Childhood Obesity Essay

There was a time when chubby children were considered cute. It was assumed that their baby fat would melt away and a healthy adult would emerge. We now know that childhood obesity can be very harmful for our nations children. Not only can obesity cause health problems but also psychological problems. In observing the causes of childhood obesity, hopefully we can slow down the epidemic. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, the number of obese children ages 6–19 have tripled to 16% over the last twelve years. That is an alarming figure. One of the main causes is lack of physical activity. This may seem like an obvious cause, but it seems to be the one our youth have the most problems with. Physical education is being...show more content...

The age old saying, "You are what you eat" still rings true today. Fresh fruit and vegetables have been replaced by french–fries and hamburgers. Children today do not know how to eat healthy. We, as a nation, spend hours and hours bombarding children with fast food commercials, sugary cereal commercials and cavity causing drink commercials. We than spend a fraction of that time telling kids these things are healthy only in moderation. Our children's nutritional education is almost nonexistent. Ask a fifth grader what the food pyramid is and you're likely to receive the same blank stare as I did. Most children have no idea what a balanced meal is because they may have never received one. Schools provide nutritional meals at lunch, but there is no enforcement when it comes to eating your fruits and vegetables. Lets face it, children eat what's familiar. If they haven't had it at home they are probably not going to eat it at school. If there are no vegetables at home, they are not going to eat them at school. Home life definitely sets the tone for a child's eating and exercise routines. Children are like sponges and they will mimic anything a beloved adult will do. We, as the adult nation, are generally out of shape. We have become more reliant on convenience foods that hold little nutritional value. With the rising cost of produce and the recent FDA safety scares it might

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Childhood Obesity Introduction

The past several decades have seen an escalating trend in the rate of childhood obesity not only in the United States where 25%–30% of children are affected, but also in many of the industrialized nations. Childhood obesity has continued to be a major issue in the public health care system. The economic cost of the medical expenses as well as the lost income resulting from the complications of obesity both in children and adults has been estimated at almost $100 billion (Barnes, 2011). Overweight children are more predisposed to the danger of becoming overweight in their adulthood unless they ensure healthier eating habits and exercise. It is worth noting that the current lifestyle in which many children...show more content...

Greek physicians are credited for making the observation that infertility and infrequent menses in women was caused by obesity. About five centuries after Hippocrates, Galen who was a Roman physician made a distinction between immoderate and moderate forms of obesity. It is supposed that the immoderate form was an anticipation of what is currently classified as morbid obesity (Bray, 2009). Though clinical observations made in the ancient times had brought to light the risk of diabetes and sudden death associated with obesity, the significance of excess mortality and morbidity caused by obesity has only received full appreciation more recently. Data obtained as early as 1901 indicated that people with excess weight, particularly around the abdomen had a shortened life expectancy. Further systematic studies have confirmed this risk and these results led to the World Health Organization classifying obesity on the basis of increasing BMI (Bray, 2009). Epidemiology

According to the statistics gathered since the 1960s, the prevalence of childhood obesity has been on the rise with the years between the 1980s and 1990s indicating a three times increase from nearly 5% to almost 15% for both children and teens (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011, p. 42). The National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES) have been conducting studies on the prevalence

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According to a 2010 report by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the prevalence of childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past thirty years. As well as having an impact on health, studies have cited a relationship between obesity and poor school performance as well as a child's readiness for learning and education. This can be correlated with studies finding "obese children have a greater risk of social and psychological problems, such as discrimination and poor self–esteem" (The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, para. 2). It has also been documented that obese children miss more days from school than the general student population and "many will lack the energy to sustain the concentration needed to...show more content...

Computer programs and instruction give most students twenty–four hour access and allow for the assimilation of

3 knowledge at their own pace. They are multi–taskers who stay connected socially via networking sites. Twenty–first century learners want to be engaged in the content and see the relevance. Thus the teachers of these 21st century learners must adapt the skills, already possessed by the students, and use technology to their advantage by integrating technology into the classroom curriculum and lesson plans. It is important that the instruction is interactive and tailored to the needs and learning styles of today's youth. While Net Gen students enjoy working in groups, computer–based education should have the ability to be individualized to meet a particular student's specific need without fear of embarrassment or stigma by the rest of the class. (Casazza & Ciccazzo, 2006). A study by Skinner, Biscope, Poland, and Goldberg (2003) noted that health was not an important issue for most youth and that to be effective in health education "one needs to go where they are." Casazza & Ciccazzo (2006) found that the use of technology such as web sites and computer based programs had a greater impact on motivating participants of all ages to change their diets and behavior. (p. 46).

Integrating Technology Withnutrition Education

A best practice in technology education to enhance the traditional method of

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Introduction Obesity is on the rise in America. News articles and scientific reports unanimously agree that America is becoming the most overweight country in the world, and other developing countries are not far behind. In addition, these countries' children are now becoming as overweight as their parents and other adults. Unlike these adults, children seldom have the knowledge and control over their lifestyle to contribute to either health or obesity. Prominent researchers in the field exemplify the need for quick action. They state, "The effects of childhood obesity on morbidity and mortality indicate that effective prevention and therapy for childhood obesity are likely to have a significant impact on adult disease" ...show more content...

Being overweight can have both psychological and physical ramifications. Obesity is linked to diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, total mortality and certain cancers in adulthood (Harlan 2). Research published in the New England Journal of Medicine states that "obesity present in young women was associated with an adverse impact associated with an adverse impact on household income, education, and rates of marriage, poverty, and college completion" (Gortmaker 1008). Reducing the incidence of obesity will benefit these parts of society as well. Furthermore, according to research by Price, "Overweight children are especially vulnerable to stigmatization because of the importance given to physical skills and appearance during the developmental years" (95). Additional research has looked at children's views toward other children who show a disability. Results showed that "depictions of obese children were consistently rated less positively than most of the other depictions of children, including children in wheelchairs, on crutches, with limbs missing, and with facial deformity" (95). With research showing these serious effects, ways to effectively reduce and prevent childhood adiposity (body fat) must be offered. Changes in diet, exercise, and the implementation of social programs are three presented here. Effect of Diet The first argument states that diet is the problem and should be addressed to control