Childhood obesity has been a growing epidemic in the United States. According to a survey done by the National Health and Nutrition Examination in 2009-2010, it shows 32% of children and teens from ages 2 to 19 are overweight. Obesity is linked to many health risks such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension and overall lower life expectancy. Researchers have developed solutions to deal with the prevention of child obesity, for a healthy individual and also making society healthier as a whole. A popular idea practiced by researchers is focusing on the root of the childhood obesity. In other words, family influence is a major contribution to child obesity. What children learn at home about eating healthy, being active and making the right choices for healthy ways can also blend into their lifestyle. …show more content…
For example, what kind of meals is provided in the house and the types of preferable foods can influence what foods children eat. Moreover, these habits are most likely to influence a child's consumption of food and amount of. Therefore having a greater influence on healthy food choices at home and creating opportunities for children to stay a healthy lifestyle can negatively influence obesity.
Children have a higher chance of obesity, therefore, obese children and adolescents are more likely to become obese adults" (qtd. in Mirtcheva and Powell 1). As a result, adults have a difficult time trying to lose that excessive weight when they become obese. Given that, prevention of childhood obesity in an earlier stage with the increase of a healthy diet and physical activity is important to their future
With all of these factors and reasons for childhood obesity, parenting styles significantly changing obesity is unlikely. In “Childhood Obesity May be Linked to Parenting Styles,” the assumption that obesity would be decreased if parents were less strict about children’s eating habits and less restricting is not effectively proven. If the study had looked at parenting styles along with socioeconomic status and the specific roles of parents, this could be relevant to the obesity rates in the Unites States if performed in the United States.
Related to this threat, the chance of developing serious health conditions exists; these include orthopedic complications, hypertension, heart disease, and type two diabetes among others . An associated behavior linked to overweight and obesity in children is a lack of physical activity. Participation in physical activity as a child is important because it often leads to an active adult lifestyle. Physical activity may have beneficial effects on not just body weight, but overall health. Ultimately, if overweight and obese children grow into overweight and obese adults, they are at risk for a shortened life due to this disease and/or related ailments. Understanding risk factors and potential interventions for childhood overweight and obesity serves as a start to address...
Childhood obesity has become such a big problem because of the lack of parent awareness and influence on children to eat healthily. Childhood obesity i...
Childhood obesity is a consequential medical condition that effects the youth and adolescence of society. This disorder creates health problems that were once only seen in adults, such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Although childhood obesity is a world wide issue, the percentage of overweight children differs, especially throughout the United States. Today, the greatest population suffering from this disease are African American children who reside in the southern part of the country. Parents, as well as children, continue to support unhealthy lifestyles even though they are well aware of the life-threatening diseases caused by obesity.
It is imperative that society coalesces to help prevent childhood obesity. No child or parent wants to suffer through any type of heart condition or disease, whether it be now or later on in their lives. Experts have seen the rising obesity rate as a wake-up call to take the “epidemic” of childhood obesity very seriously. Because of the fact that childhood obesity is interconnected with so many health issues it significantly affects lifespans. Childhood obesity can be prevented and needs to be in order to ultimately save the lives and future lives of children.
A child’s eating habits begin with the mother. Taste researcher Julie Mennella, PhD states “We’re finding that foods eaten during pregnancy and lactation can influence a baby’s willingness to accept those foods later.” A mothers influence on eating does not end with lactation, she should continue to model healthy eating. Mothers should make it a point to not allow their children to consume soda or overly sugary fruit drinks, instead offer water and more importantly milk.
