Childhood Obesity And Child Abuse Essay
Olethia Curry
Professor Benjamin
English 112
November 10, 2013
Childhood Obesity: Is It A Form of Child Abuse? Childhood obesity is a huge problem in the United States. It is known as a serious medical condition that causes other medical problems. Obesity is generally caused by genetics, certain illnesses, and uncontrolled behavior or overeating. According to the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC), “Childhood obesity is a growing epidemic in the United States. It affects more than 30 percent of children, on making it the most chronic disease of childhood.” Childhood obesity has become a controversial topic because some people would like to know when do parents become responsible for this condition. Childhood obesity should be a form of …show more content…
child abuse if parents are intentionally over-feeding their children.
Body Mass Index (BMI) Body Mass Index (BMI) is a tool that is used to determine the amount of fat that the body is consuming. In order for a physician to place an individual result on the BMI scale, they have to be measured by their height and weight. Once the figure is calculated, it is then plotted on a growth chart. This will determine whether the child is overweight, obese, or within the normal weight range. These readings are measured with a percentile result. According to the CDC, “BMI provides a reliable indicator of body fatness for most people and is used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems.” The BMI scale is broken up in four different classes that physicians go by. They are underweight, healthy weight, overweight, and obese. According to the CDC, the BMI scale states, “Underweight: less than the 5th percentile, Healthy Weight: less than the 85th percentile, Overweight: 85th to less than the 95th percentile, and Obese: equal to or greater than the 95th percentile.” This scale is screening children who have the possibility of having weight problems. The CDC and American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that physicians screen all children for being overweight or obese at the beginning of age 2. This is so the problem can be identified early, allowing the preventive measures to be addressed.
Genetics/Illnesses
Most of the time when people see overweight children, the first thing that come to their minds is that they just eat too much. Sometimes this might be the case, but there can be other factors that contribute to their condition. Genetics plays a big role in some obese children. If there are obese people in the family, especially the parents, there is a possibility that the child will be overweight or obese. According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, “If one parent is obese, there is a 50 percent chance that their children will also be obese. However, when both parents are obese, their children have an 80 percent chance of being obese.” Basically, these children do not have full control of their weight gain because it is in their genes. Parents can try to modify their eating habits and physical activity to prevent the excess weight gain, because their children have the potential to become overweight or obese. Due to these factors, this is not a form of child abuse. Other factors that play a crucial role in childhood obesity are certain illnesses. Here are a couple of medical conditions that cause weight gain. Hyperthyroidism is a condition to where the thyroid, which is located in the neck, does not produce enough hormones. When this occurs, the metabolism decreases causing an increase in weight. According to WebMd, “Thyroid hormone regulates our metabolism. So too little hormone slows the metabolism and often causes weight gain.” So if the thyroid is not well controlled, there will be an excessive weight gain. Another illness that causes weight gain is called Cushing’s Syndrome. This disease produces too much steroid hormone called Cortisol. It relieves a large amount of fat in certain parts of the body, such as the face, upper back and abdomen. There are other conditions, such as depression, high blood pressure, seizure disorders, and other diseases that require specific medications that the side effects are excessive weight gain. Because of certain medical conditions, the child does not have control of their weight gain therefore; this is not a form of child abuse.
Over-Eating/Uncontrolled Behavior/Controversy Although there is a small percentage of children who are obese due to an illness or genes, majority of children that are obese is simply because of over-eating. There are a lot of parents who just give their children whatever they want just to please them or to prevent a temper tantrum. According to Dr. Phil website on health, “Remember that your job as a parent is not to tell your child what he/she needs to hear.” There are some parents that use food as a baby-sitting source. They feel that as long as the child is quiet with food, they can be left alone. When food is being used as a controlled factor to the point of excessive weight, it represents a form of child abuse. The big controversy is when should parents be held responsible for their children weight gain? When children are severely underweight, parents are investigated on whether they are intentionally not feeding them. Therefore, parents of children who are severely overweight should also be investigated for over-feeding them. The author Sarah Boseley from The Guardian states, “Child health experts say parental failure over diet and exercise becomes a child protection issue.” Parents who are constantly feeding their children nothing but junk food or even just a large amount of food for every meal every day, becomes a major issue. Parents have to realize that they play a big role in their children eyes. They have to lead by example. If they display uncontrolled behavior with food, so will their children. Over-feeding their children is not only a form of child abuse, but it is also considered child neglect. There are many people who disagree that over-feeding children is not a case of child abuse. They feel that obesity is just a world-wide problem and everyone is held responsible, rather than the parents of these obese children. According to CBS News, “Obesity is an epidemic in the United States. As a society we’re all responsible.” This is a really strong statement to be made because no one wants to take the responsibility of a child being obese if they are stepping up to make a change. Society does play a big part in the obesity epidemic, but everyone within the society should not be held accountable if they practice good health habits. This includes, eating healthy and have a regular exercise regime. Some feel rather than making the parents fully responsible, they should be given a guideline on how to fix this growing problem. Every parent should be responsible for their children and their health, not everyone else children.
