Child Obesity in the US - Essay Example

?Child Obesity Introduction Obesity refers to an excess amount of fats in the body. There is no general definition of the minimum fat levels in children and teenagers considered as obese unlike adults. Definitions have ranged from guidelines based on Body Mass Index (BMI) values that are adjusted for age and sex while others define child obesity as a body weight 20% higher than the healthy weight range for a child of that height. The United States obesity rate for children between the ages of 6-11 years has increased rapidly since the early 1990s. Indeed, according to the American Obesity Association, about 15% of all children in the US are obese. Pediatric obesity represents one of the greatest health challenges of the modern generation. Child obesity has become an epidemic extending past the United States’ borders into many other countries, particularly those with developed economies. The condition is usually caused by consuming foods rich in fats and calories, lack of exercise, genetic susceptibility, and few instances of genetic factors, medications, or illnesses. The proposed solutions for reducing childhood obesity discussed in this research paper are dieting and physical exercises. Dieting, or good nutrition, involves not only eating the recommended number of servings from all food groups, but also parents teaching children about healthy foods and ensuring the children practice what they are taught. By taking in a balanced diet, children will limit consumption of foods that contain high amounts of fats and hence reduce the likelihood of being obese. Physical exercises will result into burning of calories and hence reduce the amounts of excess fats stored in the body. If unchecked, the number of overweight children and adults will increase tremendously in the world. Consequently, many children growing into adulthood will be exposed to risks of developing hypertension, respiratory ailments, orthopedic problems, depression and type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes and accounts for more than 80% of all cases of diabetes in the US (Mokdad et al. 78). Its cause is mainly attributed to obesity. If childhood obesity is not adequately, many children and adolescents worldwide will suffer from obesity-related complications. Overweight children have a 70 percent chance of becoming overweight or obese as they grow into adolescent and eventually adults. This value rises to 80 percent if either one or both parents are overweight or obese. Obesity in middle or old age increases the risks of diabetes, hypertension, and general poor health, hence, it is important that it is addressed at infantile or juvenile level. Solutions to Child Obesity One of the most effective ways of reducing obesity among all age groups is physical activities and healthy eating. By engaging in physical exercise, children will be able to eliminate excess fats in the body as they are burned through the process producing energy. Researchers have found a large correlation between physical inactivity and obesity among children. Besides, children who are physically inactive have a high likelihood of being inactive as adults, implying that persons who suffer from obesity as children may continue to be obese even as adults. Failure to engage in physical exercise leaves unused carbohydrates in the body which is subsequently converted to fats and stored in the body. The excess fats accumulate in the body and eventually lead to obesity. Children fail to exercise due to a number of reasons. Most of them spend their free time watching television, playing video games or using computers. While these activities may improve cognitive abilities of the children, they also result into non-activity resulting into accumulation of fats in the body and consequently leading to obesity. Children must be encouraged to partake in physical activity at an early age to reduce their chances of being obese. On the other hand, through healthy eating, a child is able to balance the intake of various minerals in the body. Basically, healthy eating entails consuming foods that contain all the essential minerals in the required proportions. In modern society, children have easy access to calorie-rich drinks and foods. These include sugar-laden soft drinks and snacks. These foods are readily available in school settings through vending machines and restaurants (Schosser 8). Fast food joints have had a major input in increasing obesity among children and even some states have enacted legislations to limit the number of these joints within school precincts, a lot more needs to be done if we are to win the war against child obesity. Parents should be advised to begin dietary programs by giving children a strong start with good nutrition during pregnancy and early childhood (Bish et al.56). They should know that advertising influences dietary and food choices in children and hence they should advice children to make choices on their own. Emphasis should be on consumption of a balanced diet. Infants must be breastfed and should not be fed on foods rich in lots of fats. Besides, children should not be left alone as they are likely to make poor dietary decisions and engage in sedentary lifestyles that may make them vulnerable to obesity. Reports by pediatrics on child obesity prevention have stated that through initiatives by nurses and other healthcare experts, there should be programs to educate parents and children on healthy dietary choices. Consistency of solution with research support The solutions to childhood obesity identified in the paper are consistent with previous studies. Nutrition, eating habits and physical activities have been identified as the most effective ways in the reduction of child obesity (Brownell 81). A study conducted among children of kindergarten-going age in the US found that a one-hour increase in physical activities per week led to 1.8% drop in body mass index among children suffering from obesity. The study concluded that enhancing physical activities in kindergarten to at least five hours per week could lessen the proportion of children categorized as overweight from 10 to 5.6 percent (Davis et al. 5237). Physical activity is very effective in preventing obesity. Studies have demonstrated that increasing the intake of healthy foods may be more useful in decreasing overweight than focusing on decreasing fats and sugar consumption (Perusse & Bourchard 521). Mothers are usually more involved in planning their child’s diet than other adults, hence, they can influence food attitudes and practices among their young children (Davis et al. 5244). By the time children enter kindergarten, their food preferences and the social context associated with food intake are established. Another study by Bish, Regis, and Gottesman (56) reported that parent education on diet is helpful in preventing obesity among children. Consequently, parents should be educated right at pregnancy on nutritional choices that will ensure their children lead a healthy lifestyle. Feasibility of implementing the proposed solution Physical exercise and healthy eating are feasible solutions to reducing childhood obesity. The solutions do not require any exorbitant spending as they can be undertaken by parents and teachers at home and at school respectively. Children can be made to engage in physical activity at home at school without affecting the amount of time available for them to study. Numerous government programs have been established in school environments to address the global obesity epidemic. Parents should make full use of such facilities and programs as they are usually provided free, or at very low costs (Schosser 42). The solution will work effectively as parents will be able to make dietary choices for their families thus practice good nutrition. Technology such as television normally air programs on preventive measures and this forms an inexpensive approach to reducing childhood obesity. For these sets of solutions to work efficiently, parents must discourage their children from excess intake of calories and ensure they partake in physical activity. Works Cited Bish, Beth, Regis, Kim, & Gottesman, Margaret. Educating parents about portion sizes for preschoolers. Journal of Pediatric Health Care, 19.12 (2005): 54-59. Print. Brownell, Kelly D. Food Fight: The Inside Story of the Food Industry. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 2004. Print. Davis, Matthew M., Grace-Cleveland, Bonnie, Hassink, Sandra, Johnson, Rachel, Paradis, Gilles, & Resnicow, Kenneth. Recommendations for prevention of childhood obesity. Pediatrics, 120.42 (2007): 5229-5253. Print. Mokdad, Ali, et al. Prevalence of Obesity, Diabetes, and Obesity-Related Health Risk Factors. Journal of American Medical Association 289.1 (2003): 76-79. Print. Perusse, Louis, & Bourchard, Claude. (1999). Role of genetic factors in childhood obesity and in susceptibility to dietary variations. Annals of Medicine, 32.5 (1999): 519-525. Print. Schosser, Erick. Fast Food Nation. New York, NY: Perennial Publishing, 2002. Print. Read More