“As of 2015, Arkansas was recognized as the most obese state in the nation,” (“Growing Healthy Communities”). Per, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, also known as CDC, in their article “Childhood Obesity Facts,” almost everyone in five school age child in America, aged from six to nineteen, is reported as being obese. Obesity is the result of having too much body fat, while overweight is defined as having more body fat than normal for someone of a certain height (“Childhood Obesity Facts”). The CDC also states a few of the reasons for the increase in weight gain for children. With the growing obesity population, in Arkansas, the Arkansas Coalition for Obesity Prevention, or the ArCorp, has stepped in to help with their program Growing Healthy Communities. A study conducted by the CDC, in 2013, with a sample size group of 1,470 found that 17.8% of Arkansas adolescents were obese. The study also concluded that 15.9% of the 1,470 children were overweight. Overweight and obesity in adolescents can be attributed to many different factor (“Data, Trends, and Maps”). These …show more content…
The CDC also provide an article for parents on how to help their children “Tips for Parents-Ideas to Help Children Maintain a Healthy Weight.” These tips include; “encouraging healthy eating habits,” “ways to make favorite dishes healthier,” removing “calorie-rich temptations,” “help kids stay active,” and “reducing sedentary time.” These tips are to help parents when in the kitchen and also in their children's’ regular active
Each year, there are about 112,000 deaths from obesity that are preventable. In the past few decades, the number of cases of obesity has been on the rise in the United States. It has tripled among children and doubled among adults. In 1990, Connecticut’s obesity rate was at 10.4 percent. Then, in 2000, it was at 16.0 percent and currently it’s at 26.0 percent.
Lazarou & Kouta (2010) define obesity as “a chronic metabolic disease, considered to be one of the main risk factors for cardiovascular disease”, and state that hypertension, atherosclerosis and type two diabetes have also been shown to be more likely in people with obesity (p. 641). These adult health problems have now become commonplace amongst children and youth today (Tuckwood, 2012). With obesity being diagnosed at earlier ages, prevention becomes increasingly difficult; personal habits are harder to break, health risks are more serious, and the likelihood of living with obesity in adulthood is significantly higher. Fifty percent of children who are obese will become obese adults (Lazarou & Kouta, 2010).
Today about one in three children in the United States are obese, and is the number one cause of death in America. Childhood obesity is now more concerning to people than drug abuse and smoking. Obesity not only has disgusting physical effects, it also will have negative changes to a person’s personality. Even though many people are aware of the problems obesity brings, there still has been at least a 50% increase in obese people since 1980. Obesity will cause extreme health problems and possibly death if people don’t change their diets, activity levels, or emotional needs towards food.
The high demand for medical care also increases the financial burden on the families and therefore the community as well. As one can see the community health is greatly effected by the high rates of obesity among its individuals. Children in particular have a massive effect because not only are they the future of that community, but they also influence the schools in that region. Healthy People 2020 regard obesity in America as a very serious problem especially among children. It is such a major issue because childhood obesity easily leads to obesity in adulthood that increases the risks for heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, stroke, and cancer (Nutrition).
Obesity Epidemic in America Americans in the United States are gaining more weight at a rapid pace which eventually leads to a high chance of becoming or being obese. The World Health Organization defines obesity as the “abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health”. (WHO, 2012). This trend dramatic has become known as the obesity epidemic as it continues to sweep the states. Centers of Disease Control conducted studies and results showed that since 1980, one third of our adult population has become overweight.
The obesity epidemic is only becoming more world wide spread as years continue to pass. Obesity has dramatically caused many negative effects on America and the way we live today. Obesity is simply defined as having excessive body fat usually resulting in serious medical problems. More specifically, though, obesity occurs when a person's Body Mass Index (BMI) — or, their weight in kilometers divided by the square of height in meters — exceeds 30 or greater. Studies have shown that about 13 million children and adolescents ages 2-19 are obese according to the article “Childhood Obesity: Can it Really Be Child Neglect?” by Abbie Goldbas.
Childhood to adolescent obesity in America is becoming an over-whelming issue. Most schools have decided that physical education isn’t critical due to budget cuts and the increased pressure to excel in standardized tests. One out of three children in the U.S. is over-weight or obese according to the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. I believe that childhood obesity is the result of lack of exercise and poor diet due to a fast-paced lifestyle. Junk food is attractive for many reasons including price, taste, and convenience.
Today, about one in three American kids and teens are overweight or obese; nearly triple the rate in 1963. Child obesity has quickly become one of the most serious health challenges of the 21st century. A few studies have assessed the effect of cooking activities on diet quality and health parameters. Involvement in cooking at home has been positively associated with fruit and vegetable intake and overall diet quality in children. Yet only about 2 percent of children eat healthy.
Retrieved September 6, 2012, from http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/overwt.htm Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2012). Overweight and obesity: Data and statistics. Retrieved August 8, 2012, from http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/childhood.html Ogden, C. L., Carroll, M. D., Kit, B. K., & Flegal, K. M. (2012). Prevalence of obesity and trends in body mass index among U.S. children and adolescents, 1999-2010. Journal of the American Medical Association, 307, 483–490.
Obesity has become a major dilemma within America, mostly childhood obesity which has become in my eyes an epidemic. Childhood obesity will bring about adult obesity, health issues, psychological problems, and will even damper on sociological issues when pertaining to relating to culture and other people on a daily basis ( ex: brings about bullying or being bullied, social issues with kids, and low self-esteem and confidence). These include but never restricted to the fact of physical, social, environmental, psychological, and health issues all within a wider scale mostly if the pattern of obesity starts at an early age and then progress to adolescence and adulthood. The factors given in obesity has once again become a worldwide issue and concern for family, friends, and the child.
Annotated Bibliography Babey, S.H., Hastert, T.A., Wolstein, J., Diamant, A.L. (2010). Income disparities in obesity trends among California adolescents. American Journal of Public Health (100)11, 2149 2155. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2010.192641 Childhood obesity has increased to 17% in the last thirty years, causing concern for the health industry as costs increase and preventable diseases become more prevalent. Over 17,000 adolescents were interviewed in the California study between 2001-2007 through the California Health Interview Survey.
The issue is childhood obesity, and it is only accelerating as a percentage of children in both America and all western nations of the world. Childhood Obesity is an issue relevant to all who consider themselves part of American society and it has profound adverse effects economically, physically for those afflicted with the issue, and mentally for those who live an obese childhood or within the family unit of a household with at least one obese child. The scope of the issue is massive and the impact of the consequences dire in many accounts. There is hope to reverse course and change the way of American-western living, and it starts with understanding the size and
Childhood obesity is rapidly increasing due to the shift in cultural norms. Not only is weight affected by surroundings, but exposure to technology deeply creates roots sunk deep into the issue of Obesity. AAP, the American
Obesity is a major problem in the United States, and with all the special privileges given to its people, America has become very lazy. With portion sizes rising and physical activity decreasing, it is easy to see how the rates on obesity has risen over the years in America. Obesity is a major problem that needs to be resolved because it affects all people of every gender, age, and race are at risk of being obese. Obesity rates in America have nearly doubled rather tripled within the last twenty years due to the many privileges that the American people have before us. Something must be done to overcome decrease the
1. Introduction The rate of childhood obesity has increased over few years. There are 41 million children in the world are overweight or at risk of obesity. Childhood obesity is a serious health problem.