Are Parents to Blame for Childhood Obesity?

1482 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Childhood obesity and parental responsibility

Childhood obesity is an epidemic in the United States. One out of five children in the U.S. are obese. In fact, “Approximately 17% (or 12.5 million) of children and adolescents aged 2—19 years are obese ("Obesity rates among," 2011). The childhood obesity rates have steadily risen since 1980 and many children are now suffering from what were once thought of as adult illnesses, such as elevated cholesterol levels, hypertension, arthritis, and diabetes. Several internal and external factors contribute to childhood obesity; however, many people believe that parents are primarily to blame for obese children and adolescents. On the other hand, medical professionals and sociologists have studied the consistent decline in physical activity and external societal influences that help to contribute to childhood obesity.

Childhood obesity is comprised of several internal components. It is commonly believed that obesity is caused by a gene produced during the perinatal stage of human development that increases the likelihood of weight gain in children. The perinatal phase of development occurs, “from the twentieth week of gestation to the twenty-eighth day of newborn life” ("Perinatal,"). In fact, “predisposition to obesity seems to be caused by a complex interaction between at least 250 obesity-associated genes and, perhaps, perinatal factors” (Ebbeling, Pawlak & Ludwig, 2002). In addition to genetic factors for obesity, children who are bottle fed have a higher tendency to be overweight or obese than their counterparts who are breastfed. “The explanation for this finding could relate to permanent physiological changes caused by some intrinsic factor unique to human milk or to psychological factors, such as locus of control over feeding ra...

... middle of paper ...

....x/pdf

Reilly, J. J. (2007). Childhood obesity: An overview. Children & Society, 21(5), 390-396. Retrieved from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1099-0860.2007.00092.x/pdf

Obesity rates among all children in the united states. (2011, April 21). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/childhood/data.html

Ebbeling, C. B., Pawlak, D. B., & Ludwig, D. S. (2002). Childhood obesity: public-health crisis, common sense cure. The Lancet, 360, 473-482. Retrieved from http://www.commercialalert.org/childhoodobesity.pdf

Perinatal. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/perinatal

Sealy, PhDMPH, Y. M., & Farmer PhD, G. L. (2011). Parents' stage of change for diet and physical activity: Influence on childhood obesity. Social Work in Health Care, 50(4), 274-291. Retrieved from http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00981389.2010.529384

Show More
Related

  • Should Parents Lose Custody of Extremely Obese Kids?

    1874 Words  | 4 Pages

    In the recent decades, obesity has grown into a major health issue in the United States within young people. With 31 percent of the United States of children being obese, the United States has become the country with the highest rate of obesity in the world. Obesity is not only found among adults, but it is also now found mainly among children and teenagers. The childhood is a very important period for the initiation of obesity especially in this time. Eating practices that children are taught or learn during childhood affects a person later in their life whether they know or not. Multiple studies have confirmed that childhood obesity in the U.S has been on a rise for years. One out of three children in the U.S are obese, most of them face a higher risk of having medical, social and academic problems. Childhood obesity also leads to many health problems among young people. Those problems include diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and many more others. These problems cause a rise in health care costs that their families might have to pay sooner or later. The influence of parents and the media play a big role in causing these problems to happen. Some people believe that a family with an obese child should not raise child protection concerns if obesity is the only cause for concern (Callaghan, 2010). However, doctors should always be mindful of the possible role of abuse or neglect in contributing to obesity. The result of some research that was done on the symptoms of neglect shows a clear correlation between childhood abuse and obesity in childhood. A study of American school children has found that after controlling for socioeconomic status, those who were physically abused were more likely to be obese (Callaghan, 201...

    Read More

  • Parents of Obese Children and Charges of Child Abuse

    1880 Words  | 4 Pages

    Viner, Russell M and Tim J Cole. “Adult Socioeconomic, Educational, Social, and Psychological Outcomes of Childhood Obesity: A National Birth Cohort Study.” British Medical Journal 330. 1354. Web. 30, August 2011.

    Read More

  • A Social Ecological Approach to Rising Levels of Overweight and Obesity in Children and Adolescents in the United States

    2208 Words  | 5 Pages

    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 .

    Read More

  • Childhood Obesity

    952 Words  | 2 Pages

    In order to impede the epidemic of childhood obesity, the actual causes of the problem need to be evaluated and dissected. Obesity in children is becoming a huge problem in American society. In the past three decades, the rate of overweight children has increased by 300%. This is an alarming rate that is only climbing higher. Every member in society should take steps to becoming healthier. This would help the present generations as well as future generations to come. The lifestyle of Americans keeps us too busy to be a healthy society.

