure Up' Retrieved from http://site.ebrary.com/lib/ashford/ Kiess, M.W. (2004). Obesity in Childhood and Adolescence. Retrieved from http://site.ebrary.com/lib/ashford/ Lindsay, A.C. (2006). The Role of Parents in Preventing Childhood Obesity. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed Peacock, M. (2010). PHP 5 Social Networking. Retrieved from http://site.ebrary.com/lib/ashford/