...Childhood Obesity ENG 122 Childhood Obesity Obesity is a serious medical condition that is defined as an abnormal constant accumulation of excess body fat that are usually twenty percent or more of a persons average body weight, according to PubMed Health (Obesity in Children) September 2011. Children are the biggest targets of this deadly disease of being overweight. In the U.S. childhood obesity has been on an alarming high rate, which has been impacting the health of American people. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2004, childhood obesity is one of the most significant health issues in the American Society and the second leading cause of preventable deaths in the U.S. Childhood obesity is a very serious disease that impacts many children and should not be taken lightly, its time that people put forth the effort to take preventive measures in the cure of the deadly disease. More focus is needed to help prevent childhood obesity from everyone parents, guardians and the government. People need to be aware of the risk and consequences of being obese and overweight in children before it is to late and their children become one of those statistics. Therefore, everyone toward fighting this deadly disease of childhood obesity needs a greater attention to put this to the forefront of government issues. According to PEW Research Centers 2011, children and teenagers are developing diseases that have been linked to adults...
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...is to show the need for better public knowledge about the issues facing children who are struggling with obesity, with a primary focus on parental involvement. Parents need to understand the seriousness of allowing their children to consume whatever they want, and how much they want: We are seeing hypertension, heart disease, some cancers, breathing difficulties, and type II diabetes in more children today than ever before. Opposing arguments claim that it is not the fault of the parents; however, infants don’t have control over how much they are fed, and toddlers lack the cognitive development to make an informed decision about their food choices. Young children themselves are not to blame, so focus on parents seems reasonable. America is challenged with a growing rate of childhood obesity, and public knowledge regarding solutions remains inadequate. We can do a better job of promoting the issue by helping parents understand the seriousness of childhood obesity; the best way to approach this is likely through marketing. The Fight against Childhood Obesity The percentage of children and adolescents who are overweight and obese is now higher than ever before: Over the last 25 years, childhood obesity has more than quadrupled (Get America Fit Foundation, 2012). Childhood obesity is defined as a Body Mass Index (a measurement calculated using a child's weight and height) that is at or above the 95th percentile for children of the same age and sex. Obesity is caused by long-term...
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...Childhood obesity is a condition that causes medical and psychological issues and can be prevented by proper diet and exercise to protect our children now and in the future. Children today are bullied more than ever due to the increase of obesity. Society sees a story in the news about crib recalls or toys made with a product that is deemed poisonous or dangerous and we immediately throw the toys out or take the cribs back. We care enough of our children to take away the dangerous products that could hurt our children; rather, we won’t do anything to take away the dangerous food products that could potentially hurt our children and their health. This is as a deadly issue as the recalled toys. We all may think we are doing the right thing in teaching our children the proper food to eat, or teach them right from wrong. We teach our children to buckle up in the car. We get them the necessary immunizations to make sure they don’t get sick. We wouldn’t let them play with fire or a loaded weapon. So how could we let them consume food that could give them health or medical problems in their future? Today, one in three teenagers are considered obese. This tops the major health topics of teens next to smoking and drug abuse. Yet when there is a story in the news about the rapid increase of childhood obesity or television programs such as “The Doctors” or “The Biggest Loser” we change the channel. Parents today seem to avoid this issue because it...
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...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....
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...The Relationship between Television and Childhood Obesity English 112-0903B-14 Abstract There is a link between childhood obesity and watching television. Allowing children to watch too much television, eating the wrong types of food and not being physically active is contributing to the health problems that are associated with childhood obesity. Childhood obesity can lead to elevated cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes. Children seem to spend more time watching television, playing video games and on the computer than anything else. Children between the ages of 8 and 18 spend more than 40 hours per week watching television, on the computer or playing video games. Experts suggest that parents need to limit the amount of time that their children spend watching television and encourage more physical activities. The Relationship between Television and Childhood Obesity The greatest health risk facing today’s children is not a disease or abuse. It is obesity. Obesity among children is at an epidemic level and needs to be of concern to anyone who has children. Childhood obesity has dramatically increased in the past decades. (Wilmore, 1994). Obesity is defined as an amount of excessive fat. (Lohman, 1987). Children tend to be obese more today than several years ago. There have been reports that suggest childhood obesity is linked to the watching of television, playing video games, being on the...
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...Obesity: What can we do? Tracy Garrett Sep. 29, 2014 Obesity: What can we do? By: Tracy Garrett Professor Pearson ENG 122 September 29, 2014 Obesity: What can we do? Thesis Obesity is a medical condition where our body forms excess fat to the point that it is harmful to our bodies, young and old. Doctors have said that obesity is a terrible disease, like diabetes and high blood pressure. In this case, obesity has long term problems on our health. Obesity is the second leading cause of deaths that can be preventable, it not only affects our children, but adults are affected as well. As adults it is sometimes harder to get it under control, but we can do it and as far as our children we are the ones responsible for making sure that they stay healthy. Obesity: What can we do? Tg. Pp.2 Obesity is a very serious disease that people tend to look over, thinking that a person that is that big eats whatever they want when they want and their children are going to take after them. But what people don’t know is that behind every obese adult or child lies problems that will affect them for life and if it is not gotten under control then more serious outcomes will arise. As our young children get older the effects of obesity will shorten the length of their lives. Today in children, between the ages of two and five have excess body fat and already on their way to being obese. This...
