Childhood Obesity - Assignment Example

Obesity not only brings concern about health but it adds to the financial burden too. Obesity augments the health care costs. Estimates reveal that obesity accounts for approximately 10% of yearly medical expenses, increasing the obesity-associated medical costs to $147 billion in 2008. Obesity has reached an alarming position in USA, and two well distinguished categories have been demonstrated namely obese and extreme obese. Findings disclose that over one-third adults of United States adults were found to be obese during the year 2007–2008 (Flegal, 2010).

According to The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), the incidence of obesity in the United States could be estimated by means of data for height to weight ratio. The prevalence rate of obesity display that there was a steady increase in obesity equally in both the sexes belonging to all ages from 1976 -1980 to 1988-1994. On the other hand the trend in obesity augmentation between 1988-1994 and 1999-2000 was significant in other ages except for the males belonging to the age between 40 to 59 years.

While data analysis from 2001-2002 to 2003-2004 recommended escalating trends since 1999-2000 in males and not in females (Flegal, 2006).? Complications of Childhood Obesity Reports illustrate that around 7 million American children and teenagers are supposed to have elevated cholesterol concentrations. If LDL concentration rises at young age and when these kids grow as adults they are bound to have prominent LDL cholesterol intensities. Such overweight kids are likely to develop cardiovascular disease and diabetes, these diseases are otherwise associated with adults in their middle-age.

A drastic rise in type 2 diabetes have been reported by pediatricians among the children and adolescents (Web: Child Obesity In America). Type 2 diabetes is associated with obesity. Reports reveal that almost 40% of the children are associated with this condition. Beside, the obese child also witnesses physical health issues and social troubles. Morbidly obese children also suffer from emotional distress as a result they develop profuse eating habits. Observation reveals, obese children are delighted if they get eatables they wish for, thereby develop a tendency to eat constantly and still are not satisfied even after consuming a large full meal.

Research reports highlight that that eating behavior of children have considerably altered over the past twenty years or so. Children are consuming greater percentage of their calories from junk food items and snacks, containing high proportion of fat, salt and sugar contributing to the obesity of the child (Ludwig & Ebbeling, 2001). Eating Habits The most favorite food items for kids of present epoch are ice creams, soda pop, hamburgers, cheeseburgers, pizza, French fries made of potatoes that is full of starch, milk shakes that are sugar syrups, chips, and candy bars.

These food items are devoid of fibers and are rich in fats and cholesterol. Children find raw fruits and salads icky, as they are