Child Hood

Childhood Obesity Draft

Tamika Wallace

ENG122: English Composition II (ABD1138C)

October 17, 2011

The Childhood Obesity Problem

Childhood obesity is a serious health and societal issue. Rising at extreme rates, one may call it an epidemic. Childhood obesity increases incidences of mortality later in life, causes asthma and type II diabetes, which was only found in adults. With these ill effects, childhood obesity is an issue that should not be taken lightly. Over the last several years, obesity in children has increased fifty percent per the (as citied with the www.healthopedia.com). While the cause of this is equivocal, and heredity may play a role, there are some contributing factors. The media, parents/caregivers, and schools are major influences which are, to some extent, responsible for this astounding inclination of obesity among children.

Despite steady progress over most of the past century toward ensuring the health of our country’s children, we begin the 21st century with a startling setback— an epidemic of childhood obesity. This epidemic is occurring in boys and girls in all 50 states, in younger children as well as adolescents, across all socioeconomic strata, and among all ethnic groups— though specific subgroups, including African Americans, Hispanics, and American Indians, are disproportionately affected. At a time when we have learned that excess weight has significant and troublesome health consequences, we nevertheless see our population, in general, and our children, in particular, gaining weight to a dangerous degree and at an alarming rate. The increasing prevalence of childhood obesity 1 throughout the United States has led policy makers to rank it as a critical public health threat. Over the past three decades, its rate has more than doubled for preschool children aged 2 to 5 years and adolescents aged 12 to 19 years, and it has more than tripled for children aged 6 to 11 years. At present, approximately nine million children over 6 years of age are considered obese. (as citied in the Preventing Childhood Obesity: Health in the Balance 2005)

Obesity rates have increased sharply in the United States over the past several years, and today, nearly one-third of children and adolescents are overweight or obese (as citied in SHPPS 2006). These children are developing “adult” diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and hypertension, and are at increased risk for heart disease, stroke, certain types of cancer and other serious chronic conditions. Primary prevention is not an option for many children who are already overweight. Research on successful interventions for children who are overweight or at risk of becoming overweight is extremely important to effectively reduce childhood obesity in this country. However the fundamentals are clear, to stay healthy, eat a balanced diet and devote adequate time to physical activity. Childhood obesity in America is a growing disease that has become an epidemic that has lasting psychological effects, because of advertisement of fast food, lack of physical activities, and parental control, which has made food become a major health issue in many young teenagers’ lives today.

