Premium Essay

Childhood and Adolescent Obesity

In:

Submitted By theantcard
Words 1550
Pages 7
Childhood and Adolescent Obesity Every day we live our life’s ignoring a major problem. We go day to day and don’t think twice about the damage we are doing to species. Here in America we have an out of control pandemic of obesity, and it does not solely rest on the shoulders of the adult population, but rather a combination of the adults of America and their children. Here in our nation according to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past 30 years. This medical condition is among the easiest to recognize but difficult to treat. Why is this? Well it’s because of our sedentary lifestyle, culture and society to blame. The only way to repair and prevent future damage is to start taking responsibility for ourselves and make a healthier change. By doing this we can eliminate childhood and adolescent obesity, which can prevent adult obesity
Background of the Problem Defined by the Center of Disease Control and Prevention whom wrote about childhood obesity, overweight is having excess body weight for a particular height from fat, muscle, bone, water, or a combination of these factors. Obesity is defined as having excess body fat. Both are the result of “caloric imbalance” – too few calories expended for the amount of calories consumed- and are affected by various genetic, behavioral, and environmental factors (1). According to the American academy of child and adolescent psychiatry a child is not obese until the weight is at least 10 percent higher than what is recommended for their height and body type.
In layman’s terms, you become overweight if you pass the recommended height to weight combinations, and you’re obese if you have a lot of body fat. So it is possible to be considered overweight, but not obese because you can have a lot of muscle which we all know weighs more than fat. So by being an active

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Obesity in Children

...population that was chosen for this presentation is Obese children and adolescent. This paper reviews the risks and consequences associated with childhood and adolescent obesity. Although no consensus definition of childhood obesity exists, the various measures encountered in the literature are moderately well correlated. The paper is organized in two parts. The first section reviews childhood obesity sequelae that occur during childhood. These short-term risks, for orthopedic, neurological, pulmonary, gasteroenterological, and endocrine conditions, although largely limited to severely overweight children, are becoming more common as the prevalence of severe overweight rises. The social burden of pediatric obesity, especially during middle childhood and adolescence, may have lasting effects on self-esteem, body image and economic mobility. The second section examines the intermediate consequences, such as the development of cardiovascular risk factors and persistence of obesity into adulthood. These mid-range effects of early obesity presage later adult disease and premature mortality. The high prevalence and dramatic secular trend toward increasing childhood obesity suggest that without aggressive approaches to prevention and treatment, the attendant health and social consequences will be both substantial and long-lasting. With the recently documented increases in prevalence, pediatric obesity now represents one of the most pressing nutritional problems facing children...

Words: 1485 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Outline For Childhood Obesity Essay

...CHILD OBESITY IN THE UNITED STATES THESIS: Childhood obesity is a public health crisis that is reaching epidemic levels, and society must attack the problem at its source through committed action by parents and through government policies aimed at promoting prevention. I. INTRODUCTION A. Obesity in children has escalated and so has the obesity in adolescents. B. Obesity in childhood leads to health problems throughout life. C. Solutions to this problems are continuously being created and implemented. II. DEMOGRAPHICS A. The past several decades have seen a dramatic increase in childhood obesity. B. A third of the children in the United States suffer from obesity and some being overweight. III. HEALTH CONCERNS OF OBESITY A. Child obesity can lead to a host of physical conditions and diseases. B. Along with physical problems also mental problems occurred. C. Obesity rates has led to the diagnosis in children of diseases and conditions that had previously considered to be featured only among adults. IV. PREVENTION A. Prevention of child obesity is important to prevent a national disaster occurring due to increased obese adults. B. Parents have a very direct role to play in determining children’s food choices....

Words: 1552 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Childhood Obesity

...Childhood Obesity Shannon Rivera HCS/457 May 19, 2014 Lindsey Cogan Childhood obesity has become one of the most prevalent public health epidemics. There are serious medical conditions directly associated with obesity affecting children and adolescents. These affects can be immediate and are at a high risk of having long-term effects on the health and wellness of these children and adolescents. Many physicians and medical professionals are alarmed by the dramatic increase in childhood obesity and its affects on children. These children are being diagnosed and treated for chronic illnesses and diseases, which are normally found in adults. Some of the chronic illnesses and diseases these children and adolescents are being treated for are, high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol. “Children and adolescents who are obese are likely to be obese as adults and are therefore more at risk for adult health problems such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, several types of cancer, and osteoarthritis. One study showed that children who became obese as early as age 2 were more likely to be obese as adults (CDC, 2014).” These are just a few of the many health concerns being addressed and affecting the health of our children. Childhood obesity not only leads to these illnesses and diseases. We are finding that children that are obese tend to lack self-esteem, confidence, social and mental health issues such as, depression and suicidal thoughts. There are several ways...

