Childhood Obesity: A Case Study

1100 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Reasons why parents are to blame for childhood obesity

Introduction

In the past three decades, rates of childhood obesity have increased precipitously. Between the years and 1980 and 2000, the prevalence of obesity has increased from 6.5% to 19.6% among 6 to 11 year old children and 5.0% to 18.1% among 12 to 19 year old adolescents x(National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, 2010). This condition is accompanied by many physical and psychological consequences for these children. There are two common postions in the debate about the causes of this condition. One belief of the cause of childhood obesity is that it is a question of “personal responsibility” or in the case of children, of “parental responsibility.” That is, increasing rates of obesity are due to parents’ failure to limit their children’s access to “junk food” and to tell them to go play outside. An example of this lack of authority of parents’ over their children’s eating habits is a Kayla, a 4-year-old child who weighs 104 pounds. In this situation, her mother has been unable to control the frequency and quantity of her child’s eating habits (ABC News, 2008; Kofman, 2008; Yellin, & Simons, 2007). The following is a brief overview detailing the model that places the blame of childhood obesity on parents’, and a case study describing the condition of Kayla and how it should be dealt with.

Cause of Obesity

There are many factions who believe that parents are liable for the epidemic of childhood obesity. Some researchers believe that parents may unintentionally encourage inappropriate weight gain in their children by utilizing improper child-feeding manners (Clark, Goyder, Bissell, Blank, & Peters, 2007). Additionally, children may model their parents’ behavior and therefore develop improper ...

... middle of paper ...

...MFMER). (2010a). Childhood obesity: Make weight loss a family affair. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/childhood-obesity/FL00058#

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). (2010b). Childhood obesity: Treatments and drugs. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/childhood-obesity/DS00698/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs

National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (2010). Childhood obesity. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/obesity/

Pillitteri, A. (2009). Maternal and child health nursing: Care of the childbearing and childrearing family (6th ed.). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Yellin, J. & Simons, L. (2007). Obesity reaches preschool: Four-year-old Kayla’s battle with her weight. Retrieved from http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Diet/story?id=2863420&page=1

Show More
Related

  • Should Parents Lose Custody of Extremely Obese Kids?

    1874 Words  | 4 Pages

    Hellmich, Nanci, “Report maps out solutions to child obesity.” USA Today n.d.: MAS ULTRA-School Edition. Web. 6 May 2012.

    Read More

  • Parents of Obese Children and Charges of Child Abuse

    1880 Words  | 4 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Parents Denial Fuels Childhood Obesity

    1541 Words  | 4 Pages

    The mentality of parents can lead to the downfall of their children 's health. Due to the lack of provision and support that they provide as a result of their mentality, their children who gravely need it remains obese and their condition usually exacerbates. In Jan Hoffman 's article, Parents ' Denial Fuels Childhood Obesity Epidemic, she makes it clear that parents who deny the condition of their children can drastically harm them even if it is unintentional. Since, parents with an ignorant mentality cannot provide their obese child with the help they desperately need to combat their obesity problems. She provides anecdotes of parents as well as the sentiments from individuals that developed obesity as a child and needed an intervention,

    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

  • Caloric Intake and Childhood Obesity

    2753 Words  | 6 Pages

    "Childhood Obesity." Childhood Obesity on the Rise. Mayo Clinic, 24 Apr. 2012. Web. 02 Mar.

    Read More

  • Childhood Obesity in African American Children

    1313 Words  | 3 Pages

    It is apparent that living an unhealthy lifestyle, as well as eating poorly, negatively affects one’s health. From a young age it is quickly learned which foods are considered healthful as opposed to junk food. It is a parents responsibility to supervise the intake of their child's food, however there is a higher risk than ever before of childhood obesity.

    Read More

  • Childhood Obesity in the United States

    2855 Words  | 6 Pages

    According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) about “17% (or 12.5 million) of children and adolescents aged 2-19 years are obese” (Moreno et al., 2013 P.157). “Surveys administered in 1976-1980 and 2007-2008 show that the prevalence of obesity has changed from 6.5% to 19.6% among children 6-11 years old age and from 5.0% to 18.1% for those aged 12-19 years (Moreno et al., 2013 P.157).

