...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...
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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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...Childhood Obesity Introduction Childhood obesity has gained a lot of attention in the recent years especially the 21st century. Its prevalence over the last decade has increased tremendously. According to Wang and Lim (176), approximately 20% of school age-children in the European countries are overweight or obese with 5 percent being obese. Additionally, Wang and Lim (176), note that in North America, 15% of school age-children are obese, and 30% are overweight. Developing countries have also experienced an increase in the prevalence of obesity especially in the urban and suburban areas where the socio-economic status is high. Hence, childhood obesity is currently being associated with affluence and families that are well off. Obesity can be categorized into different levels. A case of severe obesity is defined as being greater 99th percentile of the body mass index for age and gender (Flores and Lin 31). In other cases, obesity may be defined based on the body weight/height. Thus, obesity in this case can be defined as being greater than 120% of the mean body weight/height value (Cameron, Norgan and Ellison 5). However, the body mass index (BMI) is the most common method employed in measuring obesity. The BMI is calculated by dividing an individual’s weight (kg) by the square height (meters) (Philips 14). Risk Factors associated with Childhood obesity A common risk factor is the presence of parental obese genes. According to Philips (16), parents having obese genes increase...
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...Childhood Obesity Childhood Obesity: The Causes and Cure of Childhood Obesity Patricia Harris Epidemiology and Applied Healthcare Statistics June 17, 2011 Childhood Obesity: The Causes and Cure of Childhood Obesity In the United State the current childhood obesity epidemic is caused by fast food industries, video games, poor eating habits and the lack of exercise. This disease affects adults and children in the United States (Evans2006). Obesity is the state of being well above one’s normal weight. Children are becoming sick and being overweight because of this condition. ( medterms 2008). Everyday one in four children (from ages 5 to 18) eats fast food. As a result, children are gaining extra pounds daily while increasing the risk of obesity. Child obesity from fast food consumptions is an issue for parents because of the health risks associated by obesity. Fast food products contain higher fats, carbohydrates, sugars, and calories than any other products. As a result, children of all ages worldwide are accumulating excess weight because of unbalanced nutrients found in these products. According to several studies, child obesity from fast foods is a major problem because children consume over 120 extra calories daily. Poor nutritional habits are one of the important reasons for childhood obesity. Television and Video games Another problem that could lead to obesity is playing video games...
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...Facts Public interest groups have become increasingly critical of the food industry. Childhood obesity has become epidemic in the United States. According to the American Journal of Business Education, “One-third of the population of US children is considered obese and two-thirds of the adult population falls into the same category.” A study by the Kaiser Family Foundation states that between the time periods 1963-1970 and 1999-2000, the percentage of overweight children aged 6 to 11 skyrocketed from 4.2 to 15.3 percent. (341). Many feel that this is a result of the food industry’s targeting of young children with deceptive advertisements promoting unhealthy processed foods. In January 2005, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated claims that McDonald’s violated New York State’s consumer protection act by falsely advertising the health benefits of its food. (341). Responding to the public pressure, Kraft Foods in January 2005 made a major shift in their corporate marketing policy. (341). They would stop advertising such products as Kool-Aid, Oreo cookies, Chips Ahoy cookies, and selected varieties of Lunchables and Post cereals in television, radio and print ads directed at children younger than 12. (342,343). In so doing, Kraft was conceding that such advertisements might, in fact, adversely impact the health of young children. According to Michael Mudd, a member of Kraft’s “obesity strategy team,” Kraft made this decision to avoid a decades-long court battle with...
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...Childhood Obesity Kendall Stubbs Western Governors University WGU Student ID #428887 Childhood Obesity Weight in children is a critical well-being issue in the United States. The overall life expectancy of Americans is declining for the first time in many years. Changes need to be made inside the home, in order for this issue to be resolved. The number of overweight adolescents has tripled subsequent to 1980, and the commonness among more youthful children has doubled. Looking at long term outcomes, overweight teenagers and children have a seventy percent possibility of becoming overweight or obese adults (Bishop, 2005). Childhood obesity has been one of the fastest emerging public health issues in the United States over the last few years. It is becoming a big problem and an important issue for a variety of reasons. To begin, there is a general lack of exercise due to technology; advertising and commercials for unhealthy foods that focus on children. Because fast food is cheaper and more convenient than eating healthy, it is becoming a more acceptable option for Americans today. Parental influence, along with the examples that they set for their children is another major concern to childhood obesity. Childhood obesity, television time, video games, and internet usage are undeniably related. Children spend approximately seven and a half hours per day with media. Four and a half hours of this time is spent watching television (Wethington 2007). There was...