Health Risk Obesity in children causes major health problems, which generally carries over into adulthood.
According to Salynn Boyles from WebMD states, “Obesity affects a child’s health and put them on a path for developing many health issues as they get older.” Some of these medical conditions are heart disease, type 2 diabetes, asthma, and sleep apnea. It also affects them mentally and emotionally. Heart disease causes high blood pressure and high cholesterol. If it is left untreated it can lead to a stroke or heart attack. Type 2 Diabetes is generally caused by just a poor diet, and can often be reversed by eating the right foods and exercising. Asthma occurs when there is excess weight that put too much pressure on the lungs, which causes breathing problems. Sleep apnea occurs due to the extra weight in the body that causes snoring and abnormal breathing when the child is sleeping. And the emotional and mental issue takes place because obese children are often picked on and bullied. This causes depression and very low self-esteem. These are some very serious conditions that should not be ignored. Parent who have been counselled regarding their children obesity should be held responsible for their children excess weight gain, especially if they are fully aware of their medical conditions but still choose to be neglectful. This is a form of child …show more content…
abuse.
Nutrition/Physical Activity Most childhood obesity can be managed by exercising.
Parents need to set-up an activity schedule that would be beneficial to their children as well as for themselves. There are several ways that physical activities can be approached. Signing up for a favorite sport can help energize their children to exercise. This would help them get the proper physical activity while enjoying their sport. According to Sharon Denny from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics states, “Sports participation helps to reduce the risk of obesity in children. Most studies find that children who participate in sports have a lower body mass index (BMI) than those who are not active in sports.” Parents can also participate in physical activities with their children. They can do family outings such as, walking, riding bikes, football, basketball, swimming, etc. These activities will allow the entire family to stay fit. Physical activity keeps everyone healthy from the outside as well as the inside of their bodies. Parents who have obese children and do not allow their children to be physically active are being very neglectful towards their physical
health. Childhood obesity can also be managed by having a healthy nutritional diet. The amount of calories that a child consumes plays a major role with excessive weight gain. Foods that are high in calories and fats should either be eliminated or decreased. Rather than feeding junk food for snacks, fruits and vegetables should be replaced. No one is saying that a child should not have any sweet foods such as cake, chips, soda, but it should not be offered on a regular basis. Food servings should follow the correct measurements so children will not be over-fed. A change in the diet should be a change for the entire family, not just for an obese child. According to World Health Organization, “In making healthy foods and beverage available at home and in providing, supporting one encouraging opportunities for physical activity, parents can influence their children behavior.” Including the entire family on a healthier diet, will not isolate the overweight or obese child. This will most likely make it easier for him/her to transition to a healthier lifestyle. Parent who fail to change the diet of their obese children and continue to feed them whatever they want, are committing child neglect and a form of child abuse.
Healthcare System
Many would say that parents should not take the total blame for their children obesity problem. They feel that the healthcare system is one of the main reasons why childhood obesity is on the rise. Medical insurances do not cover many claims that have “obesity” tagged to it. They feel that obesity is not a disease but a lifestyle choice, which means it, should be the parent’s responsibility to maintain their children weight gain, why should they pay for it? According to Dr. Leena Khaitan, from the University Hospitals Case Medical Center, “For a doctor to talk to a patient about losing weight, they wouldn’t get reimbursed.” This puts pediatricians and parents in a big bind. Once a physician determines that an obese child needs further medical attention regarding their excessive weight gain, a referral to see another specialist is the next step. Being that there is no insurance payment; doctors tend to address the problem but do not follow the proper protocol that is necessary to manage obesity.
