0045602524 Childhood Obesity

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Childhood Obesity
The scientists and doctors around the world are increasingly concerned about the problem of childhood obesity in recent years. They are trying to find a way out of this situation and conduct numerous studies regarding this problem. This specialists’ attitude is understandable - from year to year, childhood obesity is a growing health burden of the younger generation of the entire planet.
As well as adults obesity, childhood obesity is caused by a whole set of reasons, but the most important of them is the mismatch of generated energy (calories from food) and wasted energy (calories burned during the primary metabolism and physical activity). Childhood obesity often develops as a result of a complex interaction of dietary, psychological, genetic and physiological factors. Children, whose parents are also overweight, are most susceptible to obesity (Flamenbaum 26). This phenomenon can be explained by heredity or modeling of parental eating behavior, which indirectly affects the energy balance of the child. Half of the parents of primary school children have never played sports and avoid physical activity. Commitment to television programs and computer games also creates a threat to the health of today’s children. The result is that the daily caloric intake in children is increased by 30% and energy consumption does not occur due to a sedentary lifestyle (Ellison, Hasting and Cameron 41). Moreover, childhood obesity may manifest itself to children that are frequent visitors to the fast food restaurants, eat less fruit and vegetables and drink more soda. Such steps deprive children of vitamins and provoke a metabolic disorder (Heaton-Harris, 30).
Obese children have a predisposition to high blood pressure and gall bladder disease, primarily to the formation of gallstones. Obese children often have a skin rashes, especially eczema; injuries and burns occurred more often (probably because they are less agile). Obese children have airway inflammation and constipation more often than other children. Obese boys may have a delayed sexual development and obese may girls a menstrual irregularities. Although, there is no visible complications typical for obese adults in childhood and adolescence, laboratory tests have already shown abnormalities in metabolism. Violation of the metabolism of carbohydrates and fats and significant water retention were found in almost 2/3 of the children (Hills and Parizkova 70). Metabolic disorders (e.g. diabetes) exist in a latent (hidden) state. Obese children have already clearly expressed defects of propulsion system. Flatfoot, X-shaped legs, hunched back, increased bend at the waist (hyperlordosis), weak abdominal muscles – it is not only appearance issues, but it is primarily health issues. Joint function is deteriorating; children feet early start to hurt and swell. As a consequence because, obese children refuse the walks, become lazy, prone to a sedentary life, and then obesity progresses even more. If the child is not losing weight and does not exercise, these orthopedic defects and abnormalities can lead to severe deformity of the joints in older age. Bone softening may occur already in childhood (Eriksen 49).
Obese children psyche also deserves attention because such children are usually less independent and assertive, more dependent on family, emotionally immature and do not differ a strong will to comply with weight-loss regime. It is usually the only children in the family or children from single-parent families which are usually subject to increased worries of mothers or grandmothers. Socio-economic consequences of obesity affect primarily in the fact that one have to state a reduced earning capacity in the cases of severe forms of obesity. Thereby the range of the choice of future profession is narrowing, and this is often reflected in the psyche of a young man (Hills and Parizkova 74).
Works Cited
Flamenbaum, Richard. Childhood Obesity and Health Research. New York: Nova Science Publishers, 2006. Print.
Heaton-Harris, Nicolette. Combating Child Obesity. Brighton: Emerald Publishing, 2009. Print.
Ellison, George, Hastings, Gerard, and Noel Cameron. Childhood Obesity: Contemporary Issues. New York: CRC Press, 2008. Print.
Hills, Andrew, and Jana Parizkova. Childhood Obesity Prevention and Treatment. New York: CRC Press, 2008. Print.
Eriksen, Michael, and Jennifer A O’Dea. Childhood Obesity Prevention: International Research, Controversies, and Interventions. New York: Oxford University Press, 2010. Print.

Cited: Flamenbaum, Richard. Childhood Obesity and Health Research. New York: Nova Science Publishers, 2006. Print. Heaton-Harris, Nicolette. Combating Child Obesity. Brighton: Emerald Publishing, 2009. Print. Ellison, George, Hastings, Gerard, and Noel Cameron. Childhood Obesity: Contemporary Issues. New York: CRC Press, 2008. Print. Hills, Andrew, and Jana Parizkova. Childhood Obesity Prevention and Treatment. New York: CRC Press, 2008. Print. Eriksen, Michael, and Jennifer A O’Dea. Childhood Obesity Prevention: International Research, Controversies, and Interventions. New York: Oxford University Press, 2010. Print.