Words: 520 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Childhood Obesity

...Childhood Obesity CuShena Buck ENG 122 Instructor: Jason Romero 1/23/2012 The topic I chose is childhood obesity because I have family members struggling with childhood obesity. I have found in doing my research that overweight and obesity in children are significant public health problems in the United States. The number of adolescents who are overweight has tripled since 1980 and the prevalence among younger children has more than doubled. According to the 1999-2002 NHANES survey, 16 percent of children age 6-19 years is overweight. Not only have the rates of overweight increased, but the heaviest children in a recent NHANES survey were markedly heavier than those in previous surveys (ASPE, 2012). Obesity disproportionately affects certain minority youth populations. NHANES found that African American and Mexican American adolescents ages 12-19 were more likely to be overweight, at 21 percent and 23 percent respectively, than non-Hispanic White adolescents (14 percent) .In children 6-11 years old, 22 percent of Mexican American children were overweight, whereas 20 percent of African American children and 14 percent of non-Hispanic White children were overweight. In addition to the children and teens who were overweight in 1999-2002, another 15 percent were at risk of becoming overweight In a national survey of American Indian children 5-18 years old, 39 percent were found to be overweight or at risk for overweight. Being overweight during childhood and adolescence increases...

Words: 1456 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Childhood Obesity

...April 17, 2013 Research Paper English 111: Cook Childhood Obesity: What’s Shaping Tomorrow’s Future One of the reasons American children and adolescents have gained weight over the generations is that children spend significantly less energy on a daily basis than their parents and grandparents did at their age. Today's youth spend many hours participating in sedentary activities. Additionally, we eat more fast food and vending machine food than we have in the past. Health, physical educators, wellness specialists, and parents can play vital roles in reducing obesity rates in children and adolescents. I will discuss problems occurring with child obesity and how we can stop this epidemic. Obesity is defined as an excessive accumulation of body fat. Obesity exists when total body weight is more than 25 percent in boys and more than 32 percent fat in girls (Smith). Additionally, the Center for Disease Control, defined obesity in children or adolescents as those individuals with a body mass index (BMI) at or above the 95th percentile on the revised Center for Disease Control and Prevention growth charts (CDC). Although there are many causal factors associated with obesity, research has shown that the environment is the most critical factor. Childhood obesity poses a serious threat to the health of our nation. Current literature indicates that obesity rates among children of all ages are dramatically higher than they were a generation...

Words: 2032 - Pages: 9

Premium Essay

Demographic Paper

...explored in this paper is childhood obesity in the United States focusing on children aged between two through17. The surgeon general has labeled child obesity in America as an epidemic supported by statistics that in the last 30 years childhood obesity has tripled. The two primary factors identified by physicians and experts in creating childhood obesity, are first that children are not receiving enough exercise daily and not eating the right kinds of foods. The combination of sedentary lifestyle’s and fast-food diets have created a whole generation of children faced with serious adult health issues such as heart disease, diabetes, and high cholesterol. In this paper the subject to describe child obesity and its general impact that changing demographics may have on the health care market. Also the paper will tackle many questions involving this issue such as why and how will changes in the demographics of this population affect health care. Identify two key health care-related challenges to this population, such as increases in health care costs, increases in prescription drug costs, or the need for in-home medical care. Describe how a chronic disease wellness program may affect the costs for this demographic, what do the demographics tell about the marketing needs or services needed for this population and how can the individual patient, the community, and society address these challenges. According to CIGNA (2011), “The commonness of obesity among children aged...

Words: 1162 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Obesity

...qwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmrtyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmrtyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmrtyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmrtyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwer...