Obesity is a modern epidemic in America and is starting to become our society’s “norm.” According to an article in Progress in Health Sciences, childhood obesity is the most frequent eating disorder (Koukourikos). There are several factors that contribute to the childhood obesity epidemic. Should we solely shun the parents of obese children for this? No, we should not. There is not one single person to blame, but several people, along with our society. Family, friends, and schools all play a very important role in teaching children about healthy food choices and exercise. Children may have a greater risk for obesity due to genetic factors. We need to constantly remind our children how important it is to maintain a healthy lifestyle so that
Childhood obesity is a serious problem among American children. Some doctors are even calling childhood obesity an epidemic because of the large percentage of children being diagnosed each year as either overweight or obese. “According to DASH sixteen to thirty-three percent of American children each year is being told they are obese.” (Childhood Obesity) There is only a small percentage, approximately one percent, of those children who are obese due to physical or health related issues; although, a condition that is this serious, like obesity, could have been prevented. With close monitoring and choosing a healthier lifestyle there would be no reason to have such a high obesity rate in the United States (Caryn). Unfortunately, for these children that are now considered to be obese, they could possibly be facing some serious health conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, and some types of cancers. All of these diseases have been linked to obesity through research. These children never asked for this to happen to them; however, it has happened, and now they will either live their entire life being obese, or they will be forced to reverse what has already been done (Childhood Obesity).
Child obesity is a current dilemma that has become an epidemic in Canadian society. Although the outbreak of cases of child obesity can be analyzed from a medical perspective, it should also be analyzed critically and sociologically to have a variety of perspectives from different sources. A critical sociological analysis of obesity requires the use of both past and present data regarding child obesity, along with discussing the implications of child obesity and relevant sociological theories and concepts for analysis. Using this information, it becomes clear that child obesity is a modern crisis that needs much more attention.
The parents have the accessibility of healthy versus junk foods and availability of physical activity equipment. Children view their parents as healthy adults and model for healthy eating or exercise for their kids help implant in them positive eating habits and healthy lifestyle. Also limiting access to junk foods at home and parents’ support for family meals increases the amounts of healthy foods kids eat. Thus, concluding that a healthy home environment and parental role modeling are important to promote healthy behaviors in children.
...ype of food they are eating. Home is the primary food source for children and that where children should learn on the type of food to eat. Children that know what food are good for their body can benefit them a lot. Knowing the type of food can help them be healthier in life and will not have any health conditions because of the food choices they make. In my perspective I believe that parent should take inconsideration of what food they give to their children and also the weight of their children. It will benefit them in many different ways and will save them money by not taking them to the hospital for health problems. Everyone should be more aware of children being obese because if everyone took part on helping their kids be more healthy it would make a different not just on the type of foods but also just being active can make a difference in their children lives.
Childhood obesity is a serious medical problem that affects children. Obesity is a medical term, commonly defined as being extremely overweight, which is only half the case. (www.wikipedia.com) Many parent’s ask if their child is obese, or at risk of becoming overweight, and they ask what to do about it. MD, Dennis Clements tells parents: “Obesity is a family event, not an individual event”.
Research shows “the prevalence of obesity among U.S. preschoolers has doubled in recent decades” (May 629). This is not surprising because we live in a “fast food” world where convenience is king. Where the television is the babysitter, and staying indoors to play video games is preferred to playing outside. So is this the child’s fault? Sometimes, but it is my opinion that parents are mainly to blame for childhood obesity because they are the ones that buy the groceries, set the television limits, and rely on fast food to feed their children.
In the Influence of the Home Environment on the Development of Obesity in Children, Strauss and Knight (1999) examined how different home environment and socioeconomic factors play a role in the development of obesity in children since obesity is a health issue that many children face. They recognized that while the link between a child’s home environment and the development of obesity has been established, the number of studies to determine the extent of that link is small. In a study of their own, Strauss and Knight (1999) looked at the development of obesity in 0 to 8-year-old children of normal weight enrolled in the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth. Factors such as role of race, marital status, maternal
...thy eating habits and the importunacy of exercising may make a difference in their lives and maybe they will teach their parents the same things. Children do influence their parents, so it could make a difference in the home of making better choices for snacks that they choose to eat. We as parents need to encourage our children to get exercise by riding their bikes, going for walks, or playing some type of sport activity. So many children now days stay inside and eat unhealthy foods and play video games. That is why obesity is getting out of control and where the risk factors start to come in to play. Take the time to make good choices in our food selections and getting the right amount of exercise that we need, because it can help decrease the chances we may have of getting any of these diseases.