The nation’s growing recognition of the obesity crisis as a major health concern for its children and youth has led to an array of diverse efforts aimed at increasing physical activity and promoting healthful eating. These efforts, however, generally remain fragmented and are implemented on a small-scale. Furthermore, there is a lack of systematic tracking and evaluation of childhood obesity prevention interventions. Compared with the strong commitment and heavy infusion of governmental and private-sector resources to other major public health concerns, such as an impending infectious disease outbreak or bioterrorism, there is a marked underinvestment in the prevention of childhood obesity and related (as citied in Committee on Progress in Preventing Childhood Obesity 2007) Childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past 30 years. The prevalence of obesity among children aged 6 to 11 years increased from 6.5% in 1980 to 19.6% in 2008. The prevalence of obesity among adolescents aged 12 to 19 years increased from 5.0% to 18.1% (as cited with National Center for Health Statistics) A variety of factors contributes to childhood obesity, including learned patterns of behavior, genetics, a decreased emphasis on physical activity and exercise, and access to inexpensive, dense fast foods typically rich in fats and sugars but limited in fiber, vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients. School nurses, pediatricians, and other health care professionals who provide care to children should help educate children about healthy food choices and portion sizes and the need to increase activity and decrease caloric intake. Parents should be taught to avoid overfeeding infants and to familiarize themselves with nutritional needs and optimum growth rates. The overweight child should be assisted in keeping a record of what, where, and when he/she eats to help identify situations that lead to overeating. Unhealthy weight loss behaviors, such as fad diets or purging, are discouraged. Children and teens benefit from weight loss support programs. Snacks should consist of foods such as raw vegetables rather than cookies, candies, or sugary drinks. Families that exercise together walking, hiking, biking, and swimming provide children with interest in, knowledge of, and practice in activities that help to maintain desired weight levels. (as citied in The Surgeon General 's Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity 2001) Throughout my journey of childhood obesity is not only a physical disease but also the emotional depression, anxiety, poor body image. These issues cause me to have low self-esteem which I know can be damaging in many ways. They may cause the child to engage in risky behaviors, such as drug or inhalant abuse. The child may also have low self-fulfilling expectations regarding her education and future career. The medical expenses and indirect costs associated with obesity place a significant burden on a health care system that already is overwhelmed and threaten our unstable economy. If something is not done to reverse the childhood obesity epidemic, our next generation can expect even larger medical bills and a health care system less capable of meeting its needs.
The Cause At the simplest level, childhood obesity is caused by an energy imbalance—children consuming more energy (calories) through foods and beverages than they expend through normal growth, physical activity and daily living. Developing research suggests that the environments our children live in have a profound impact on the foods they eat and the amount of activity they get. For example, most students have little or no time to be active at school, while junk foods and sugary drinks are readily available. Many families live in communities that offer limited access to affordable healthy foods, have few safe places for kids to play or do not support walking or biking.
Facts
One part of the solution to reversing the obesity epidemic is making healthy, nutritious foods and beverages more affordable and accessible; discouraging the consumption of unhealthy foods and beverages; and achieving an appropriate caloric intake are all important strategies for preventing childhood obesity.
In the Home: In many neighborhoods especially in low-income communities and communities of color there is a lack of access to supermarkets, farmers’ markets or other sources of affordable, nutritious foods. Yet, research indicates that when people have access to healthy food options, they consume more fruits and vegetables (as citied in American Journal 2002). Outside of the Home: Children today consume a significant amount of their daily calories away from home either in school, at neighborhood stores or at fast-food restaurants. Restaurant meals can add twice as many calories and three times more fat than home-prepared meals (citied in Journal of the American Dietetic Ass. 2001). Many schools offer “competitive foods” (those sold outside of the federally reimbursed school breakfast, lunch and after-school snack programs), which are often low in nutritional value and high in calories, fat and sodium. The most popular competitive food choices include cookies, candy, sweetened juice drinks and carbonated soft drinks. Obesity places an enormous burden on the health care system and the economy as a whole. Obese children cost the health care system roughly three times more than the average child. Those who also lack insurance or access to health care place an even greater burden on the health care system. • Childhood obesity is estimated to cost $14 billion annually in direct health expenses, and children covered by Medicaid account for $3 billion of those expenses (citied T. Medstat 2006). • The average total health expenses for a child treated for obesity under private insurance is $3,743 annually, while the average health cost for all children covered by private insurance is about $1,108(citied T. Medstat 2006). • Annually, the average total health expenses for a child treated for obesity under Medicaid is $6,730, while the average health cost for all children on Medicaid is $2,446(citied T. Medstat 2006). Local governments make many of the decisions that affect access to healthy food and opportunities for physical activity and therefore play an important role in preventing childhood obesity. Because many children in cities and towns nationwide are facing the health and emotional consequences of childhood obesity, it is incumbent upon local governments to strengthen the role they play in providing their children and youth with access to and availability of healthy choices (as citied in the Local Government Actions to Prevent Childhood Obesity) Childhood obesity can be addressed through a doctor 's supervision. This will include diet, proper nutritional support from a dietician, and psychological counseling if needed. Often times, teens can become depressed by their looks. Losing weight and keeping a healthy lifestyle isn 't easy when one is dramatically overweight. If addressed quickly, children can lose weight with a proper exercise regimen, diet, and help from their friends and family. Society need to have understanding for problems that of the obese. Many youth and adults past and present suffer from this disease and don’t realize the danger. I do encourage that the schools along with parents should work as a team to encourage activity along with good nutritional habits. Children are very vulnerable and therefore need guidance. With physical affects obesity has on children, this matter should be attended to with great concern. To prevent childhood obesity, children need support from the media, their parents, and their school. With help from these influences, there is a greater chance that childhood obesity will decrease and become an issue of the past. Throughout my journey of childhood obesity is not only a physical disease but also the emotional depression, anxiety, poor body image. These issues cause me to have low self-esteem which I know can be damaging in many ways. They may cause the child to engage in risky behaviors, such as drug or inhalant abuse. The child may also have low self-fulfilling expectations regarding her education and future career. Society need to have understanding for problems that of the obese. Many youth and adults past and present suffer from this disease and don’t realize the danger. I do encourage that the schools along with parents should work as a team to encourage activity along with good nutritional habits. Children are very vulnerable and therefore need guidance. With physical affects obesity has on children, this matter should be attended to with great concern. To prevent childhood obesity, children need support from the media, their parents, and their school. With help from these influences, there is a greater chance that childhood obesity will decrease and become an issue of the past.

