ipl-logo

Childhood Obesity In America Essay

759 Words4 Pages

The problem of childhood obesity in the United States has grown considerably in recent years. Approximately one out of every five children in the U.S is overweight or obese, and the number is continuing to rise. As of 2012, more than one third of children and adolescents were overweight or obese. Next, percentage of children age 6-11 years in the United States who were obese increased from 7% in 1980 to nearly 18% in 2012. Being overweight or obese is defined as having excess body weight for a particular height from fat, muscle, bone, water or a combination of these factors. In addition, obesity is among the easiest medical conditions to recognize but most difficult to treat. The most common causes in childhood obesity in America are unhealthy dieting, lack of physical activity, and genetic factors. To begin with unhealthy dieting in the USA, such as fast food has taken a toll children’s health. Because of eating increasingly more fast food, child obesity in growing rapidly. A burger, fries, and coke are loaded with many calories that …show more content…

There are many ways in which genes affect our weight; from our resting metabolic rate, to how we burn calories when we exercise, to how quickly our brains signal us that we are full. Children’s chances of being overweight are greater if one or both of the parents are overweight or obese. Also children adopt the habits of their parents. As a result, children who have overweight parents who eat high calorie foods and are inactive will most likely become overweight. However, if the family adopts healthy food and physical activity habits, the children's chance of being overweight or obese is reduced. Family genetic factors also lead to health risk factors for obese children. For example young children are showing signs at an early age of high cholesterol, high blood pressure, early heart disease, diabetes, bone problems, and many

Show More
Related

Childhood Obesity Epidemic Summary

527 Words | 3 Pages

Since childhood obesity is metaphorically refers as “epidemic”, there must be a cause for this “epidemic”. Moffat listed several causes for obesity in the article, and the main causes are victims themselves, victims’ parents, social construction, and “toxic” environment. Out of all the factors that contributed to childhood obesity, I agree with the social construction and the “toxic” environment the most. people live in poor neighborhood often have less access to fresh, healthy, and nutritious food due to poor social construction. They also tend to eat unhealthy because there is no nearby grocery store, and the only available

Read More

The Truth Of Obesity Within The United Sates

1282 Words | 6 Pages

The Truth of Obesity Fast food has been around for decades and it is an industry which will continue to grow, it is because of this main reason why so many Americans are now obese. Along with the lack of education and knowledge that many Americans are decrease their life span. However, obesity has never been such a vast problem as it stands today with its large population of uneducated and fast food hungry Americans. With this massive epidemic that is taking over America, comes many health issues and its targets begin with the children who become addicted to unhealthy but satisfying meals suffering from overweight, high cholesterol, and blood pressure to name a few.

Read More

Anita Loughrey's Stopping Childhood Obesity

2046 Words | 9 Pages

Obesity has been a huge problem for most children in America. Every generation, it becomes more of a problem than what it was the generation prior to it. Many children suffer with this problem today because of the lifestyles that they live. Children tend to lack adequate amounts of exercise that they need because of the many distractions that they face every day. Most of the day, kids are sitting around the house watching television, playing video games or on some type of a new device that has just been released.

Read More

Childhood Obesity In Canada

931 Words | 4 Pages

Lazarou & Kouta (2010) define obesity as “a chronic metabolic disease, considered to be one of the main risk factors for cardiovascular disease”, and state that hypertension, atherosclerosis and type two diabetes have also been shown to be more likely in people with obesity (p. 641). These adult health problems have now become commonplace amongst children and youth today (Tuckwood, 2012). With obesity being diagnosed at earlier ages, prevention becomes increasingly difficult; personal habits are harder to break, health risks are more serious, and the likelihood of living with obesity in adulthood is significantly higher. Fifty percent of children who are obese will become obese adults (Lazarou & Kouta, 2010).

Read More

Childhood Obesity Epidemic In America

906 Words | 4 Pages

Asthma, diabetes, heart disease, joint problems, depression, and even death are all effects of a deadly epidemic that is surging through the adolescents of America (Johnson). This epidemic is known as obesity. It has become the second leading cause of death in America, simply because it can lead to so many other health problems (Johnson). This devastating epidemic needs to be taken seriously. This can be done by examining the problem itself, the causes and effects of obesity, and figuring out some at-home and overall solutions.

Read More

Childhood Obesity In America Essay

864 Words | 4 Pages

It is increasing in the United States rapidly. According to a study in the Parental Roles in the epidemic of childhood obesity, “The increase in childhood obesity is a relatively recent phenomenon in the United States, with dramatic changes occurring in the 1980s and 1990s, and a general plateauing of incidence from 1999 to 2010 but at dangerously high levels. ”(Moore 828). This reveals that obesity levels have swiftly started to increase since the early 1980’s. Some people believe that this recent increase in weight gain is associated with the expansion of fast and processed foods and drinks such as Coca cola.