Words: 1489 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Rlat 1

...A.Thesis Statement. Childhood obesity is a growing problem in the U.S and around the world. This is a problem that should be addressed at all levels of a child’s life. The best action that can be taken is to inform people of the problem, and to give them the knowledge to fight obesity in kids. The number of kids affected by obesity is roughly 20% of kids ages 6-11 today in the US (Ferry, 2012). Obesity can cause many other health issues within a child's life such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and also self-esteem issues. B. Annotated Bibliography Ferry, R. (2012). Childhood Obesity. Retrieved March 21, 2012, from http://www.emedicinehealth.com/obesity_in_children/article_em.html According to the above website, majority of the information given within the article is common sense when it comes to parents making the correct food choices for their children. This article gives many good facts about the number of kids affected by this problem. For example, “Although rare in the past, obesity is now among the most widespread medical problem affecting children and adolescents living in the United States and other developed countries (Ferry, 2012). In the article Ferry discussed how technology has affected the activity level of children. Furthermore, the lack of parental guidance has caused children to be less active. Instead of children going outside and playing sports they are inside playing on their computers, and watching television. About...

Words: 1931 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Cause and Effect

...Effects of Childhood Obesity A losing battle has risen in the arena of health affecting thousands, even millions of those that matter most, the children. This battle is childhood obesity. Childhood obesity is a growing concern in today’s society. Rising at extreme rates, one may call it an epidemic. The percentage of children and adolescents who are defined as overweight has more than doubled since the early 1970s (Marcus, 2003). With the vast amount of fast food restaurants and unhealthy foods along with the lack of exercise, obesity is hard to avoid. Usually the most delicious and easiest foods to prepare are the ones that are not so good for our well-being. Childhood obesity is formally defined as weighing at least 20% above the weight corresponding to the ideal weight for children of a specific height, gender, and age. 20%-40% over the ideal weight is considered mildly obese, 40%-100% over is considered moderately obese, and 100% over is considered severely obese. Some scientists classify children as overweight if their body fat is at least 25% for males and 30% for females (“So What Is Childhood Obesity?” 2010). Simply put, childhood obesity is consuming unhealthy foods and drinks without exercise to burn it off. None the less, it is extremely detrimental to today’s youth. Childhood obesity can have both physical and psychological effects. The physical effects are similar to those seen in obese adults. Some of the physical effects of childhood obesity include...

Words: 1019 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Healthcare

...Health Campaign Tracie Caffee HCS/535 Concepts of Population Health September 26, 2011 Jean Ha Health Campaign According to (Dolinsky, Siega-Riz, Perrin & Armstrong, 2011). Childhood obesity is one of the most challenging problems facing pediatricians today. The increasing incidence of childhood obesity raised concern in 1990, when it was claimed that obesity had reached epidemic proportions. It was estimated that 18 million children under the age of five, worldwide were classified as being overweight (Lawrence, 2005). Obesity occurs when there is an abnormal amount of fat (adipose tissue) accumulated around the body, caused when people eat in excess of their energy requirements (Lawrence, 2005). Approximately 17% (or 12.5 million) of children and adolescents aged 2-19 years are obese. Since 1980, obesity prevalence among children and adolescents has almost tripled (www.cdc.gov). Let’s Move! Is a comprehensive initiative, launched by the First Lady, Michelle Obama dedicated to solving the challenge of childhood obesity within a generation, so that children born today will grow up healthier and able to pursue their dreams. Combining comprehensive strategies with common sense, Let’s Move! Is about putting children on the path for a healthy future during their earliest months and years. Giving parents helpful information and fostering environments that support healthy choices. Providing healthier foods in our schools. Ensuring that every family has access to healthy...

Words: 1423 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Childhood Obesity Case Study Essay

...The Problem: Childhood obesity has been a significant problem across our nation for decades, and can be clearly associated with insufficient nutrition, health, and wellness. Obesity is defined as a body mass index (BMI) at or above the 95th percentile for adolescents within the same age group (8). The most recent data show that the national childhood obesity rate for those between 2-19 years old is 18.5% (1). This equates to nearly 1 in 5 school age children being classified as obese (2). The figure below visually represents the prevalence of obesity among youth aged 2-19 years by sex and age in the United States between the years of 2015-2016. Consequently, childhood obesity is a major threat to children's health in the USA and is "regarded as the most common prevalent nutritional disorder of US children and adolescents, and one of the most common problems seen by pediatricians" (3). However, treatment and prevention of obesity are considered the primary responsibility of the individual children and their parents, and public health guidelines and economic policies for the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity are often not taken seriously (4). The Consequences:...

