Childhood Obesity Essay

Submitted By K666will
Words: 380
Pages: 2
Open Document
Childhood Obesity in American Teens and adolescents...

Obesity means an excess amount of body fat. No general agreement exists on the lowest definition of obesity in children and adolescents, unlike standards for adults. Nevertheless, most professionals accept published guidelines based on the body mass index (BMI) -- modified for age, pubertal stage, and gender -- to measure obesity in children and adolescents. Others define pediatric obesity as body weight at least 20% higher than the healthy weight range for a child or adolescent of that height, or as a body fat percentage above 25% in boys or above 32% in girls.
Although rare in the past, obesity is now among the most widespread medical problems affecting children and adolescents living in the United States and other developed countries. About 15% of adolescents (12-19 years of age) and children (6-11 years of age) are obese in the United States according to the American Obesity Association. These numbers have continued to increase since at least the early 1990s. Pediatric obesity represents one of our greatest health challenges.
Obesity has a profound effect on a patient's life. Obesity increases the patient's risk of numerous health problems, and it also can create emotional and social problems. Obese children are also more likely to be obese as adults, thereby increasing their lifelong risk of serious health problems such as heart disease and stroke. If your child or teenager is overweight, further weight gain can be prevented. Parents can help their children keep their weight in the healthy range. * In infancy,
Show More

Related Documents: Childhood Obesity Essay

Childhood Obesity

Childhood Obesity The most important aspect of publishing research is the credibility of the researcher and the sources from which the author collects data. Without credibility it is impossible for the reader to trust the information in the article. Throughout the article, “Childhood Obesity,” the researcher, Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, presents surveys from other researchers who have conducted studies on childhood obesity. She covers different possibilities of the source of childhood obesity…

Words 1492 - Pages 6

Childhood Obesity Essay

Childhood Obesity Demographic HCS/490 January 27, 2013 Childhood Obesity Demographic Childhood obesity is a public health problem that has become increasingly more serious in the United States. Childhood obesity is a condition where excess body fat negatively affects a child's health or wellbeing. A person is considered overweight if he or she has a body mass index (BMI) greater than 25 kg/m2; a BMI of greater than 30 kg/m2 is considered obese. This growing overweight…

Words 847 - Pages 4

Obesity: Obesity and Childhood Obesity Rate Essay

Obesity is an epidemic that is sweeping the nation and growing exponentially. Currently more than 500,000,000 adults worldwide are suffering from obesity. Most people look at obesity as only being caused by overeating, but there are many other factors that contribute to the spreading of obesity. One in particular is technology. Between the last 100 years and now technological advances have played a big part in the climbing obesity rates and will continue to do so in the future. In the past, many…

Words 804 - Pages 4

Essay on childhood obesity

241-803 Childhood Obesity Did you know that in today’s society obesity is threatening the health of not only adults but of our future, our children? “For the first time in U.S. history our children’s lifespan is shorter than their parents” (Olshansky SJ, Passaro DJ, Hershow RC, et al, 2005). Obesity is increased body weight caused by excessive accumulation of fat. This is an ongoing issue that has intended to be corrected for several decades. There are many problems that can lead to childhood obesity;…

Words 908 - Pages 4

Obesity: Obesity and Childhood Obesity Rates Essay

Obesity: Government or Personal Responsibility? As of 2012, there are 33,000 McDonald’s restaurants in the world (How many are there). Because of evidence that obesity is a serious health problem facing children today, school officials and food manufactures want to provide children more nutritious food. Obesity has become a global epidemic. Some states have tax on soda and some are considering this. Unless obesity is shown as a matter of personal responsibility, we should not blame fast-food restaurants…

Words 1207 - Pages 5

Childhood Obesity Essay

Reflective Essay on Childhood Obesity PSYC 100 Tasha Mac University of Maryland Childhood obesity is a major concern for parents, teachers, and the medical community with differing philosophies and theories on causes and prevention. Inactivity, genetics, technology and parenting attitudes and beliefs are factors which contribute to childhood obesity. Peer pressure and social circles also create an epidemic of children overweight or obese. Intervention…

Words 717 - Pages 3

Childhood Obesity In America

Childhood Obesity in America and its Leading Factors In the United States seeing an obese child is not very uncommon and because of how many people are affected by obesity, it has assimilated into American society. This pandemic has remained in the shadows of many other disorders and diseases, creating a large group of people and children that have been affected because of how the proper measures haven’t been taken in order to prevent it. The increase in Childhood obesity in the United States in…

Words 824 - Pages 4

Childhood Obesity Essay

the Causes and Effects of Childhood Obesity ENG 122 English Composition II August 13, 2012 Understanding the Causes and Effects of Childhood Obesity Introduction Is it difficult to escape the fate of becoming obese with high calorie foods and snacks available around every corner at vending machines, fast food restaurants, convenience stores and even at home? There is much controversy on obesity being a choice rather than an uncontrollable lifestyle. How does obesity occur? What are the causes…

Words 2206 - Pages 9

Childhood Obesity Facts

Childhood Obesity is Rising in Epidemic Proportions “Childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents in the past 30 years” (“Childhood Obesity Facts”). If our society doesn't make a change, our children will be at a greater risk for becoming obese as an adult. They will then be at a higher risk of developing health problems such as; heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, osteoarthritis, and cancer (“Childhood Obesity Facts”). Not only does being obese as a child…

Words 1062 - Pages 5

Childhood obesity Essay

Facts and figures of childhood obesity in New Zealand Childhood obesity Statistics from: http://www.health.govt.nz/nz-health-statistics/health-statistics-and-data-sets/obesity-data-and-stats Surveyed 2012/13 by the New Zealand Health Survey 1 in 9 children (aged 2-14) were obese (11%) A further 1 in 5 children were overweight (22%) 19% of Māori children were obese 27% of Pacific children were obese Children living in the most deprived areas were 3 times as likely to be obese as children…

Words 685 - Pages 3