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...Childhood Obesity: It’s a Family Issue Megan Ehrhart Statistical Concept for Research MAT 540 Professor Richard Smatt March 26, 2012 Introduction Parents are the first teachers in a child’s life. This runs true for teaching kids healthy eating habits as well. When parents themselves model good healthy eating habits along with teaching their children healthy habits the children grow up to be healthy adults. When parents are obese and engage their children in this unhealthy life style it is more likely that the children will grow obese and unhealthy and the cycle will continue with their children. Many children these days are allowed to have televisions in their bedrooms, play hours of video games, eat what and when they want and are not required to play outside or participate in extracurricular activities. The parents are doing the same things at home such as playing on the computer, watching television, cooking fast and unhealthy meals and not interacting in any physical activities with their children. All of these issues are factors in the weight gain of today’s youth and their parents. Parents need to take a bigger stand on healthy eating and exercise to prevent obesity. Obesity leads to many health problems and often early death which could be prevented in many cases. Statement of the Problem The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that obesity has more than tripled in the past thirty years (Center for Disease Control, para. 1). “ The...
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...Responsibility: Childhood Obesity Name Here Devry University Parental Responsibility: Childhood Obesity Obesity causes approximately 300,000 preventable deaths that come with an annual price tag of 161.3 billion dollars a year (Hojjat, 2015). Childhood obesity has become a worldwide epidemic that is leading to a multitude of severe health and emotional problems in children. As this epidemic has progressed, society has gone through many changes that have brought about new acceptable behaviors. These changes include an increase in single parent households and/or both parents requiring working outside the home. In return, 680 billion dollars a year are spent on meals purchased from fast food restaurants, resulting in higher caloric intakes ("America's Best & Worst Fast Food," 2014). Schools have faced budget cuts affecting their physical fitness and food and nutritional programs. Children's entertainment has moved indoors in front of the television, computer, and video games, decreasing physical activity contributing to obesity. For the first time in modern American history, today's children may be the first generation to live a shorter life than the previous generations (Hojjat, 2015). In addition, it is important to keep in mind that complications from can obesity can also decrease a child's quality of life. Figure 1&2. ("NSCH 2011/12:Weight status of children based on Body Mass Index for age BMI-for-age, Nationwide") There has been a rise in childhood obesity over the...
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...Parents are Responsible for Childhood Obesity Carrie Schyan-Watkins University Composition and Communication 2 (Com 156) July 3, 2011 Julie Miller Think about this, what happens if one day you are at an amusement park and your child cannot ride a ride because he or she cannot buckle the restraint because of his or her weight? This could happen to any child if the parents do not take responsibility for their weight. Over the past 20 years the childhood obesity rate has doubled and is at epidemic rates. There is serious health problems associated with childhood obesity. If a child eats healthy and exercised regularly than he/she should have no problems with obesity. Parents have the power when concerning a child’s eating habits and activities at home. Childhood obesity may be prevented if parents just open their eyes to what types of activities their children take part in and take responsibility for what they put on the dinner table. Thesis statement: Childhood obesity can be prevented if parents just open their eyes to what types of activities their children take part in and take responsibility for what they put on the dinner table. Parents need to take responsibility for their child’s weight. According to The Alliance for a Healthier Generation, each day you can take advantage of the healthy choices around you. Doing little things can affect your child’s health in a big way. Parents or guardians are the key decision-makers concerning the nutrition,...
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...Childhood obesity has become an epidemic in our country. It is for this reason that our children are the way they are today. The issues that the children and young people are having today are that they have to fix their own meals or order takeout. Childhood obesity is a growing problem in our country and it will not go away by its self. The way that we can slow down the rate of childhood obesity and maybe turn them around to be proactive. The fitness and health is our parent’s responsibility and the schools could have a big influence on our children. The schools have our children the most part of the day and this is the reason they should take the time to figure out what they can do to help our children. The way we use to eat back in the day was so healthy, now our children are having to eat fast food or microwave food. Another reason is all the electronics currently for the parents to let them do what they want. Just somewhere, they can be active. Technology in this day and time has made the lives of country so easy. People now a day’s ride instead of walking, email instead of taking a walk to a co-workers desk, or play the electronic games instead of taking the children to the park. Then when there is only one parent and they have to work. Well what are they to do but leave microwave or just eat anything the children want to eat. Then the parents come home come home and they eat this way to because they are too tired to cook. In the article “Why I Am Fighting Childhood...
