Society is immersed within a plethora of problems – one of which is juvenile obesity. Juvenile obesity is affecting many industrialized countries and is increasing yearly. According to Patricia Anderson and Kristin Butcher, authors of Childhood Obesity: Trends and Potential Causes, “ By 1999-2002, nearly 15 percent of U.S. children were considered obese” (Anderson). Knowing more and more kids are being affected by this trend is unnerving, not only in the present, but also for the future. Causing health-related issues such as diabetes and heart complications, the control of obesity is ever-relevant and needs to be addressed in a timely manner. But before a call-to-action enters the fray, the causes of childhood obesity need to be determined. If identified correctly, the causes of childhood obesity can be targeted and an effective plan make be implemented towards eliminating them. While childhood obesity is a singular issue, the broad range of it accounts for many possible causes of the problem.
One cause that has theoretically been associated with childhood obesity is that of genetics. Needless to say, the chemical make-up of the body has some of the greatest effects on the way a person appears, both inside and out. But the real question is, “Do genetics play a role in obesity?” With a general ignorance on the subject, one could easily make an argument in support of this idea. If genetics controls how a person looks, then how is it not the main cause of obesity? The answer to this question is actually quite simple. Obesity is an over accumulation of fat in the body which can lead to a glut of health issues. With that in mind, one must consume more calories than one expends with exercise and physical strain in order t...
... middle of paper ...
...s down to it, these potential causes for childhood obesity are working together in a negative manner and affecting society in the same fashion.
Works Cited
Anderson, Patricia M., and Kristen F. Butcher. "Childhood Obesity: Trends and Potential Causes." Spring 2006. Web. 09 May 2012.
Brown, Stephen, David Birch, James Teufel, and Viajava Kancherla. "Overweight Children: The Perspectives of 9-13 Year Olds." Research Articles. Web. 06 May 2012.
Moran, Rebecca. "Evaluation and Treatment of Childhood Obesity." American Family Physician. AAFP, 15 Feb. 1999. Web. 11 May 2012.
Dehghan, Mahshid. "Childhood Obesity, Prevalence and Prevention." Nutrition Journal. 2 Sept. 2005. Web. 11 May 2012.
Whitehead, Tanya D. "Combating The Obesogenic Environment: Helping Children Hold Onto Health." Online Journal of Health and Allied Sciences. Oct. 2007. Web. 08 May 2012.
Marder, William D. and Stella Chang. “Childhood Obesity: Costs, Treatment Pattern, Disparities in Care, and Prevalent Medical Conditions.” Thomson Medstat Research Brief. Web. 5, September 2011.
Ebbeling, Cara B., Dorota B. Pawlak, and David S. Ludwig. "Childhood Obesity: Public-health Crisis, Common Sense Cure." THE LANCET 360 (2002): 473-82. Print.
There is an alarming rise in childhood obesity throughout the United States, making it an epidemic in our country. Obesity has become a threat to the health of many children. Childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents in the past 30 years. The percentage of children aged 6–11 years in the United States who were obese increased from 7% in 1980 to nearly 18% in 2012. Similarly, the percentage of adolescents aged 12–19 years who were obese increased from 5% to nearly 21% over the same period.(Childhood Obesity Facts, 2015)
childhood obesity in the United States. In J.A. O’Dea & M. Eriksen (Ed.), Childhood obesity prevention: International research, controversies and interventions (pp. 84-85). NY: Oxford.
Today, approximately 25 percent of children and teenagers are obese and the number is on the rise. Since the 1960’s childhood obesity has increased by 54 percent in children ages six to eleven. In children twelve to seventeen it has increased by 39 percent. (Silberstein, 1) Childhood obesity is so prevalent among these age groups that it has reached epidemic proportions.
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.
Obesity is not a disease. It is a condition where our body stores excessive fat and affects our health or well-being. Childhood obesity is a major cause for disease and health risks which may be lifelong. Childhood obesity is becoming a threat to society because of its prevalence. Obesity reduces life expectancy. Childhood obesity is an epidemic in the United States. The number of obese children has increased and doubled within two decades. (Helping your overweight child." Pamphlet by: National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases, National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases, 1997, p. 2+.) The childhood obesity epidemic requires more prevention focused on the first five years of a child’s
Elissa, Jelallian and Steele, Ric. “Handbook of Childhood and Adolescent Obesity”. New York, NY: SpringeScience+Business Media, c2008.Print.
Schwartz, M. B., & Puhl, R. M. (2003). Childhood obesity: A societal problem to solve. The International Associaition for the Study of Obesity: Obesity Reviews, 4, 57-58-71.
Ponder, S. W., & Anderson, M. A. (2007). Childhood obesity: Practical considerations for prevention and management. Diabetes Spectrum, 20(3), 148-148-153. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/228647577?accountid=34899
Dr. Macnair T. Childhood Obesity. BBC Health News. Accessed on March 4, 2011 from http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/physical_health/conditions/obesity2.shtml
Institute of Medicine. (n.d.). Retrieved Jan 10, 2011, from Childhood Obesity Prevention Actions for Local Government: www.iom.edu/Activities/Childhood/LocalObesPrevention.asp
Childhood onset overweight and obesity and its’ associated health consequences are quickly becoming major significant public health issues facing America today. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) define overweight as a body mass index (BMI) between the 85th and 95th percentile while obese is defined as BMI above the 95th percentile for children of the same age and sex . The prevalence of overweight children, defined based on 2009 CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics data, has more than tripled in the past 30 years. Between 1980 and 2006, the incidence of overweight among children aged 6 to 11 years increased from 6.5% to 17.0% while overweight levels for adolescents aged 12 to 19 years increased from 5.0% to 17.6% . Not only has prevalence of child and adolescent overweight and obesity increased dramatically over the last several decades, but being an overweight or obese child puts one at a heightened risk for adult overweight and obesity .
Robertson, W., Murphy, M., & Johnson, R. (2016). Evidence base for the prevention and management of child obesity. Paediatrics and Child Health, 26(5), 212-218. doi:10.1016/j.paed.2015.12.009
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”.