Childhood Obesity

Spreading the Cure for Childhood Obesity

Alyssa Herold

Kaplan University

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the increased amount of children suffering from obesity and why it is a major health concern in the United States. It will explain in detail what childhood obesity is, the important contributing factors which cause the condition, and what types of preventative actions can be implemented into schools and at home. The overall conclusion is that this can be solved with education, increasing physical activity and developing nutritional programs at a young age.

Spreading the Cure for Childhood Obesity

Rising rates of childhood obesity threaten the economic and fiscal health of the nation. Childhood obesity rates have more than tripled since 1980 and almost one-third of children over 2 years or age, are already considered overweight and obese. The fundamental reason children suffer from obesity is because the imbalance of calories consumed and calories expended on physical activity. Simultaneous television & video time, advertisement of fast food and poor eating habits, and lack of parental control equals childhood obesity are all validating risk factors for alarmingly high rising health care costs, as well as sociological and physiological development issues in our youth. However, with the development of nutrition and health related programs at home, school, and in our community; we as a community, parents, educators, can get our children back on the right track. Childhood obesity has skyrocketed in the past three decades and particularly It is becoming troublesome on their future. This problem begins when a child is above the average weight based on their current height and age. A child suffering from obesity is at risk increased health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and depression, as they age. (Mayo Clinic, 2012). As the Mayo Clinic states, not all children carrying extra weight are considered overweight or obese. Body fat can be carried differently per each child as he/she develops and grows; therefore consulting a doctor to see if they are within a healthy body mass index (BMI) range is necessary. Vicious factors can influence the likelihood of child’s becoming overweight. Typically obesity is defined as more than 20 percent above the ideal body weight based on a particular height and age. Through dieting alone, 80 percent of the loss is from fatty tissue and 20 percent is from muscle when losing weight. Once an adolescent is able to meet their goal, regular exercise becomes essential in maintaining their desired weight. There are many important factors which contribute to the concern of childhood obesity, one of which being the increase in hours per day children spend watching television. Children 8-18 years of age spend on average approximately seven and a half hours of their day revolved around some type of social media. (CDC, 2012) Statistics show that four and a half of those hours have been spent in front of a television. (CDC, 2012). The reason this has become a contributing factor, is that this is valuable time spent away from physical activities which leads to more frequent snacking and eating; as well as a decrease in physical activity and energy. In 1990, the Children’s Television Act (CTA) was developed to increase the amount of educational and informational programming for children available on television. (Children’s Educational Television, 2011) This core programming indicates that for children 16 years and under, they will receive at least 30 minutes in length, between 7:00 a.m. and 10 p.m., a regular weekly scheduled programming that will meet their social/emotional needs as well as intellectual/cognitive needs. Broadcasters and Cable Operators can no longer address website pages during a children’s program; and have a limit on commercial matter. Although, this may appeal and be particularly satisfying for parents knowing the amount of educational programming is increased, it still does not justify nor prevent the problem of childhood obesity. With this solution, children spending time in front of the television may see an increase in cognitive function and development, however it is decreasing their physical activity. The Physical Activity Guidelines’ recommendation from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service, states that young people of the United States should participate in at least sixty minutes of aerobic physical activity daily. (CDC, 2012). Physical activity (exercise) is any bodily motion that enhances or maintains the physical fitness and overall health and wellness. Physical exercise can either be flexibility exercises (such as range of motion), Aerobic exercises (sports, cycling, swimming, running, anything that increases cardiovascular endurance) or Anaerobic Activity (weight training or high-intensity interval training, which increases the short-term muscle strength). As the CDC states, schools can promote physical activity through recess, classroom-based physical activity, intramural physical activity clubs, interscholastic sports, and physical education. As of 2011, only 77% of children ages 9-13 years participated in free-time physical activity within 7 days; and only 29% of high school students participate in sixty minutes per day.(Digest 81, 2008) These statistical facts prove that the participation of physical activity decreases as individuals grow, therefore as a parent it important to begin implementing it at a young age. Other important contributing risk factors are based on regular high-calorie foods, particularly fast food, baked goods, soft drinks and vending machine snacks. These items contain high amounts of sugar, fat and calories and therefore lead to weight gain. About 55 million school-age children are enrolled in schools where they eat and drink meals at. (Digest 81, 2008). As a child begins learning what is involved with mindful eating, it is important to record food diaries to monitor progress the child has made. This means including every calorie in which they are consuming during meals and snacks at all times. Its’ also equally important to understand what the child is going through. For example, place a forkful of food in your mouth of something you absolutely love. Its’ fragrant, hot, and perfectly well cooked. Now, put the fork down and resist the challenge. Our eating habits as a nation have gone from filling up our appetite to a reflexive urge to plow through your meal like a Cookie Monster. Chew slowly, stop talking, leave the fork on the table, and enjoy the aroma. Students have access to sugar drinks and less healthy foods through the day because of vending machines and limited access to healthy affordable foods. Ever go to the supermarket and examine the ‘Organic ‘or ‘Healthy’ aisle? Typically prices are skyrocketed and therefore parents are more likely to access convenience stores and fast food restaurants in order to save pennies. What about the popular trend of ‘super-sizing ‘your meal? Increased portion sizes of meals, simply teaches children to eat more because they’ve more than likely been taught to finish everything on their plate before leaving the table. Children no longer understand the concept of sitting down with their family, eating slowly, and allowing food to digest properly. Another problem children face, are the physical complications with Type 2 Diabetes (chronic condition which affects the way a child metabolizes sugar or glucose); Metabolic Syndrome; High Cholesterol & High Blood Pressure (buildup of plaque in the arties, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke); Asthma/Breathing Difficulty (Extra weight can cause problems developing child’s lungs); Sleep Disorders (caused from abnormal breathing or snoring) and Early Puberty or Menstruation (hormone imbalances). As for social complications, a child may suffer low self-esteem, bullying, depression and even behavioral and learning problems due to anxiety and poor social skills. With the number of overweight children on the rise in our nation, it is time for parents and caregivers to step forth and begin providing healthy meals and snacks. Although some of the risk factors consist of heredity and gender, typically the best way to begin avoiding this condition is awareness of good nutrition and developing healthy eating habits. Parents can begin by focusing on good health, and not a particular goal weight. By teaching and modeling healthy attitudes towards food and not using snack times as “cheats” or “treats.” Establishing meal and snack times, so that families can coordinate their busy lives around the schedule, can also help influence a child’s’ eating habits. Plan sensible portions by using the USDA food plate (also previously known as the food pyramid. Families can access the USDA food plate online (www.choosemyplate.gov) and track calories, plan meals, count calories and macronutrients in meals, input weight management as well as become educated on different types of physical activity. The USDA describes the food plate with these five food groups, Fruits, Vegetables, Whole Grains, Protein and Dairy. Each of these are essential towards your daily food intake and will provide children the vital minerals and nutrients they need to grow. When evaluating your plate, fruits should fill half of it, and consist of any fruit or 100% fruit juice whether it is fresh, canned, frozen, or dried and may be cut-up, whole, or pureed. Vegetables should also fill half of your plate and consist of any vegetable or 100% vegetable juice whether raw or cooked; fresh, frozen, canned or dried/dehydrated and may be whole, cut-up or mashed. Whole grains (the entire grain kernel consists of bran, germ, and endosperm) consist of any food made from wheat, rice, oats, cornmeal, barley, or another cereal grain. It is recommended that you make half of your grains whole grains. The amount of protein you need depends on age, sex and level of physical activity however a diet should include 8 oz of cooked seafood per week. Other products of protein can be nuts, eggs, soy products, beans and peas, meat, and lean poultry. All fluid milk products made from calcium as well has foods made from milk which have little to no calcium, such as cream cheese, cream and butter; are part of the dairy group. Calcium foods such as cottage cheese can also be a good source for protein. Recommendations for dairy products are as follows; Children 2-3 years old: 2 cups; 4-8 years old: 2 ½ cups; and 3 cups for the remaining years to follow. Oils are fats that are at room temperature, and can come from many different plants and fish. They provide essential nutrients and the daily allowance is provided by the individuals’ age, sex and physical activity. Because there are so many of the recommended allowances of the USDA food plate which are typically based on these factors, it is highly recommended that a parent or individual sets an appointment with a Doctor or Dietitian to understand the proper amount of macronutrients needed in their diet. Successfully tackling childhood obesity will require a long-term commitment for individuals’ including the need to take responsibility and action together with community-based approaches. Achieving the need to reduce childhood obesity will be difficult and time-consuming, but it is imperative that everyone- politicians, policymakers, health care providers, and the American nation- all help. With discouragement of television and video time, early recognitions & routine assessments of children’s’ growth & body weight, an increase in availability of nutritious foods in schools, parental guidance to promote healthy eating patterns and physical activity as well as the provisions of new health care reform laws, this can help. These efforts will take time to reverse a 30-year epidemic, but the results will only benefit our children, our society and the fiscal health of our nation.