Once Obama Care takes effect, obesity would not be considered a lifestyle choice. It would be a disease. This would allow the insurance companies to start paying for claims with an obesity diagnosis. This will be beneficial for pediatricians because they would be able to perform a complete work-up for obese children. They would be able to be seen by specialists without the parents coming 100% out of pocket for any treatment that is needed. Although this is a good thing, there will be some parents who would take full advantage of the medical help they need to keep their children at a healthy weight. But, there are other parents who will not take the time to get the extra help. It really does not matter how obesity is worked into the healthcare system, parents are the main responsible party of their children weight gain.
Conclusion
Childhood obesity is an ongoing debate on whether parents should be held responsible. Many will say that it is a world-wide problem and society need to change on how obesity should be addressed. Even though society plays a big part on how people eat, the responsibility still lies with the parents. Parents are role models to their children and they usually mimic their parent behaviors. Obesity needs to be addressed immediately so certain medical conditions can be controlled by a physician. Early detection will prevent obese children to have medical problems as an adult. If parents are being non-caring and noncompliant about their children health, they should be charged with medical neglect and child abuse.
Works Cited
“About BMI for Children and Teens.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 13 Sept.
2011. Web. 26 Nov. 2013. <http://www.cdc.gov/healthy/assessing/bmi_about_childrens_ bmi.html#what%/20%/20BMI/20percentile>. 2013. <http://cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/index.html>. 16 July 2010. Web. 26 Nov. 2013. <http://www.the guardian.com/uk/2010/jul/16/parents -obese-children-neglect>.
Boyles, Salynn. “Children’s Health.” Child Obesity Risks May Be Greater Than Thought. N.p., 24 Sept. 2012. Web. 26 Nov. 2013. <http://children.webmd.com/news/20120924/child- obesity-risks-greater>.
“Debate over Obese Children vs. Parental Rights.” CBSNews. CBS Interactive. 29 Nov. 2011. Web. 25 Nov. 2013. <http://www.cbsnews.com/news/debate-over-obese-children-vs- Parental-rights/>.
Denny, Sharon. “Combating Obesity with Fitness and Activities.” From Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. N.p., 01 Sept. 2013. Web. 29 Nov. 2013. <http://www.eatright.org/ public/content.aspx?id=6442478655>. McGraw, Phillip. “Dr.Phil.com-Advice-Saying No to Your Child’s Overeating.” N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Nov. 2013. <http://www.drphil.com/article/394/diet/medical-reasons-obesity>.
“Obesity Action Coalition: What Is Childhood Obesity?” Obesity Action Coalition: What Is Childhood Obesity Comments. N.p.,n.d. Web. 26 Nov. 2013. <http://www.obesity action.org/understanding-obesity-in-children/what-is-childhood-obesity>.
“Obesity In Children and Teens.” American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. N.p., 01 Mar. 2011. Web. 24 Nov. 2013. <http://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_ Youth/Facts_for_Families_Pages/Obesity_In_Children_And_Teens_79.aspx>.
“Parenting: Family Health Guide: Childhood Obesity.” N.p.,n.d. Web. 26 Nov. 2013. <http:// www.parenting.com/health-guide/childhood-obesity/causes-diet-lack-of-physical-activity -environment-psychological-factors-genetics-socioeconomic-factors-medical- conditions>.
Rodgers, Kate. “Obesity Now a Disease, What Does That Mean for Insurance Plans?” Fox Business. N.p., n.d. 20 Jun 2013. Web. 03 Dec 2013. <http://www.foxbusiness.com/ personal-finance/2013/06/20/obesity-now-disease-what-does-that-mean-for-insurance- plans/
“What Can Be Done To Fight For Childhood Obesity Epidemic?” World Health Organization
(WHO) N.p., 2013. Web. 29 Nov. 2013. <http://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/
childhood_what_can_be_done/en/index.html>.
