Prevention is Better than Cure
Introduction
Colorado is known for being a healthy state and having a variety of outdoor activities for just about everyone. Colorado is ranked eighth for being one of the healthiest states, according to America’s Health Rankings (United States Overview, 2013). With almost 250 days of sunshine and plenty of open space, it is not hard to see people outside enjoying a bike ride, a hardy run, or leisurely walks (Days of Sunshine Per Year in Colorado, 2014). Colorado has a population of about 5.2 million, 23% of those individual are under 18 years of age (State and County Quick Facts, 2010). Although Colorado may lead the pack as being a healthy state for its adult, many children in Colorado are falling behind and getting fatter. Childhood obesity in Colorado increased 23% between 2003 and 2007, the second-fastest rate of increase in the nation (Bellows & Moore, 2013). It has become a harsh reality; Colorado’s future residents may be the downfall in Colorado leading the pack for being known as a healthy state.
Symptoms
Obesity has become a prevalent problem with children more than ever before. Who or what is to blame for this. There are several factors is why obesity has become a widespread problem for our children. Factors ranging from (Bellows & Moore, 2013)
• Genetics
• Behavior
• Environment
• Socio-Demographics
Behavior and environment seem to lead the blame. Behavior has a large portion of the blame; nutrition, physical activity, and time in front of screens contribute to an energy imbalance in children, more calories are consumed than the child uses (Bellows & Moore, 2013). Children are less active now than in the past. The age of technology has taken away the days of playing outs...
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Stewart, M. (2013, August 17). The Denver Post Opinion. Retrieved from The Denver Post: http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_23871979/closer-look-at-child-obesity-colorado
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Obesity is a rising problem in the United States. With obesity rates on the rise something must be done to prevent this massive issue. There are ways to help including educating at young ages, improving nutrition facts at restaurants, and providing more space for citizens to get physically active.
Did you know that 35% of the United States population is considered obese? Also, 66% of the population is considered overweight or more? (Saint Onge 2014) Even more frightening, in 2012 the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported that more than one third of children and adolescents in America were overweight or obese (CDC 2014). The media sources used investigates the political, scientific, historical, and cultural reasons behind the childhood obesity epidemic in America. Obesity is a rapid growing epidemic in America and these sources present the facts causing this epidemic. As well as how the children of the American society are being wrongly influenced by the media, especially advertisments. (Greenstreet 2008).
Obese Parents to Blame for Obese Children? (2011, November 4). Issues and Controversies. Retrieved February 16, 2014, from http://www.2facts.com.holyfamily.idm.oclc.org/icof_story.aspx?PIN=ib160612&term=child+obesity
The overall rate of obesity for children comes in at 17 percent, or about 12.5 million obese children in America today (Doheny 1). The number of children who are obese is growing at a fast rate. Most cases of childhood obesity are caused by eating too much and exercising too little. Extra weight puts children at a risk of serious health problems; such as, diabetes, heart disease, and asthma (Smith 1). Although obesity can be prevented, it has become a growing problem among children due to several factors that lead to health problems.
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.
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2013, August 16). Children and TV: Limiting your child's screen time - Mayo Clinic.
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.
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.
Obesity has become an epidemic in adults and children in the United States. Moreover, children are at risk of obesity because they do not eat enough fruits and vegetables and do not obtain enough physical activity. Also, children have a higher chance of developing health diseases related to obesity such as hypertension, high cholesterol, stroke, heart disease, diabetes and pulmonary disease. In addition, obesity in children from ages one to seventeen is an issue in Texas, since children are not aware of the serious consequences of being obese. Therefore, Texas should find ways to prevent obesity by authorizing healthier school lunches and allowing a school program to help obese children lose weight. Also, television advertisements are influencing obese children to make unhealthy choices.
According to the American Journal of Public Health, obesity can be linked to nearly 1 in 5 deaths in the United States (Laidman). The saddest part about this statistic is that obesity is, in most cases, brought on by the individual. With fast food being a cheap and convenient way to feed the family, obesity has constantly been on the rise since the industry’s proliferation. Poor diet combined with lack of exercise has caused the emergence of routine doctor visits for avoidable conditions. Beginning with the youth, school programs that teach nutrition and fitness can help stop the growing numbers. Help and support from the government to lower the amount of advertisements to the public and reconstruction of communities that are more walker and biker friendly can greatly reduce the amount of obesity in the nation. Obesity is a serious problem in the United States that can be defeated through education and self-control.
Childhood obesity is an increasing problem here in the United States. According to Schuab and Marian (2011) “Childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions” (P.553). The prevalence of child obesity and overweight has increased over the last 30 years all over the United States, becoming one of the biggest public health challenges (Moreno, Johnson-Shelton, & Boles, 2013). The purpose of this paper is to give a background of the obesity epidemic, a review of current policy, and make a policy recommendation.
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....
Kunkel, Dale. "Media Research Contributes to the Battle Against Childhood Obesity." Health communication 25.6-7 (2010): 595-6. Print.
Although obesity has become one of the major health care issues around the world it is has become a focal issue throughout the developed countries. According to the WHO (world health organization) in 2008, 1.5 billion adults were overweight; 200 million men and 300 million women aged over 20 years were obese worldwide. There is increasing concern about the childhood obesity due to inactivity and increased calorie intake. Study shows that, the obesity is most of the time directly related to inactive due to the use of modern technologies like video gaming in children, increased television viewing and inactivity due to computer using. Obesity is due to many other factors like genetic predisposition, hormonal imbalance and increased food intake. Studies shows inactivity due to use of technologies is highly linked with obesity. Obesity is known as one of the lifestyle inducing diseases, so it should be concluded that it is not the modern technology leading to increased incidence of obesity, but it is the improper use of technology like video gaming, TV, and computers which is leading to obesity. If the technologies are used wisely it should not lead to obesity. The advancement of technology is inevitable. If the technology is used properly it is the most useful thing in this modern world.
How TV Affects your Child? Kids Health. October 2011. Web. The Web.