REFERENCES

Childhood Obesity. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER) Published. May 4, 2012. Copyright 1998-2013. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/childhood-obesity/ A Growing Problem. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. April 27, 2012.http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/childhood/problem.html. Retrieved from the Kaplan Library. Children’s Education Television. Federal Communications Commission. Consumer& Government Affairs. Published May 19, 2011. http://www.fcc.gov/guides/childrens-educational-television Snyder TD, Dillow SA, Hoffman CM. Digest 81. of education statistics2008. Washington (DC): U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics; 2009. NCES publication number 2009—020.

Food Groups Overview. United States Department of Agriculture. 2013. http://www.choosemyplate.gov/food-groups/oils-allowance.html

References: Childhood Obesity. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER) Published. May 4, 2012. Copyright 1998-2013. 　 http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/childhood-obesity/ 　 A Growing Problem. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. April 27, 2012.http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/childhood/problem.html. Retrieved from the Kaplan Library. 　 　Children’s Education Television. Federal Communications Commission. Consumer& Government Affairs. Published May 19, 2011. http://www.fcc.gov/guides/childrens-educational-television 　 Snyder TD, Dillow SA, Hoffman CM. Digest 81. of education statistics2008. Washington (DC): U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics; 2009. NCES publication number 2009—020. Food Groups Overview. United States Department of Agriculture. 2013. http://www.choosemyplate.gov/food-groups/oils-allowance.html