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Childhood Obesity Research Paper

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Childhood Obesity Epidemic: Definition, Causes and Preventions
There is an epidemic that is plaguing the children of the United States of America. That epidemic is known as childhood obesity. Childhood obesity is an important issue because of the staggering proportions that this disease has reached in the past 30 years. Childhood obesity is also a major concern for parents, teachers, and the medical community with differing beliefs and theories on causes and prevention. Laziness, genetics, technology and parenting are factors which contribute to this issue, also peer pressure and social circles also create an epidemic of overweight or obese children. So the cause of this epidemic is not always parenting or the lack of good nutrition or exercise, …show more content…
Body mass index (BMI) is a measure used to determine if the child is obese and overweight. This is calculated by using a child's weight and height. Furthermore BMI does not measure body fat directly, but it is a sensible indicator of body fat for most children and teens. A child's weight is categorized by using an age and gender specific percentile for BMI rather than the BMI classifications used for adults, because children's body composition fluctuate as they age and differs between genders. However, BMI is associated with the amount of body fat, but it is not a measurement of fat, also an individual who has more than the average muscle mass for a particular height (an example take for instance bodybuilders-weightlifters) will have an elevated BMI but clearly will not be obese. So to actually classify someone as being obese, you must measure body fat via skin-fold-thickness measurement, waist-to-hip-circumference ratio, and neutral buoyancy (water displacement) and also the “Bodpod” which uses (air displacement). With these precise readings you will be able to rule if the child is also “skinny fat”, which refers to a child that may have the appearance of a healthy individual but is

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