Professor Benjamin
English 112
November 10, 2013
Childhood Obesity: Is It A Form of Child Abuse? Childhood obesity is a huge problem in the United States. It is known as a serious medical condition that causes other medical problems. Obesity is generally caused by genetics, certain illnesses, and uncontrolled behavior or overeating. According to the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC), “Childhood obesity is a growing epidemic in the United States. It affects more than 30 percent of children, on making it the most chronic disease of childhood.” Childhood obesity has become a controversial topic because some people would like to know when do parents become responsible for this condition. Childhood obesity should be a form of …show more content…
child abuse if parents are intentionally over-feeding their children.
Body Mass Index (BMI) Body Mass Index (BMI) is a tool that is used to determine the amount of fat that the body is consuming. In order for a physician to place an individual result on the BMI scale, they have to be measured by their height and weight. Once the figure is calculated, it is then plotted on a growth chart. This will determine whether the child is overweight, obese, or within the normal weight range. These readings are measured with a percentile result. According to the CDC, “BMI provides a reliable indicator of body fatness for most people and is used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems.” The BMI scale is broken up in four different classes that physicians go by. They are underweight, healthy weight, overweight, and obese. According to the CDC, the BMI scale states, “Underweight: less than the 5th percentile, Healthy Weight: less than the 85th percentile, Overweight: 85th to less than the 95th percentile, and Obese: equal to or greater than the 95th percentile.” This scale is screening children who have the possibility of having weight problems. The CDC and American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that physicians screen all children for being overweight or obese at the beginning of age 2. This is so the problem can be identified early, allowing the preventive measures to be addressed.
Genetics/Illnesses
Most of the time when people see overweight children, the first thing that come to their minds is that they just eat too much. Sometimes this might be the case, but there can be other factors that contribute to their condition. Genetics plays a big role in some obese children. If there are obese people in the family, especially the parents, there is a possibility that the child will be overweight or obese. According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, “If one parent is obese, there is a 50 percent chance that their children will also be obese. However, when both parents are obese, their children have an 80 percent chance of being obese.” Basically, these children do not have full control of their weight gain because it is in their genes. Parents can try to modify their eating habits and physical activity to prevent the excess weight gain, because their children have the potential to become overweight or obese. Due to these factors, this is not a form of child abuse. Other factors that play a crucial role in childhood obesity are certain illnesses. Here are a couple of medical conditions that cause weight gain. Hyperthyroidism is a condition to where the thyroid, which is located in the neck, does not produce enough hormones. When this occurs, the metabolism decreases causing an increase in weight. According to WebMd, “Thyroid hormone regulates our metabolism. So too little hormone slows the metabolism and often causes weight gain.” So if the thyroid is not well controlled, there will be an excessive weight gain. Another illness that causes weight gain is called Cushing’s Syndrome. This disease produces too much steroid hormone called Cortisol. It relieves a large amount of fat in certain parts of the body, such as the face, upper back and abdomen. There are other conditions, such as depression, high blood pressure, seizure disorders, and other diseases that require specific medications that the side effects are excessive weight gain. Because of certain medical conditions, the child does not have control of their weight gain therefore; this is not a form of child abuse.
Over-Eating/Uncontrolled Behavior/Controversy Although there is a small percentage of children who are obese due to an illness or genes, majority of children that are obese is simply because of over-eating. There are a lot of parents who just give their children whatever they want just to please them or to prevent a temper tantrum. According to Dr. Phil website on health, “Remember that your job as a parent is not to tell your child what he/she needs to hear.” There are some parents that use food as a baby-sitting source. They feel that as long as the child is quiet with food, they can be left alone. When food is being used as a controlled factor to the point of excessive weight, it represents a form of child abuse. The big controversy is when should parents be held responsible for their children weight gain? When children are severely underweight, parents are investigated on whether they are intentionally not feeding them. Therefore, parents of children who are severely overweight should also be investigated for over-feeding them. The author Sarah Boseley from The Guardian states, “Child health experts say parental failure over diet and exercise becomes a child protection issue.” Parents who are constantly feeding their children nothing but junk food or even just a large amount of food for every meal every day, becomes a major issue. Parents have to realize that they play a big role in their children eyes. They have to lead by example. If they display uncontrolled behavior with food, so will their children. Over-feeding their children is not only a form of child abuse, but it is also considered child neglect. There are many people who disagree that over-feeding children is not a case of child abuse. They feel that obesity is just a world-wide problem and everyone is held responsible, rather than the parents of these obese children. According to CBS News, “Obesity is an epidemic in the United States. As a society we’re all responsible.” This is a really strong statement to be made because no one wants to take the responsibility of a child being obese if they are stepping up to make a change. Society does play a big part in the obesity epidemic, but everyone within the society should not be held accountable if they practice good health habits. This includes, eating healthy and have a regular exercise regime. Some feel rather than making the parents fully responsible, they should be given a guideline on how to fix this growing problem. Every parent should be responsible for their children and their health, not everyone else children.