Words: 449 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Childhood Obesity

...Childhood Obesity page 1 Childhood Obesity in Health Care SOC 101 Week Five Assignment April 1, 2013 Childhood Obesity page 2 Childhood Obesity is a serious health and societal issue. Rising at extreme rates, one may call it an epidemic. Childhood obesity increases incidences of mortality later in life, causes asthma and type II diabetes, which was only found in adults. With these ill effects, childhood obesity is an issue that should not be taken lightly. Over the last fifteen years, obesity in children has increased fifty percent. While the cause of this is equivocal, and heredity may play a role, there are some contributing factors. The media, parents/caregivers, and schools are major influences which are, to some extent, responsible for this astounding inclination of obesity among children. Though parents should not allow the television to become their babysitter, some often do. Children, who are the most profitable sector in the media, are dragged into the unmerciful pull of the media. There are countless television programs and stations for children of all ages. With this wide variety, children are able to spend hours watching television which requires no physical...

Words: 1413 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Childhood Obesity

...Childhood Obesity Shaquella Burnam ENG 122 English Compositions II Erin Schwartz Jan 30, 2012 Childhood Obesity Childhood obesity is a serious medical condition that affects children and adolescents. It has risen dramatically within the U. S. and it is an awfully serious issue, which might cause several health and social consequences which can continue into adulthood. There are several people who do not understand that there's a problem with obesity relating to their kids. This paper discusses the causes of childhood obesity, the definition of obesity, the cause behind obesity, and additionally the health issues accompany with obesity. What is obesity? According to the Childhood Obesity Foundation (2011), Childhood obesity is a medical condition that affects adolescents. Obesity is an excess proportion of total body fat. Obesity is abnormally great amount of neutral fat inside the storage depot of the body; Obesity has been made public as an abnormal accumulation of body fat in proportion to body size. Obesity also referred to as over-nutrition that is that the generalized accumulation of fat each beneath the skin and throughout the body. (Definition of Obesity, 2009) The cause behind obesity Obesity occurs when a child is well above the normal weight for his or her age and height. Obesity is when a personal consumes plenty of calories from food than he or she burns. Our bodies would like calories to sustain life and to be physically active...

Words: 908 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Childhood Obesity

...RUNNING HEAD: CHILDHOOD OBESITY 1 Childhood Obesity C. Kevin Barr SOC120 John Meeks February 8, 2013 CHILDHOOD OBESITY 2 Childhood Obesity and the Health Concerns Obesity is such a hot topic in America today and childhood obesity and the ethical arguments over obesity has greatly increased over the last 10 years. Health problems that occur from this deadly disease is something that no one wants to talk about. When people think about health, what usually is discussed is cancer or heart disease. Not many people really think about one of the biggest issues out there that is really not taken very seriously and that is obesity. In America there are hundreds of thousands of children that are overweight. Obesity is a disease, a disease associated with many other health issues, including congestive heart problems, diabetes among other physical and mental complications associated with this disease. We will discuss throughout this paper how one of the classical theories would help resolve the problems that are associated with the dangers of childhood obesity, then discuss the perspective of society and how it relates to relativism in today's world. There are many arguments about how childhood obesity starts, who's to blame for allowing this to happen and societies ethical and moral obligation associated with fixing the problem. Who or what is to blame for the...

Words: 1692 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Childhood Obesity

...Childhood Obesity Debbie Daniels ENG 122 English Composition II Paul Wiltz August 20, 2012 As defined by the American Association of Pediatrics, “Obesity is an excess percentage of body weight due to fat that puts people at risk for many health problems. In children older than two years of age, obesity is assessed by a measure called the Body Mass Index (BMI).” (Prevention and Treatment of Childhood Overweight and Obesity, About Childhood Obesity, aap.org) It seems as though childhood obesity is very common in today’s society. The increase in obesity has occurred since 1976-1980. “Among preschool children aged 2-5, obesity increased from 5.0% to 10.4% between 1976-1980 and 2007-2008 and from 6.5% to 19.6% among those aged 6-11. Among adolescents aged 12-19, obesity increased from 5.0% to 18.1% during the same period” (Ogden, Cynthia, Ph.D., and Carroll, Margaret, MSPH, Division of Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, Prevalence of Obesity Among Children and Adolescents: United States, Trends 1963-1965 Through 2007-2008, cdc.gov 2010). Being overweight as a child will result in health concerns that carry over into adulthood. We all know that it is important to eat healthy well-balanced meals that provide the vitamins and minerals needed for our bodies. This paper will argue that childhood obesity does not revolve around fast food restaurants, but the responsibility of the child’s parents to initiate healthy eating habits and regular exercise. There are many causes...

Words: 2225 - Pages: 9