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Childhood Obesity

    1357 Words  | 3 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • Childhood Obesity

    1849 Words  | 4 Pages

    Parents have always known about obesity and what the affects obesity has on people. Although parents have known about this preventable disease, they are just now becoming more aware about what is happening to their own children. Now they want to start pointing fingers as to why these young children are becoming obese; nobody wants to take the blame for putting these young lives at risk. “Greenbalt states in his article that obesity is becoming an epidemic that there is about 300,000 children each year that die because they are overweight....

    Read More

  • Unraveling the Causes of Childhood Obesity

    2150 Words  | 5 Pages

    Childhood obesity has recently become a major problem not only in the Unites States, but all around the world. No one knows the real reason as to why childhood obesity has recently become a major epidemic, but it has been found that the environment that the children live in plays a factor in the child’s weight status. Not only that but, some people believe that fast food and their million dollar industries is the reasons why so many children are obese. Whereas others have found that it all relies on their parents, that they, the parents, are the reason why their children are the way they are. Some even say that it’s the school’s fault because they do not teach the children how to live a healthy lifestyle. Whatever it is, it need to be fixed so that we can have a healthier America. At the same time that I believe that the parents play a big role in the weight status of their children, I also believe that schools play a factor in the recent outbreak of childhood obesity.

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Child Obesity

    1617 Words  | 4 Pages

    Parents, naturally, are the role models of their offspring. Furthermore, parents are main contributors to the personality and attitudes of their adolescents. Because of this, adolescents often adopt the habits of their parents through observation. As minors, children do not have the mental capacity of adults and lack the ability of foresight. As a result, numerous juveniles have poor health and diet without realizing the future consequences of their actions. Parents, “as primary role models...play a major role in preventing child obesity because they set the standards for the entire family” (www.aces.edu). Parents can positively influence a child’s eating habits by controlling “availability and accessibility of foods, meal structure, food modeling, food socialization practices, and food-related parenting style” (www.aces.edu). Additionally, parents must promote exercise and physical activity. Various children must be pushed in order to partake in exercise. Because technology and social media are sources of amusement for many youths, parents must limit the amount of time their kids spend indoors. By eliminating these sources of entertainment, children are more likely to go outside. Furthermore, children are more likely to engage in recreational activity if their parents do. Parents, as critical role models for adolescents, must encourage sound eating habits and regular exercise to prevent child

    Read More

  • Causes and Facts of Childhood Obesity

    660 Words  | 2 Pages

    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”.

    Read More

  • Parents Are Mainly to Blame for Childhood Obesity

    1038 Words  | 3 Pages

    Parents are not teaching children how to eat healthy. They feed them cheeseburgers, chicken fingers, and fries. Kids are not being exposed to a regular diet of health fruits and vegetables. Now some people are just naturally overweight, but being “overweight” is not the same as being “obese.” Someone who is overweight has reached a maximum weight limit for their height. When someone goes beyond this maximum limit, then they are considered “obese” (Kiess 1). Research shows that “obesity is generally defined as the abnormal or excessive accumulation of fat in adipose tissue” (Kiess 1). The increase in childhood obesity today is mainly the fault of the parent because they are unable to tell their children “no” when it comes to junk food (Kiess 104). Parents are the one buying all the food that comes into the house. They are the ones buying the sugary drinks and chips. They are the ones allowing the children to “have what they want.” Because parents are not teaching their children how to eat healthy, we will continue to see childhood obesity increase. Unfortunately, overweight children will be the ones who suffer because statistics show children who are overweight are more likely to become obes...

    Read More

  • Schools Can Reduce Childhood Obesity

    2217 Words  | 5 Pages

    Childhood obesity is a health problem that is becoming increasingly prevalent in society’s youth. For a number of years, children across the nation have become accustomed to occasionally participating in physical activities and regularly snacking on sugary treats. In result of these tendencies, approximately one third of American children are currently overweight or obese (Goodwin). These grim statistics effectively represent all the lack of adult interference, in regards to health, has done to the youth of America. The habits of over consuming foods and under participating in physical activities are all too common in the children of today. Children cannot solve this issue alone, though. These young people need to essentially be given the opportunities to make positive health decisions and learn about good, nutritional values.

    Read More

  • The Evils of Technology

    1235 Words  | 3 Pages

    Staff, Mayo Clinic. "Childhood Obesity - MayoClinic.com." Mayo Clinic. 9 Oct. 2010. Web. 20 Feb. 2011. .

    Read More

More about Childhood Obesity: A Case Study

Open Document