Health Risk Obesity in children causes major health problems, which generally carries over into adulthood.
According to Salynn Boyles from WebMD states, “Obesity affects a child’s health and put them on a path for developing many health issues as they get older.” Some of these medical conditions are heart disease, type 2 diabetes, asthma, and sleep apnea. It also affects them mentally and emotionally. Heart disease causes high blood pressure and high cholesterol. If it is left untreated it can lead to a stroke or heart attack. Type 2 Diabetes is generally caused by just a poor diet, and can often be reversed by eating the right foods and exercising. Asthma occurs when there is excess weight that put too much pressure on the lungs, which causes breathing problems. Sleep apnea occurs due to the extra weight in the body that causes snoring and abnormal breathing when the child is sleeping. And the emotional and mental issue takes place because obese children are often picked on and bullied. This causes depression and very low self-esteem. These are some very serious conditions that should not be ignored. Parent who have been counselled regarding their children obesity should be held responsible for their children excess weight gain, especially if they are fully aware of their medical conditions but still choose to be neglectful. This is a form of child …show more content…
abuse.
Nutrition/Physical Activity Most childhood obesity can be managed by exercising.
Parents need to set-up an activity schedule that would be beneficial to their children as well as for themselves. There are several ways that physical activities can be approached. Signing up for a favorite sport can help energize their children to exercise. This would help them get the proper physical activity while enjoying their sport. According to Sharon Denny from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics states, “Sports participation helps to reduce the risk of obesity in children. Most studies find that children who participate in sports have a lower body mass index (BMI) than those who are not active in sports.” Parents can also participate in physical activities with their children. They can do family outings such as, walking, riding bikes, football, basketball, swimming, etc. These activities will allow the entire family to stay fit. Physical activity keeps everyone healthy from the outside as well as the inside of their bodies. Parents who have obese children and do not allow their children to be physically active are being very neglectful towards their physical
health. Childhood obesity can also be managed by having a healthy nutritional diet. The amount of calories that a child consumes plays a major role with excessive weight gain. Foods that are high in calories and fats should either be eliminated or decreased. Rather than feeding junk food for snacks, fruits and vegetables should be replaced. No one is saying that a child should not have any sweet foods such as cake, chips, soda, but it should not be offered on a regular basis. Food servings should follow the correct measurements so children will not be over-fed. A change in the diet should be a change for the entire family, not just for an obese child. According to World Health Organization, “In making healthy foods and beverage available at home and in providing, supporting one encouraging opportunities for physical activity, parents can influence their children behavior.” Including the entire family on a healthier diet, will not isolate the overweight or obese child. This will most likely make it easier for him/her to transition to a healthier lifestyle. Parent who fail to change the diet of their obese children and continue to feed them whatever they want, are committing child neglect and a form of child abuse.
Healthcare System
Many would say that parents should not take the total blame for their children obesity problem. They feel that the healthcare system is one of the main reasons why childhood obesity is on the rise. Medical insurances do not cover many claims that have “obesity” tagged to it. They feel that obesity is not a disease but a lifestyle choice, which means it, should be the parent’s responsibility to maintain their children weight gain, why should they pay for it? According to Dr. Leena Khaitan, from the University Hospitals Case Medical Center, “For a doctor to talk to a patient about losing weight, they wouldn’t get reimbursed.” This puts pediatricians and parents in a big bind. Once a physician determines that an obese child needs further medical attention regarding their excessive weight gain, a referral to see another specialist is the next step. Being that there is no insurance payment; doctors tend to address the problem but do not follow the proper protocol that is necessary to manage obesity.
