Childhood Obesity
Childhood obesity is a serious health problem. When a child is obese it means that they are above their normal weight for their age and height. Lack of exercise, eating habits, and genetics all play a role when it comes to childhood obesity. Obesity can lead to serious health conditions like type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure at a younger age. Therefore, being aware of the causes and consequences of childhood obesity is important.
Intervention should begin at an early age because obese children are more likely to become obese adults. A trained healthcare provider will measure the child’s body mass index (BMI) to rule out obesity. This consist of the child’s age and height. For children, the Centers for Disease Control …show more content…
This is because many children rather watch television or play with electronic devices than to do physical activity like going out for a walk at the park. Television has a negative impact on children because the majority of fast food restaurants have commercials that are specifically meant to get their attention. For example, most of them will promote a “free toy” with the purchase of a meal. Fast food restaurants are not the only ones with appealing commercials but also sugary snacks. It is important that parents limit the amount of time children spend watching television or playing with video games, tablets, and cell phones. Parents should spend time with their children playing outdoors more often. Getting the entire family involved in physical activity everyday, this would not only benefit the child but also everyone else in the household. For example, going out for a run, playing tag, riding a bike, or even just to walk around the neighborhood. Another way that children can do physical activity is by playing sports. Parents should encourage their children to join their schools sport team. If none are available at the school, parents could also check with their local Parks and Recreation …show more content…
Some of them include, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Type 2 diabetes affects the way the body uses sugar, which is increased by obesity. High blood pressure and high cholesterol contributes to the buildup of plaques in the arteries. This can cause the arteries to narrow and harden, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke in the future. Children who are obese are at higher risk of getting these diseases at an early age. Another important factor is depression. Depression can be both a cause and consequence of obesity. Children could be depressed because either they are obese or because of personal problems in the family, which would make them to overeat. In some cases, the causes of obesity come from genetics. Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a genetic condition that is caused by a defect on chromosome number 15 (NHS, 2014). One of the problems that PWS causes is a continuous desire to eat food, which can easily lead to weight
Intervention should begin at an early age because obese children are more likely to become obese adults. A trained healthcare provider will measure the child’s body mass index (BMI) to rule out obesity. This consist of the child’s age and height. For children, the Centers for Disease Control …show more content…
This is because many children rather watch television or play with electronic devices than to do physical activity like going out for a walk at the park. Television has a negative impact on children because the majority of fast food restaurants have commercials that are specifically meant to get their attention. For example, most of them will promote a “free toy” with the purchase of a meal. Fast food restaurants are not the only ones with appealing commercials but also sugary snacks. It is important that parents limit the amount of time children spend watching television or playing with video games, tablets, and cell phones. Parents should spend time with their children playing outdoors more often. Getting the entire family involved in physical activity everyday, this would not only benefit the child but also everyone else in the household. For example, going out for a run, playing tag, riding a bike, or even just to walk around the neighborhood. Another way that children can do physical activity is by playing sports. Parents should encourage their children to join their schools sport team. If none are available at the school, parents could also check with their local Parks and Recreation …show more content…
Some of them include, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Type 2 diabetes affects the way the body uses sugar, which is increased by obesity. High blood pressure and high cholesterol contributes to the buildup of plaques in the arteries. This can cause the arteries to narrow and harden, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke in the future. Children who are obese are at higher risk of getting these diseases at an early age. Another important factor is depression. Depression can be both a cause and consequence of obesity. Children could be depressed because either they are obese or because of personal problems in the family, which would make them to overeat. In some cases, the causes of obesity come from genetics. Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a genetic condition that is caused by a defect on chromosome number 15 (NHS, 2014). One of the problems that PWS causes is a continuous desire to eat food, which can easily lead to weight