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... Over the past few weeks I have had some close people to me have serious medical issues including death as a result of obesity. I have been going to the gym for the past few years to be as healthy as I can. I feel that health and fitness is a necessity to live a long healthy life. With this being said the subject of my debate is the following: Should childhood obesity be an issue that is dealt with at a more serious level that includes parents and schools being proactive? Obesity is a condition that causes medical and psychological issues and can be prevented by proper diet and exercise to protect our American population from childhood and in the future. Children today are bullied more than ever due to the increase of obesity. Society sees a story in the news about crib recalls or toys made with a product that is deemed poisonous or dangerous and we immediately throw the toys out or take the cribs back. We care enough of our children to take away the dangerous products that could hurt our children; rather, we won’t do anything to take away the dangerous food products that could potentially hurt our children and their health. This is as a deadly issue as the recalled toys. We all may think we are doing the right thing in teaching our children the proper food to eat, or teach them...
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...Parental Influence on Childhood Obesity ENG122 Kim Hartleb March 21, 2012 Instructor Mindy Hamilton Parental Influence on Childhood Obesity A sobering medical condition, called Childhood obesity, has affected children and adolescents in today’s world. Overweight resulting in men, women, and children who are obese is the result of “caloric imbalance” and are affected by various genetic, behavioral, and environmental factors (Dietz, 1998). The definition of overweight is having excess body weight for a particular height from fat, muscle, bone, water, or a combination of these factors (CDC, 2011). Based on research it is clear that the development of healthy eating habits starts with parental style, relationships, and how a family manages and functions that may help reduce childhood obesity. There are many health issues among obese children and adolescents that range from type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, social discrimination, and heart disease. All of these issues mentioned can be detrimental in self-esteem and depression. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 17 percent of U.S. children ages two to nineteen years are overweight (Kuczmarski et al. 2002) and nearly another 17 percent are at risk for overweight. The psychosocial risks in obese children can hinder academic and social functioning and these children are targets for social discrimination. In comparison to obese girls and boys to non-obese girls and boys were less likely...
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...December 16, 2013 The Solutions to Childhood Obesity “Over the past three decades, childhood obesity rates in America have tripled, and today, nearly one in three children in America are overweight or obese. Children with childhood obesity face many health problems like type two diabetes, high blood, pressure and are at risk for many types of cancers. The lack of children’s physical activity today is one of the major factors that lead to obesity as well as eating unhealthy diets, the increased food portions and the lack of information about healthy choices. Dr. Anand, the Executive Director for the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, describes the prevalence of obesity as being “at epidemic proportions” (Center for Nutrition Policy & Promotion, 2008, pg. 2). This statement was made in 1998. Since then, the rates of obesity have continued to rise dramatically and if we don’t do anything to stop it these numbers will keep rising. Many people think that dealing with obesity is only the parent’s responsibility, but what we need to realize is that it is not only the parents responsibility, fighting this epidemic has also become the responsibility of our schools and communities. Obesity education needs to be in our homes, schools and our communities to raise awareness of the causes, as well as the risks. We need to take action in helping reduce this health problem which is affecting more and more children each day. Parents and children need to know how to eat a healthier diet...
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...Childhood Obesity An American Epidemic By Annissia Y. Pate Is childhood obesity an American epidemic? The answer is yes. An epidemic is defined by a wide spread outbreak of a condition where many people are infected at the same time. Epidemic obesity is occurring all over the world. Children are eating less healthy foods and engaging in less healthy activities. Childhood obesity is not limited to any specific race or type of child, but obesity is affecting children in the United States. Today, American children are more obese than medical science recommends, and their body weight is still increasing. Childhood obesity has become one of the largest health concerns in the United States. According to the Center of Disease and Control, childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and tripled in adolescents in the past 30 years. Children are gaining weight due to lack of physical activity and types of quantity of food they consume. Kids today are content with sitting on the couch, spending countless hours, watching television and playing video games. We need to encourage children to get up and get involved in more physical activities. Lack of exercise is simply not enough for a growing child’s body to deal with increased caloric intake of today’s modern diet. Children must participate in gym class and make every effort to deal in sports after school. Parents must make a diligent effort to offer healthier chooses for meals. Fast foods, sugary drinks and processed...
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...How Can We Rid Childhood Obesity? Childhood obesity is a pandemic that has reached worldwide distribution. A problem as rampant as this is having a direct negative correlation with education and the way kids learn in America. “More than one third of children and adolescents are overweight or obese” (Center for Disease Control and Prevention). For the next generation to succeed and someday be responsible for many of the leadership roles that run this country, there needs to be immediate action. Childhood obesity has a negative effect on development on education, it’s time to start educating children on the many ways to make healthy decisions that will ultimately come back and benefit the education system and learning process itself. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention classifies childhood obesity as a disease and psychological disorder meaning that it directly affects brain function. A child being overweight is classified as a body mass index at or higher than the eighty-fifth percentile and lower than the ninety-fifth percentile for those among the same age and sex. For childhood obesity, it is classified as a body mass index at or higher than the ninety-fifth percentile among the same ages and sexes (Center for Disease Control and Prevention). One without any knowledge or background of public health can conclude that if obesity directly affects brain function, that it must also affect leaning in school. According to Juliette Kellow’s research, the performance of...
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