Childhood Obesity : Obesity And Obesity

Obese children are being set up for these serious cardiovascular disorders and the need for treatment with antihypertensives, insulin, and other medication regimens. Diabetics are also at risk for blindness, kidney failure, nervous system damage, and periodontal disease (Waldman & Perlman, 2007, p.12). Waldman and Perlman (2007) also stated that as a child’s weight increases, so does their chance of death, and “over 300,000 deaths per year will be attributed to obesity” (p.13). New pediatric diagnoses have encouraged more research on the effects of childhood obesity. Kelly and Reilly (2011) explored nine of these studies, with each naming obesity the cause for significant morbidity in adulthood (p. 3).

Obesity has been around for many years but has always been known to be an adult issue. Sadly obesity has now been discovered in children and has become one of the deadliest issues America faces. Childhood obesity has tripled within the past three decades and one in three children in the United States is considered to be obese. Overweight and obese children are at risk of developing high cholesterol, hypertension, respiratory ailments, orthopedic problems, depression and type 2 diabetes. According to Ashford library studies reveals that “40% of obese children and 70% of obese adolescents will become obese adults”.

This paper will address the causes and some solutions to childhood obesity. During the past 30 years, childhood obesity in the United States has more than doubled in children ages 2 to5 years old. Childhood obesity has more than tripled among 6 to 11 year olds and doubled in children aged 12 to19 years old. According to Jain (2004), the term obese is avoided because of its considerable negative connotations and fear of the stigma that accompanies the label. As a result, the term “overweight” is used to describe a child whose body mass index is above the 95th percentile for his or her age and sex.

Within the past three years obesity among children has tripled. Childhood obesity is considered the number one health threat in America. Childhood obesity has become a major issue facing America. And today over “nine million” (Selicia 4, May) United States children are overweight and obese. Sadly “2 million” (Tanner 2005) of these children are at risk for type 2 diabetes.

Children who are overweight are 10x more likely to become overweight adults unless they change their eating habits and exercise. (“Childhood Obesity. Pg 1). 30% of adult obesity begins in childhood, it is also said obesity is the cause of 300,000 deaths a year and cost society an estimated $100 billion a year. Today, about one third of American’s children and teens are considered to be overweight or obese, it has nearly tripled in size since 1963 (“Childhood Obesity”.

The obesity rate in children has more than doubled and quadrupled in adolescents over a 30-year period (CDC, n.d). The factors responsible for childhood and adolescent obesity are related to childhood lifestyle, family influence, and community factors (CMA Foundation, 2008). The Healthy People 2020 goal, NWS-10.4, is to “reduce the proportion of children and adolescents aged 2 to 19 years who are considered obese from 16.1% to 14.5%” (Healthy People 2020, 2013). Overweight children and adolescents are at increased risk for severe medical issues that can last a lifetime. Interventions to reduce the incidence and improve the health of young people involve solutions at the primary (low risk youth), secondary (at risk youth), and tertiary (obese) levels (Sweeting, 2008).

From 1980 to 2004 the percentage of youth who were obese tripled from 7% to 19% in children (6-11 years) and 5% to 17% in adolescents (12-19 years) (“Nihiser”). Approximately one out of every five children in the U.S. is overweight or obese, and this number continues to increase. (http://www.webmd.com/children/guide/obesity-children?print=true). Childhood obesity has both direct and lasting effects on health and well-being. The immediate health effects of obese youth are that they are more likely to develop risk factors for cardiov... ... middle of paper ... ...k factors.

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).

With all the rejection in an overweight child's life, he or she may feel as though he doe... ... middle of paper ... ...an be detrimental to their adulthood development. The emotional toll of having childhood obesity is damaging to a child's life. Unfortunately, obesity, while being among the easiest medical conditions to recognize, is one of the most difficult to treat ("Childhood Obesity: The Effects on Physical and Mental Health | AboutOurKids.org"). The effects of childhood obesity have a long-term impact on an individual’s life in childhood, teenage years and they can even continue into adulthood ("Childhood Obesity: Emotional Effects And Sedentary Lifestyles | Mollen Foundation Preventing Childhood Obesity"). There are many ways to prevent a child from becoming obese, like healthy eating and physical activity ("Childhood Obesity - DASH/HealthyYouth").

The definition of obesity is having excess body fat. The incidence of childhood obesity is growing at an alarming rate. Nationally, it has doubled in young children over the past thirty years and quadrupled in adolescents. Locally, more than thirty three percent of Arkansans are overweight, placing Arkansas in the top ten percent of the most obese states. Nationally, the number of younger children, from six to eleven years old, in the United States who are considered to be obese based on the BMI scale (Body Mass Index), which is a measure of body fat based on the ratio of weight and height using a formula of fat to lean body mass, increased from seven percent to almost 18 percent in the year 2012.