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...Childhood Obesity has become an epidemic in America. Although it seems that the main concern with obesity is about external appearances, the true problem lies with the health problems associated with it. According to the CDC, obesity can lead to heart disease, type II diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, and some forms of cancer. Found in all age groups from two year old children to 50 year old men and women, obesity has been linked to everything from the popularity of computers and video games, to the decline of family dinners, to super sized portions of fast food.(Childhood Obesity: Causes and Prevention) Technology is one of the main causes of obesity. Media promotes all forms of obesity. Scientists are not sure whether it is the sedentary nature of television viewing, food consumption in front of the television, food advertising, or a combination of them all that promotes obesity (Finan, 14). Obviously, obesity is lowest among children who watch less television and greater for those who watch more television. Everyday millions of children sit in front of the television. Barney baby sits children everyday. The sedentary forms of entertainment available to children today are slowly killing them. Children and teens are exposed to hundreds of food commercials. Sitting and watching these commercials promotes snacking, and snacking promotes obesity (Childhood Obesity: Causes and Prevention). People who spend a significant amount of time watching TV sharply increase the risk...
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...Childhood Obesity Fast food restaurants should be required to provide or offer healthy alternatives for their kid’s meals. Having healthy alternatives for children’s meals would allow them to receive a nutritionally balanced meal even when it is necessary to dine out. Childhood obesity is becoming prevalent in today’s world and society needs to start taking some responsibility; starting with what foods that are offered when having to dine away from the home. Eating habits begin at a very young age. If healthy alternatives were available in all kids’ meals in fast food restaurants, parents would be at ease when ordering the kids meals for their child(ren). Growing up as an overweight child can lead you to wonder if even small differences in menu selection could make a difference in the decisions you make when choosing to dine out even as an adult. In this paper I am hoping to show the importance of providing a nutritionally healthy meal to children to provide for a healthier future. Dining out is becoming routine in today’s fast-paced world; the convenience of fast-food makes it hard to pass up on a busy day, but at what cost are people willing to sacrifice nutrition for convenience. The childhood obesity rate is almost 15% in the United States (Tom Harkin 2008). Childhood obesity puts children at a grave risk of heart disease, diabetes, and other health related issues that can affect their lives as an adult. Small changes in how fast-food restaurants market their children’s...
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...Children and Obesity Sharletta Guy-Pope SOC490: Social Science Capstone Raqota Berger June 18, 2012 Introduction Due to the growing concern and increase prevalence of childhood obesity around the world the population of children as it relates to childhood obesity indicates that these children will suffer even greater as adults. This increasing concern has become a public health issue and a social issue with children. Furthermore, research shows that the media plays an important role in the current epidemic of childhood obesity, which also has become a social issue with children. The increasing amounts of junk food and fast food advertisements, that target children and adolescents, have an effect on the outcome of their health and nutritional habits; these advertisements shift away from good nutritional practices. Food advertisements that advertise unhealthy foods such as foods high in saturated fats and cholesterol (junk foods) puts children at risk for high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol, both of which causes heart disease later on in life, which are precursors of cardiovascular disease resulting in childhood obesity. Sociocultural Factors Gender Society, culture, and the media send children powerful messages about body weight and shape ideals. For girls; ideas that are stressed in the media include the "thin ideal" and urging to diet and exercise, which can put pressure on girls to be thin, putting them...
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...Childhood obesity Childhood obesity is a condition where children have excess body fats and weigh more than the recommended weight in accordance to their height. Obesity and overweight are usually measured using body mass index (BMI) which is calculated using the height and weight of a person. According to Centre for disease control and prevention (Childhood obesity facts) obesity is a result of caloric imbalance that is consumption more calories than the calories body expends. The causes of childhood obesity are lifestyle habits and behaviors, genetic s or family history, environmental factors, metabolism and in some cases medical conditions. The most contributing factor in childhood obesity is lifestyle behaviors such as lack of physical exercise, unhealthy eating habits and or combination of those. In present day lifestyle habits are characterized by consumption of junk foods that have high calories from fats and sugars and low proteins, vitamins and minerals. Also children are now physically in active because of watching TVs, social media and playing computer games. The result of such life style is that more calories are consumed and fewer calories are used by the body leading to obesity. There is numerous health risks associated with childhood obesity. While some health risks are immediate others are long-term. The immediate health risks affect the child while still in childhood while the long term comorbidities will affect the child later in adulthood (lakshmsn,...
