Childhood Obesity (2110 words) Essay Example For Students

Childhood Obesity (2110 words) Essay Childhood Obesity2In todays society childhood obesity is considered to be an epidemic. The increase in obesity is not caused by the change in the gene pool, but rather by the change in the environment. This causes vulnerable populations to express the obesity phenotype (Stune, 1999). One in seven children ages 6-17 are considered to be obese. Most nutritionists will say that this is do to the lack of parental guidance. A childs parents should teach their child proper eating habits so that they wont run across problems in the future (Tomlin, 1999). According to the article Facts about childhood Obesity and Overweightness, obese children are statistically not active, and their diets are high in fats and low in energy foods, like carbohydrates . Most doctors will calculate a childs body mass index (BMI), to figure out just how overweight a child is. If a childs BMI is over 30, they are considered obese. In order to calculate ones BMI, you would divide the your weight in kilograms by the square of your height in meters (Mokdad, 1999). What causes obesity?Weight gain among children is likely due to a combination of factors including: poordietary habits, genetic makeup, family lifestyle, socioeconomic status, and a childs ethnicity. Obesity is more prevalent among Hispanic, African-American and American Indian children, particularly girls (Mayohealth.org 1997). Overweight children are not necessarily overeaters. Unfortunately, much of thefood they enjoy contains high amounts of calories. A child doesnt have to eat huge quantities of food to put on excess weight. An extra 200 calories a day (the amount in four home-made chocolate chip cookies) can cause your child to gain almost one-half pound a week (Miller 3). Childhood Obesity3Studies show that childrens excessive consumption of high-calorie soft drinksand fruit beverages may be adding to the problem. The average teen drinks almost 65 gallons of soft drinks annually; school-age children have more than doubled their consumption of these beverages in the past two decades. Children also eat a lot of fast-food, which tends to be high in fat and calories (Miller 5). Inactivity most likely to blameWeight control involves balancing food intake with the energy burned in everydayactivities. Although diet is a factor, low levels of physical activity may play a greater role in childhood obesity than eating lots of high-calorie food. Why are children today less active? Many blame increased television viewing. Watching TV doesnt require much energy and often is accompanied by snacking on high-calorie foods. The American Heart Association reports that, on average, children watch 17 hours of television aweek. And thats not counting the time spent playing video and computer games. One study found the odds of being overweight were nearly five times greater for youth watching more than five hours of television per day compared with those who watched from zero to two hours per day (Mayohealth.org 1997). According to a 1996 U.S. Surgeon Generals report on fitness, nearly half ofyoung people ages 12 to 21 are not vigorously active. The American College of Sports Medicine reports that, due to financial constraints, only one-third of schools now offer physical education classes and many children today find team sports too competitive or costly to join (Mayohealth.org 1997). Childhood Obesity4Heredity has strong influenceThe risk of becoming obese is greatest among children who have two obeseparents. Danish adoption records provide a unique perspective on the issue of heredity versus environment when studying obesity in children. Researchers studied 540 adopted Danish children, who are now adults. The scientists wanted to know if weights of the children were closer to their biological or adoptive parents. They found no relationship between the weight ofthe adoptive parents and adopted children. But there was a strong link between the weight of the adopted children and their biological parents, even though 90 percent of the children had been adopted before the age of 1 (Miller 10). The researchers concluded that genetic factors are important in determining obesity in adults. And when a genetic tendency is combined with habits that promote weight gain, its more likely that a child will be overweight. Important: If obesity is common in your family, pay extra attention to diet and exercise (Miller 11). Hamlet A Misogynist EssayThese program focus on the entire family, promoting physical and emotional well being and not dieting. An interdisciplinary team of health professionals provides care. They first do a biopsychosocial assessment to see if there are any medical or psychosocial problems, they then address the symptoms of obesity and the causes of the weight gain (Mellin, 1993). It is important to involve the entire family in treating this problem. Another way to help your child is to be a good role model, children are very aware of what their parents eat and how much or little they exercise (Goss, 1999). You can also go to the supermarket with your child and learn to read the food labels together. Create a healthy recipe and make it. Also have meals together as many times as possible during the week (Levine,1999).GoalsGoals should be set concerning weight loss, start off small, so your child does not become discouraged. The child should keep a record of all the food eaten to aid in weight loss, this makes them become conscious of his/her eating and exercise habits. (Moran, 1999) At dinner, parents should make a meal that the child likes, but if it is high in fat and/or calories only prepare one serving of it (Levine, 1999). Meals should be oriented toward a healthy diet with 30% fat calories or less (Moran, 1999). Parents should also only offer snacks when the child is hungry. Make healthy snacks, such as fresh fruit, raw vege tables, cheese and crackers, or peanut butter on crackers. Keep water, fresh fruits, containers of baby carrots and celery, in the refrigerator, also have boxes of raisons handy. Dilute juices with water by at least half, to make sure that the child intakes the recommended amount of water and cuts down on the calories that are in juices. Small size bottled water make good drinks, they can be put in the childs lunch box, or be used during or after a childs exercise (Levine, 1997). Make sure your childs meal contains most of the food groups. Make soda a treat; encourage your child to drink milk instead (Goss, 1999). Another helpful hint, always remember to schedule meals and snacks.Other PrecautionsDo not make the child eat everything on his/her plate (Goss, 1999) this can cause overeating. Food should be used only for nutritional purposes, not for comfort or a reward. Praise your child, verbally, after they make a healthy food choice (Levine, 1997)Participate In ActivitiesExercise is needed to loss weight and change body fat into muscle (Moran, 1999). To control a childs weight, encourage the child to participate in sports for at least a half an hour a day (Levine, 1997). Parents should encourage active activities that your child likes such as skateboarding, swimming, riding a bike, jumping rope, hiking, football, basketball, etc. Parents should limit television watching and encourage physical activity (Moran, 1997). Overall, a parent should watch their childs diet. If obesity is in the family, parents should pay particular attention to their childs lifestyle so that in the future the child wont face any lifeChildhood Obesity9threatening health conditions. Childhood obesity is not a joke, it is now considered to be an epidemic, and an ongoing problem in todays society. BibliographyChildhood Obesity10. (1999). Facts about Childhood Obesity and Overweightness. Family Economics and Nutrition Review Volume 12. p52. . (1997). Childhood Obesity- Healthier Lifestyles Needed to Treat this Growing Problem. Available from: http://www.mayohealth.org/mayo/7905/htmGoss, Michelle. (1999). Childhood Obesity is a Growing Problem. Available from: http://www.cherokeenation.com/press_release/1999/mar/9.htmlLevine, Barbara.(1997). Let them Eat Grapes: Promoting Healthy Eating Habits in your School Age Children. Newsweek. Volume S13 (2). Mellin. Laurel. (1993). Combating Childhood Obesity. Journal of the American Dietetic Association. Volume 265(2). Miller, Peter. (1993). The Hilton Head Diet for Children and Teenagers. New YorkMokdad, H, Ali.(1999). The Spread of the Obesity Epidemic in U.S. The Journal of the American Medical Association. Volume282. p1519. Moran, Rebecca M.D. (1999). Evaluation and Treatment of Childhood Obesity. American Family Physician. Volume 86(1). Stune, M, Dennis M.D. (1999). Childhood Obesity; Time for Action, not Complacency. American Physician. p758. Tomlin, C, Anne. (1999). Understanding Childhood Obesity. Library Journal. Volume 124 p158