The causes of childhood obesity in
America are diverse and numerous. From family and genetics to entertainment and
electronics, these reasons are to blame for this critical problem in society. The
increasing pressures and burdens of modern life are taking a toll on families
in the U.S. According to a blog on childhood obesity, these pressures and
burdens lead to families having less time to prepare healthy meals and, “quick
and easy is the reality for many of today’s families.” (*hyperlink*) According
to Stephen Pont, a medical director for the Prevention and Treatment of
Childhood Obesity the biggest factor of childhood obesity is that young
Americans are growing up in a society where, in general, we are taking in too
many calories and too few calories are being taken off (*hyperlink*). In other
words, children are eating unhealthy more often and in larger portions, and
leading more sedentary lifestyles. Other factors may be genetics, increasing
number of electronics, school systems cutting down physical activity
(*hyperlink*), explosion of entertainment options indoors instead of outdoors,
and cultural changes (*hyperlink*). Body mass index, or BMI, is a measurement
of weight in relation to height that health professionals use to indicate
whether someone is obese or overweight. According to the CDC children and adolescents
in the top 15 percent of the BMI are overweight, and the top 5 percent are
obese. Combined, these factors are the reason obesity is an epidemic in our
country and the effects are physical and psychological.
Obesity affects every organ system in
the body (*hyperlink*). Health complications such as diabetes, heart disease,
high blood pressure, high cholesterol and sleep apnea used to be viewed as
adult complications, but not anymore. These risks in kids are becoming more common
and more sever. Children that remain obese into adulthood also face problems
such as joint disease, heart disease, sleep apnea, and certain cancers
(*hyperlink*). And if the physical effects of childhood obesity weren’t enough,
psychological effects exist as well. Most children that are obese have a poor
self-esteem and are more likely to be bullied (*hyperlink*). With the effects
being rather sever and even life threatening, prevention is easier than
treatment.
Prevention of childhood obesity can
be facilitated by the government, community, and most importantly family. Initiative from the government has helped to
raise awareness of ways to live a healthier lifestyle. Programs such as Get Up
and Go encourage children to eat healthy, and engage in physical activities. Jennifer
Harrison, a clinical program manager, explains how government involvement is
necessary and helpful to battle the obesity epidemic, but first changes need to
happen within the family and community (*hyperlink*) A women’s blog,
Womenmisbehavin, gives a list of actions parents can take to aim to prevent
obesity in their children. Some suggestions on the list include; eating dinner
together, leading by example, providing healthy food choices, encouraging and
supporting physical activity, and limiting television and computer time to less
than two hours a day. (*hyperlink*) Parents also need to be able to recognize
when their children is overweight to try and alleviate the problem before it is
too late and their child becomes part of the thirty-three percent.
Prevention is more effective and
easier than treatment because there are not many promising medical treatments
known today (*hyperlink*). Since there is no virus or a single source causing
this epidemic, treatment has a disturbingly low success rate. Treatments for
childhood obesity include dietary and physical activity changes, behavioral
changes, and family based changes. Frankie Phillips, a practice nurse, states
that, “childhood obesity continues to be a major public health challenge and
clearly requires a multi-faceted approach to prevention as well as management”
(*ebsco citation*).
The United States has recognized the epidemic
at hand, but most people do not realize how severe and brutal the statistics
really are. According to the analysis of government data, individuals that are
experience obesity in their childhood or adolescence are eighty percent more
likely to become obese adults (*hyperlink*) and if obesity rates continue on
their current trajectories, by 2030 all 50 states could have obesity rates over
forty-four percent. Frankie Phillips describes obesity as elusive because of, “the
low disturbingly low success rate in treating it, but also because it requires
changing the patterns woven deeply into our social fabric of food and beverage
commerce, personal eating habits, and sedentary lifestyles” (*citation from
ebsco*).
With all the different factors
accounting for the cause of the increasing number of obese children in America,
one thing remains constant. Wight loss and gain is about energy balance
(*hyperlink*). The children this epidemic is effecting are younger than ever
with ten percent of preschoolers being obese (*hyperlink*). Although it is
easier said than done, individuals need to eat healthier and exercise more. The
longer this epidemic exists, the more severe the effects are going to become
and the more people it is going to effect. Although it is believed that this is
occurring because of the burdens and pressures of modern day life, prevention
is the number one way to counteract weight gain of our youngest generations. Without
realizing the problem at hand and working to prevent it, the generation will
continue to gain weight and work towards and even shorter lifespan, something
never seen in history before.
*Need to insert hyperlinks and images still*
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