Childhood Obesity
RUNNING HEADER: CHILDHOOD OBESITY
Abstract
Twenty years ago there were just a hand full of children that were overweight, mostly because of a hormonal or genetic disorder (Johnson, 2005). Today a high rate, nearly 40 percent of children are overweight. There are so many questions to be answered and problems to be solved. Will schools actually start stepping up and helping parents with this problem? What about the affects on the children who have this problem? What should be done to help the children of the future? In this paper I will explain what needs to be done and explain what schools have started to solve this epidemic.
Causes
What causes childhood obesity? Is it parents? Teachers? Children themselves? No matter the cause it is a problem and it needs to be taken care of and taken care of fast. The cause of obesity occurs when the input of energy (food) is more than the output of energy (activity). For example, 3,500 calories equals one pound, so if a child goes over that by 50 to 100 calories a day that means a 5 to 10 pound weight gain in about a year. If that small imbalance between the two energies continues there will be a very big weight gain (Johnson, 2005). There is a difference between obese and overweight, obese is the upper half of being overweight. A doctor will diagnose a child as obese if that child is greater than 90 percent for weight for height or if that child is greater than 95th percentile of body mass index (BMI), age and sex specific (Kendall).
Impact on health One major impact that a child faces when overweight is major health problems. One of the most dangerous health problems that an obese child can get is type 2 diabetes. The heavier a child is the more likely he or she is to develop this disease and that would make it even harder to loose the weight. Obese children also have increased blood pressure, heart rate and cardiac output when looked at compared to their peers who are not overweight (Johnson, 2005). If a child is
Abstract
Twenty years ago there were just a hand full of children that were overweight, mostly because of a hormonal or genetic disorder (Johnson, 2005). Today a high rate, nearly 40 percent of children are overweight. There are so many questions to be answered and problems to be solved. Will schools actually start stepping up and helping parents with this problem? What about the affects on the children who have this problem? What should be done to help the children of the future? In this paper I will explain what needs to be done and explain what schools have started to solve this epidemic.
Causes
What causes childhood obesity? Is it parents? Teachers? Children themselves? No matter the cause it is a problem and it needs to be taken care of and taken care of fast. The cause of obesity occurs when the input of energy (food) is more than the output of energy (activity). For example, 3,500 calories equals one pound, so if a child goes over that by 50 to 100 calories a day that means a 5 to 10 pound weight gain in about a year. If that small imbalance between the two energies continues there will be a very big weight gain (Johnson, 2005). There is a difference between obese and overweight, obese is the upper half of being overweight. A doctor will diagnose a child as obese if that child is greater than 90 percent for weight for height or if that child is greater than 95th percentile of body mass index (BMI), age and sex specific (Kendall).
Impact on health One major impact that a child faces when overweight is major health problems. One of the most dangerous health problems that an obese child can get is type 2 diabetes. The heavier a child is the more likely he or she is to develop this disease and that would make it even harder to loose the weight. Obese children also have increased blood pressure, heart rate and cardiac output when looked at compared to their peers who are not overweight (Johnson, 2005). If a child is
References: Buckmaster & Brownell. (1988). A Child 's Growth: Brain, Body, Motor Skills, and Sexual Maturation. Retrieved on August 22, 2005, from, https://mycampus.phoenix.edu/secure/resource/resource.asp Kendall, P. (2005). Childhood Obesity. Retrieved on August 22, 2005, from, www.ext.colostate.edu Johnson, M. (2005). "Evaluation and Treatment of Childhood Obesity". Retrieved on August 22, 2005, from, http://www.childobesity.com/about.htm PNNonline. (2004). Making Childhood Obesity Prevention a Public Health Priority. Retrieved on August 22, 2005, from, http://www.pnnonline.org/print.php?sid=5495 Schwartz, A. (2003). Childhood Obesity: A Societal Problem to Solve. Retrieved on August 22, 2005, from, www.aboutourkids.org