Read More

Childhood Obesity In America

1787 Words | 8 Pages

The high demand for medical care also increases the financial burden on the families and therefore the community as well. As one can see the community health is greatly effected by the high rates of obesity among its individuals. Children in particular have a massive effect because not only are they the future of that community, but they also influence the schools in that region. Healthy People 2020 regard obesity in America as a very serious problem especially among children. It is such a major issue because childhood obesity easily leads to obesity in adulthood that increases the risks for heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, stroke, and cancer (Nutrition).

Read More

Childhood Obesity In America

1897 Words | 8 Pages

In today’s society “one out of three children is considered overweight or obese” (Little 2011). Childhood obesity is linked to several severe health problems. Children who are overweight or obese are at risk of having cardiovascular disease and problems relating to that such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type-two diabetes during childhood. Physical problems aren’t the only problem relating to obesity; “Research confirms obese children are at a higher risk for social and psychological problems” because overweight kids tend to get bullied due to their weight (Little 2011). Children who have weight issues early on are also more likely to have weight issues as adults.

Read More

Childhood Obesity In America Essay

1724 Words | 7 Pages

Therefore to create a healthier America, activists must attack the root of the problem and work to eliminate childhood obesity. To eliminate childhood obesity, those who are uneducated on the topic must be educated. The American people must develop a larger understanding of childhood obesity by identifying the extremity of the problem, learning the causes, and becoming aware of the long term effects. When beginning one's journey in learning more about childhood obesity they must first realize how prevalent adulthood obesity is in America, “Nearly 60 million American adults between the ages of 20 and 75 years—1 in 3—are obese.”

Read More

Obesity In America Essay

793 Words | 4 Pages

The obesity epidemic is only becoming more world wide spread as years continue to pass. Obesity has dramatically caused many negative effects on America and the way we live today. Obesity is simply defined as having excessive body fat usually resulting in serious medical problems. More specifically, though, obesity occurs when a person's Body Mass Index (BMI) — or, their weight in kilometers divided by the square of height in meters — exceeds 30 or greater. Studies have shown that about 13 million children and adolescents ages 2-19 are obese according to the article “Childhood Obesity: Can it Really Be Child Neglect?” by Abbie Goldbas.

Read More

Childhood Obesity In America

721 Words | 3 Pages

Childhood to adolescent obesity in America is becoming an over-whelming issue. Most schools have decided that physical education isn’t critical due to budget cuts and the increased pressure to excel in standardized tests. One out of three children in the U.S. is over-weight or obese according to the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. I believe that childhood obesity is the result of lack of exercise and poor diet due to a fast-paced lifestyle. Junk food is attractive for many reasons including price, taste, and convenience.

Read More

Childhood Obesity In America Essay

694 Words | 3 Pages

So, when the child/adolescent equal or above the 85% through the 95% range mark on the BMI chart, they are already considered to be overweight and anything beyond the 95% mark is marked obese. Now reported by the Center for Disease Control, studies have shown that since around 2008, it has become a the norm within our society to not just see overweight children, but obese children based upon the BMI chart, which I see a lot of flaw in because we have to realize that muscle weights two-and a -half times more than fat and if you have a physical active or athletic kid/teenager who when weighed, their BMI is marked in the overweight or obese section, yet there physical appearance does not at all resemble an overweight or obese physique what does one do there? But back to the topic, the American problem and concern can be resolved with the works of exercise, diet, and the involvement of parents and a better surrounding when pertaining to one's eating

Read More

Childhood Obesity Informative Speech

340 Words | 2 Pages

Topic: Childhood Obesity General Purpose: To inform the audience about childhood obesity Specific Purpose: To shed light on the increasing rates and effects of childhood obesity. Introduction I. Attention-Getter A. 1 in 5 American 4-year-olds are obese (USA Today). B. About 34% of children 10-17 in the state South Carolina are obese making it the 13th most obese state in the nation (The State) II. In the future most us sitting in this room will probably have children and I don’t think you are going to want them have to struggle with the obesity problem. III.

Read More

4.1 Explain The Impact Of Poor Diet On Children Essay

652 Words | 3 Pages

Obesity: There is a direct link between young children’s eating habits and them becoming overweight and obese later on. Children in families with insufficient access to nutritious foods are in fact significantly more likely to be obese in early childhood than other children. This is the result of excessive calorie intake and an emphasis on foods that have high levels of fat, sugar and sodium.

Read More

Thesis Statement For Childhood Obesity

1076 Words | 5 Pages

1. Introduction The rate of childhood obesity has increased over few years. There are 41 million children in the world are overweight or at risk of obesity. Childhood obesity is a serious health problem.

Read More

More about Childhood Obesity In America Essay

Related Topics

Open Document