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...Television and Children COM/172 "Children who watch a lot of television are likely to: have lower grades in school, read fewer books, exercise less, and be overweight." (Children and Watching TV., n.d.) Based on research, there are many more negative effects that television has on children than there are positive effects. While there are a few positive effects that television watching can have on children, the negative effects seem to outweigh the good. Television can affect children socially, psychologically, and physically and each of these aspects are equally harmful to children. Television takes the time away that is needed for children to develop language and social skills. A child's language and social skills are developed by interacting with people, talking, and listening. Language and social skills cannot be developed or improved by listening to a television. Children who watch too much television are also at risk for developing anti-social behaviors; these behaviors include: stealing, bullying, and fighting. “The fifteen per cent of five-year-olds who spend at least three hours in front of the television each day are at a slightly higher risk of anti-social behavior by the age of seven.” (Collins, N., 2013) Although bad behaviors can be learned from television, there are also studies that show good behaviors can be learned from television too. Television has positive effects on children when they are exposed to positive role models. When children watch...
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...1 Preventing Childhood Obesity Childhood obesity is a very serious problem today in America. Becoming over weight or obese is the result of consuming more energy or calories than needed (Phillips 2012). Many children who are obese or overweight are happy and confident. However there are serious health and social concerns with being obese. By incorporating exercise, eating healthy, and getting enough sleep children can avoid being obese. Children today are not being physical active like they should. Most kids don’t even go outside to play with their friend’s afterschool. They are consumed with watching television or playing video games or with their electronic devices. Children are required to get at least 60 minute of moderate to vigorous physical activity on a daily basis (Siegel 2011). Physical Education in school can help children stay active by creating activities that get children involved more. Also children can join a sport that they like or even a kid friendly exercise class, just so they can stay active. Families should also encourage more family outing instead of watching television and also support children physical activity by joining in physical activities with them as well. Eating healthy can also play a major role in childhood obesity. Children today are not getting the proper nutrition that they need. More families are eating out and not 2 staying home...
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...Title Fast-Food Restaurant Advertising on Television and Its Influence on Childhood Obesity Author Shin-Yi Chou, Lehigh University and National Bureau of Economic Research Inas Rashad, Georgia State University Michael Grossman, City University of New York Graduate Center and National Bureau of Economic Research Introduction Childhood obesity around the world, and particularly in the United States, is an escalating problem that has received much attention of late. In less than thirty years, the prevalence of overweight children and adolescents in America has more than doubled. In the 1963-1970 period, 4 percent of children aged 6 to 11 years and 5 percent of adolescents aged 12 to 19 were defined as being overweight. The percentage of children who are overweight has more than tripled by 1999, reaching 13 percent. For adolescents, the incidence of overweight has nearly tripled in the same period, reaching 14 percent (Centers for Disease Control 2001). Finding the causes of this dramatic increase in obesity among children and adolescents is an important input in designing prevention policies. On the simplest level, weight gain is caused by more energy intake than energy expenditure over a long period of time. The problem of energy imbalance is not purely due to genetics, since our genes have not changed substantially during the past two decades. Researchers have tended to focus on environmental factors such as the availability of highly palatable and calorie-dense fast...
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...[Writer’s name] [Professor’s name] [Course title] [Date] CHILDHOOD OBESITY Parent’s lifestyle, upbringing and home environment is a major cause for child obesity. Through the past few decades, childhood obesity is on the rise and it now a very hot topic of debate. Like any other disease or condition, child obesity also has its factors. The most common and influencing factor is home environment. Other factors include diet, genetics, the lifestyle, culture and even physiological issues. Children have no sense of health and being obese. They are often unaware of the long term damage it may do to their bodies. The problem with our cultures is that parents are also unaware of the risks attached with obesity. They themselves do not keep a healthy diet. Therefore they are not watchful of what their children eat. Obese children are often those who become overweight adults. This is an ongoing cycle in which no one cares what the other person is eating. Obesity is the root of majority of the diseases and it often leads to death. So it is better to control it during childhood, when it is just the start. The children of today have a very different lifestyle as compared to our ancestors. It is the reason that child obesity is a new term and concept for the elderly people. Most of the day is spent in school. Then there is homework and computer for the rest of the time. The little time that is still left is dedicated to the television. There is no physical exercise involved in the daily routine...
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...right from wrong; their minds are not yet fully formed. Children under the age of eight do not possess the cognitive skills to understand the convincing and the influential intent of both online and television advertisements (Calvert, 2008). However, many children who are under the age of eight have been exposed to marketing on television since they...
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