Obesity

The Epidemic of Childhood Obesity In today's society, Americans are faced with many critical issues: issues on health, career, money, and drugs or alcohol problems. One of the biggest problems we face as a society is childhood obesity. There are so many questions being asked as to why we are having this problem and who is responsible. Obesity or excessive fatness is a rising epidemic in the United States and in some parts of the world, at an alarming rate across all ages, race, and gender categories. No single group is immune to the causes and occurrences of obesity. Obesity affects 31 percent (one-third) of children and adolescents ages 6-19 years old (The George Washington Medical Group, 2005). Since 1980, childhood obesity has skyrocketed from 6.5 percent to a staggering 17 percent, leaving the adult obesity rate at 34 percent (Cynthia, Ph, Margaret & M, 2010). Making two out of every three Americans overweight or obese (Richard H. Carmona, 2003). To get a better understanding as to how this has become such a global epidemic, and see how this has increase to where it is and who is responsible. I will identify the major causes of childhood obesity, contributing factors, the effects that obesity will have, and what we can do to help prevent and control this epidemic. Major Causes of Childhood Obesity Obesity is being 20 percent or more overweight is considered a disease because it is associated with so many health problems. The medical impacts of obesity during childhood are similar to those seen in obese adults. Children who are obese, have a 70 percent chance of being obese as an adult and carry a much higher risk of serious illness than those of normal weight (Brownell & Horgen, 2004, p. 4). This is why it is so important to keep kids from becoming overweight and to help obese kids lose weight (Joel, Ph & M, 2010). Many contributing factors have raised concerns regarding both the physical and psychological health of our nation’s youth. Parents have such a major influence on the well-being of their child. They contribute to the possibility of obesity affecting their child by cooking and buying unhealthy foods. The Contributing Factors of Childhood Obesity Overweight children and adolescents are at increased risk for several health complications. There is no single cause for childhood obesity; contributing factors include: Behavior weight gain results of energy imbalance, specifically when a child consumes more calories than the child uses. Several behaviors can also contribute to weight gain. Emotional and social problems are more common among obese children than their healthy-weight peers are. These can include being bullied, having low self-esteem, having behavior, or learning problems often due to stress and anxiety, and suffering from depression (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2010). Nutrition: Consumption of high calorie convenience foods and beverages, more meals eaten away from home, and greater portion sizes. Physical Activity: Participation in physical activity not only has positive effects on body weight, but also on blood pressure and bone strength. Screen Time: Watching television, videos, DVDs, and movies on average slightly over three hours per day is a big culprit. Causing increased calorie consumption through excessive snacking and eating meals in front of the television, and this will decrease children’s metabolic rate. Environment: Several environmental factors that can potentially contribute to childhood obesity, including home, childcare settings, school, and the community. School and community settings are other environments where children learn about eating and physical activity habits. Soci-Demographics: Low-income families face numerous barriers including food insecurity, lack of safe places for physical activity, and lack of consistent access to healthful food choices. Recent reports also indicate racial disparities, with the greatest prevalence among Mexican American boys and African American non-Hispanic girls (Ogden C.L., 2008). With both sexes combined, roughly 21 percent of both Mexican Americans and African American non-Hispanics are overweight compared to close to 15 percent for white non-Hispanic. (Ogden C.L., 2008). With children from lower-income and ethnic minority families are at higher risk for obesity (Joel, Ph & M, 2010). The Effects of Childhood Obesity Approximately 300,000 deaths per year may be attributable to obesity, and in 2008, the annual healthcare cost of obesity in the US was estimated to be as high as 147 billion dollars a year (Finkelstein EA, 2010). Obese children may be prone to low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, and suicidal that stems from being teased, bullied, or rejected by their peers, and the impact of the mental and physical health of these children is long lasting (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2010). Children who have the lowest self-esteem also have parents who tease them about their weight problems (Landauro, 2005). Childhood obesity can lead to various kinds of health problems. The causes of childhood obesity vary but the risk of serious health conditions like type two diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, asthma, and sleep apnea, heart failure, liver problems, growth abnormalities (all once considered adult diseases) (Gavin, M.D., 2009). Obese adults are more likely to have these health related problems; heart disease, stroke, certain types of cancer, osteoarthritis, gout, gallbladder disease (Robert Ferry, 2007). Genetics play a role in obesity, which can directly cause obesity disorders such as Bardet-Biedl syndrome and Prader-Willi syndrome. Genetics characteristics may increase an individual’s susceptibility to excess body weight. However, the choices a person makes in eating and physical activity contributes to overweight obesity. The manner in which being overweight affects children depends a great deal on the children’s parents and the parents’ perceptions, and on the culture in which children grow up. Some parents and cultures are more accepting of a wider range of weights than others are. Preventing Childhood Obesity As with most conditions, the old saying, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," also holds true with obesity. Fortunately, in most cases, obesity can be prevented. Lifestyles and behaviors are established early in life; therefore, a focus on healthful behaviors is vital to promoting healthy weight. The primary goal of overcoming childhood obesity should be healthful eating and increase activity. Preventing obesity beings with understanding that the actual cause of weight gain is as simple as eating calories as the body can burn on a daily basis. Therefore, avoiding obesity is about maintaining a balance between "calories-in" versus "calories-out”. Physical activity increases the number of calories you burn on a daily basis, thirty minutes of moderate physical activity on most days can significantly improve your health (Robert Ferry, 2007). Anonymous. (2008). Nutrition health review. Haveford, 99. Retrieved from http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb'did=163020607 Awad, N. R. (2008, February 25). Childhood obesity: A rising epidemic (Lifestyle). Retrieved February 18, 2011, from Yahoo Associated Content: www.associatedcontent.com/article/810801. Brownell, K. D., & Horgen, K. B. (2004). 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