References

1. SHPPS 2006: Overview. Department of Health and Human Services: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2007. http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/shpps/2006/factsheets/pdf/FS_Overview_SHPPS2006.pdf. 2. Obesity.(2009. In Taber’s Cyclopedia Medical Dictionary. Retrieved from http://www.credoreference.com/entry/tcmd/obesity 3. National Center for Health Statistics. Health, United States, 2004 with Chartbook on Trends in the Health of Americans [pdf 3.8M]. Hyattsville, MD; 2004.

4. Morland K, Wing S and Diez R. “The Contextual Effect of the Local Food Environment on Residents’ Diets: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study.” American Journal of Public Health, 92(11):1761-1767, November 2002.

5. Zoumas-Morse C, Rock CL, Sobo EJ, et al. “Children’s Patterns of Macronutrient Intake and Associations with Restaurant and Home Eating.” Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 101(8): 923-925, August 2001.

6. Childhood Obesity: Costs, Treatment Patterns, Disparities in Care, and Prevalent Medical Conditions. Thomson Medstat Research Brief, 2006. http://www.medstat.com/pdfs/childhood_obesity.pdf.

7. Childhood Obesity: Costs, Treatment Patterns, Disparities in Care, and Prevalent Medical Conditions. Thomson Medstat Research Brief, 2006. http://www.medstat.com/pdfs/childhood_obesity.pdf.

8. Childhood Obesity: Costs, Treatment Patterns, Disparities in Care, and Prevalent Medical Conditions. Thomson Medstat Research Brief, 2006. http://www.medstat.com/pdfs/childhood_obesity.pdf.

9. Koplan, Jeffrey P. (Editor); Liverman, Catharyn T. (Editor); Kraak, Vivica A. (Editor). Preventing Childhood Obesity: Health in the Balance. Washington, DC, USA: National Academies Press, 2005. p 1. http://site.ebrary.com/lib/ashford/Doc?id=10075881&ppg=21 Copyright © 2005. National Academies Press. All rights reserved.

10. Committee on Progress in Preventing Childhood Obesity (Contributor); Institute of Medicine (U.S.), Committee on Progress in Preventing Childhood Obesity Staff (Contributor). Progress in Preventing Childhood Obesity : How Do We Measure Up?. Washington, DC, USA: National Academies Press, 2007. p 351. http://site.ebrary.com/lib/ashford/Doc?id=10170922&ppg=369 Copyright © 2007. National Academies Press. All rights reserved.

11. Sanchez, Eduardo (Editor); Parker, Lynn (Editor); Burns, Annina Catherine (Editor). Local Government Actions to Prevent Childhood Obesity. Washington, DC, USA: National Academies Press, 2009. p xxxvii. http://site.ebrary.com/lib/ashford/Doc?id=10379893&ppg=37 Copyright © 2009. National Academies Press. All rights reserved.

12. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Surgeon General 's Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity. Rockville, MD: Public Health Service, Office of the Surgeon General; 2001.

References: 1. SHPPS 2006: Overview. Department of Health and Human Services: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2007. http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/shpps/2006/factsheets/pdf/FS_Overview_SHPPS2006.pdf. 2. Obesity.(2009. In Taber’s Cyclopedia Medical Dictionary. Retrieved from http://www.credoreference.com/entry/tcmd/obesity 3 6. Childhood Obesity: Costs, Treatment Patterns, Disparities in Care, and Prevalent Medical Conditions. Thomson Medstat Research Brief, 2006. http://www.medstat.com/pdfs/childhood_obesity.pdf. 7. Childhood Obesity: Costs, Treatment Patterns, Disparities in Care, and Prevalent Medical Conditions. Thomson Medstat Research Brief, 2006. http://www.medstat.com/pdfs/childhood_obesity.pdf. 8. Childhood Obesity: Costs, Treatment Patterns, Disparities in Care, and Prevalent Medical Conditions. Thomson Medstat Research Brief, 2006. http://www.medstat.com/pdfs/childhood_obesity.pdf. Washington, DC, USA: National Academies Press, 2005. p 1. Washington, DC, USA: National Academies Press, 2007. p 351. Washington, DC, USA: National Academies Press, 2009. p xxxvii.