Obesity in Children

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In the United States childhood obesity has become a huge problem. Obesity is generally seen as a straightforward condition. Many believe obesity shouldn’t even be considered a “disease” for a variety of reasons. Others believe obesity is as much of a disease as cancer or diabetes. Childhood obesity is a serious and common disease that is becoming more and more popular for children to be obese. I will make some clarifications on these issues and give some reasoning behind it. In the United States, more than one-third of adolescents are overweight or obese (Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2010), (National Center for Health Statistics. (2010)). Obesity is classified by an excess amount of fat and a weight 20 percent above normal bodyweight (National Center for

Obesity at a young age can be very dangerous (2010). Obese youth are at a higher risk for heart related disease such as high cholesterol, and high blood pressure (Freedman D., Zuguo M., Srinivasan S., Berenson G., Dietz WH. (2007)). In 2007, 70% of obese youth were at risk for at least one cardiovascular disease (2007). Overweight children are also at a higher risk for weakened joints, bone problems, and sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a disruption of sleep due to pauses in breathing (David A., Downey M., Atkins R., Billington C., Bray G., Eckel R., Finkelstein E., Jensen M., Tremblay A. (2008)). Children are at risk of having psychological and social problems including low self-esteem and “stigmatization” (2008). Studies show, children who are overweight of obese,

Are more likely to become overweight adults pressure (Freedman D., Zuguo M.,Srinivasan S., Berenson G., Dietz WH. (2007)).

Parents can help prevent childhood obesity in a variety of way. The parent shouldn...

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...3)). This classification isn’t recent for obesity but has been considered a disease as far back as the 1600’s (David A., Downey M., Atkins R., Billington C., Bray G., Eckel R., Finkelstein E., Jensen M., Tremblay A. (2008)).

The obesity epidemic has become widespread in our country. Now that I have broken down the different aspects of this disease, it is up to us, as a society, to help each other become educated about obesity and teach our children the side effect obese. The more educated Parent are about obesity, the more likely their children contain and eradicate it. I chose this topic because I am among overweight people. Another reason is because I have children and I wanted to learn how I could help them be healthy. For more information on obesity and the everyday risks that follow the sufferers, refer to the sources and the citation for evidence.

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