Once Obama Care takes effect, obesity would not be considered a lifestyle choice. It would be a disease. This would allow the insurance companies to start paying for claims with an obesity diagnosis. This will be beneficial for pediatricians because they would be able to perform a complete work-up for obese children. They would be able to be seen by specialists without the parents coming 100% out of pocket for any treatment that is needed. Although this is a good thing, there will be some parents who would take full advantage of the medical help they need to keep their children at a healthy weight. But, there are other parents who will not take the time to get the extra help. It really does not matter how obesity is worked into the healthcare system, parents are the main responsible party of their children weight gain.
Conclusion
Childhood obesity is an ongoing debate on whether parents should be held responsible. Many will say that it is a world-wide problem and society need to change on how obesity should be addressed. Even though society plays a big part on how people eat, the responsibility still lies with the parents. Parents are role models to their children and they usually mimic their parent behaviors. Obesity needs to be addressed immediately so certain medical conditions can be controlled by a physician. Early detection will prevent obese children to have medical problems as an adult. If parents are being non-caring and noncompliant about their children health, they should be charged with medical neglect and child abuse.
Works Cited
“About BMI for Children and Teens.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 13 Sept.
2011. Web. 26 Nov. 2013. <http://www.cdc.gov/healthy/assessing/bmi_about_childrens_ bmi.html#what%/20%/20BMI/20percentile>. 2013. <http://cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/index.html>. 16 July 2010. Web. 26 Nov. 2013. <http://www.the guardian.com/uk/2010/jul/16/parents -obese-children-neglect>.
Boyles, Salynn. “Children’s Health.” Child Obesity Risks May Be Greater Than Thought. N.p., 24 Sept. 2012. Web. 26 Nov. 2013. <http://children.webmd.com/news/20120924/child- obesity-risks-greater>.
“Debate over Obese Children vs. Parental Rights.” CBSNews. CBS Interactive. 29 Nov. 2011. Web. 25 Nov. 2013. <http://www.cbsnews.com/news/debate-over-obese-children-vs- Parental-rights/>.
Denny, Sharon. “Combating Obesity with Fitness and Activities.” From Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. N.p., 01 Sept. 2013. Web. 29 Nov. 2013. <http://www.eatright.org/ public/content.aspx?id=6442478655>. McGraw, Phillip. “Dr.Phil.com-Advice-Saying No to Your Child’s Overeating.” N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Nov. 2013. <http://www.drphil.com/article/394/diet/medical-reasons-obesity>.
“Obesity Action Coalition: What Is Childhood Obesity?” Obesity Action Coalition: What Is Childhood Obesity Comments. N.p.,n.d. Web. 26 Nov. 2013. <http://www.obesity action.org/understanding-obesity-in-children/what-is-childhood-obesity>.
“Obesity In Children and Teens.” American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. N.p., 01 Mar. 2011. Web. 24 Nov. 2013. <http://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_ Youth/Facts_for_Families_Pages/Obesity_In_Children_And_Teens_79.aspx>.
“Parenting: Family Health Guide: Childhood Obesity.” N.p.,n.d. Web. 26 Nov. 2013. <http:// www.parenting.com/health-guide/childhood-obesity/causes-diet-lack-of-physical-activity -environment-psychological-factors-genetics-socioeconomic-factors-medical- conditions>.
Rodgers, Kate. “Obesity Now a Disease, What Does That Mean for Insurance Plans?” Fox Business. N.p., n.d. 20 Jun 2013. Web. 03 Dec 2013. <http://www.foxbusiness.com/ personal-finance/2013/06/20/obesity-now-disease-what-does-that-mean-for-insurance- plans/
“What Can Be Done To Fight For Childhood Obesity Epidemic?” World Health Organization
(WHO) N.p., 2013. Web. 29 Nov. 2013. <http://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/
childhood_what_can_be_done/en/index.html>.