Childhood Obesity, Essay Example

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the prevalence of obesity as defined by body mass index equal to or greater than 30, is on the rise in the United States. For example, studies reveal that in the year 2011, no state in America showed an obesity prevalence rate of less than 20%, and twelve U.S. states showed rates of 30% or more (Overweight and Obesity, 2012). What is interesting to note is these figures are just for adults. The CDC reports that approximately 12.5 million, or 17%, of children, adolescents and teenagers in the U.S, between the ages of 2 and 19, are obese (Overweight and Obesity, 2013). Additionally, approximately 18% to 31% of children in the U.S. are obese by the time they are 4-years-old, as adjusted by demographic factors (Wojcicki & Heyman, 2012).

Potential Causes for Childhood Obesity

Many may remember a time when overweight children were rare, as compared to today. Now it seems that there are more obese children that ever before. More children are consistently presenting with early onset obesity, and this is a serious epidemic. This epidemic is due to energy imbalances over a long period of time, as well as certain factors related to ethnicity, genetics and the environment (Paediatric Obesity, 2011). This is likely due to high sugar intake levels among children such as that obtained from fast foods, sugary drinks, processed foods and other types of sugar-ladened goodies. These types of unhealthy, fattening foods are too readily available for children. Childhood weight problems are significantly related to excess caloric intake, partly due to excess sugar intake and this is a chronic issue, particularly in the United States (Overweight and Obesity, 2012). In addition, the days of seeing children flooding the streets playing hopscotch, riding bikes, skating or jumping rope seem to be a thing of the past. With this age of technology, many children are addicted to sitting around playing video games or surfing the Internet and vegetating in from of social sites and cable television, instead of being physically active.

Effective Interventions for Prevention

According to Wojcicki & Heyman (2012), a positive measure toward reducing the number of obese children in America is signficiantly reducing or eliminating their consumption of sugary fruit juices and drinks. Study findings show that increased daily caloric intake rates parallel spikes in childhood obesity rates in the U.S. It is better for children to consume whole fruit instead of sugar-sweented fruit juices or drinks. This way they get the fiber they need and not the excess sugar, as lack of fiber and too much sugar contributes to excess weight gain.

To help balance an overweight child’s weight with his height, it is recommended that sugary foods, processed foods, and sugar-sweetened beverages are eliminated and replaced with nutritious foods such as whole fruit, whole grains and low fat dairy products. In addition, the child should be put on an exercise regimen; however, it should be something that he considers fun such as bike riding or playing basketball with friends and family. In addition, giving him responsible chores that burn energy, such as mowing the lawn, is a good way for him to get in some physical activity. Moreover, getting the child into counselling regarding obesity and its risk factors for disease would be beneficial, as would putting him in touch with support groups either online or offline so that he is encouraged. This way the child is educated and informed and is taught about important weight maintenance factors such as portion control and making healthy choices.

References

Overweight and Obesity. (2013, January 11). Retrieved April 8, 2012, from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/childhood.html

Overweight and Obesity. (2012, August 13). Retrieved April 8, 2012, from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.html

Paediatric Obesity: Trends and Causes. (2011, Sept). Nutrition & Dietetics, 68(3), 236-8.

Wojcicki, J. M., & Heyman, M. B. (2012, Sept.). Reducing Childhood Obesity by Eliminating 100% Fruit Juice. American Journal of Public Health, 102(9), 1630-3.