    Read More

  • The Theme Of Ending The Childhood Obesity Epidemic

    739 Words  | 2 Pages

    Writer’s angle: The idea of ending childhood obesity is not quit arguable. Though, how to go about it and the main causes and triggers for childhood obesity

    Read More

  • Obesity in Children Across America

    1344 Words  | 3 Pages

    Obesity in children across America has become an increasing public health concern. Obesity has been identified as an epidemic that is plaguing our children in the United States. In some countries around the world children are dying of starvation everyday. How can this happen when here in America the opposite is a major problem? This is not to say that in America there are no hungry or starving children. It has been proven that our children suffer from obesity, and “children who are overweight or obese as preschoolers are five times as likely as normal-weight children to be overweight or obese as adults” (“Hope”). Obesity not only can cause a child to become more prone to having health problems down the road, but it can also make them feel insecure about themselves. There needs to be action taken in schools as well as in homes to help prevent this growing epidemic.

    Read More

  • Childhood Obesity in African American Children

    1313 Words  | 3 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Childhood Obesity Essay

    667 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Obesity in America

    1216 Words  | 3 Pages

    Genetics plays a major role in obesity; inherited genes sometimes contribute to the accumulation of fat in the body. Over 200 genes have effect on the weight having repercussions from physical activity, food choices and metabolism. Therefore, genes may increase the vulnerability of a person to become obese. Family eating patterns and social tendencies can also trigger obesity. Moreover, environmental circumstances such as availability of food high in calories and fat and the increase of the portions and combination selections in meals contribute to the development of fat accumulated for years in the body (Whitney & Rolfes, 2011, pg. 277).

    Read More

  • The Cuases of Childhood Obesity

    2075 Words  | 5 Pages

    Within the past three decades, the childhood obesity rate has increased three-hundred percent (Crouse par. 3). This also means that ten percent of children worldwide are overweight or obese (“Childhood Obesity” par. 33). According to the Centers for Disease Control being overweight is defined as, “having excess body weight for a particular height from fat, muscle, bone, water or a combination of these factors.” On the other hand, they define obesity as having excess body fat (“Child Obesity Facts” par.1). A child is determined as overweight or obese when total body weight is more than twenty-five percent in boys and thirty-two percent in girls (Green ??). Childhood obesity is not just something that influences someone’s life as an adolescent, it causes health risks including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, joint problems, diabetes, asthma, sleep apnea, liver disease, and gallstones (Torkos 42, Galea 62). A study of five to seventeen year olds showed that seventy percent of obese youth have a high risk of cardiovascular disease (“Child Obesity Facts” par. 2). These are diseases that we once associated with growing old, not growing up (Galea 62). Medical risks are not the only problems that childhood obesity can cause. Society has a strong bias against people or children who are overweight. People characterize them as ugly, lazy, and lacking willpower (Torkos 42). These stereotypes can cause an overweight child to have low self esteem which can lead to a much more serious problem, depression. The childhood obesity epidemic needs to be prevented, and the only way to do that is addressing the main causes. Childhood obesity has become a major problem in recent years due to lack of daily physical activity, inappropri...

    Read More

  • Fighting Child Obesity in the UK

    1376 Words  | 3 Pages

    Although inherited conditions have been linked to childhood obesity, they are rare. However it has been noted that children with obese or overweight parents are more than likely to be obese themselves, the reason for this as described by Heaton-Harris (2007) is because of the length of time it takes to break a bad habit. Unless the parents are correctly informed of healthy diets themselves the problem will continue from an ill-informed childhood into adult hood. Other probable causes are numerous ones. Fast food and processed foods becoming more read...

    Read More

  • Childhood Obesity

    1849 Words  | 4 Pages

    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).

    Read More

  • Parents Are Mainly to Blame for Childhood Obesity

    1038 Words  | 3 Pages

    Kiess, W., Claude Marcus, and Martin Wabitsch. Obesity In Childhood And Adolescence. Basel: Karget, 2004. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost). Web. 19 Nov. 2013.

    Read More

  • Is Fast Food to Blame for Obesity?

    954 Words  | 2 Pages

    Is fast food to blame for the growing obesity in America? Obesity affects more than half of the population. With so many Americans gaining weight and so many health problems the matter has to be addressed. There is no one would argue that obesity, especially the children is considered a problem. In any case the cause of childhood obesity is fought about daily. Many people will say that fast food restaurants are to blame. In my research, I will explain the argument that who is to blame for the obesity in America: fast food restaurants or common laziness from the obese society.

    Read More

  • The Increase of Obesity in Children and Adolescents

    602 Words  | 2 Pages

    Obesity in childhood in adolescents has increased dramatically over the past century. Throughout the United States all 50 of them, boys and girls have gained a great amount of weight. There are immediate and long-term risks for children who are obese. Conditions like high blood pressure, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, steatohepatitis, depression, stigma and others. Cancer is also possible too. Children who become obese are caused by what’s within their genes, around them in their environment, or from behavior and habits. They tend to eat more of a large portion of high-fat foods and calories. The more they usually eat the less they want to get up an exercise. Physical activity is very important to children especially for how young they are because that is when they have the most energy at that time of their lives.

    Read More

More about Are Parents to Blame for Childhood Obesity?

Open Document