Childhood Obesity: A Case Study

Improved Essays
Childhood obesity is an important issue because of the staggering proportions that this disease has reached in the past few years. According to research, the past 30 years obesity has doubled and quadrupled. The percentage of children who were obese increased from 7% in 1980 to 18% in 2012. ("Childhood Obesity." Causes. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May 2015.)Certain genetic factors paired with changing lifestyles and culture has produced kids who are generally not as healthy as people were just a few decades ago. Obesity is being fat in an unhealthy way. Childhood obesity is a serious and life threatening situation for children. Childhood obesity occurs when a child is well above the normal weight for his or her height or age. Obesity is real risky …show more content…
Children and adolescents who are obese are likely to be obese as adults and are therefore more at risk for adult health problems such as heart disease, , stroke, several types of cancer, and osteoarthritis. Obesity is associated with increased risk for many types of cancer, including cancer of the breast, colon, endometrium, esophagus, kidney, pancreas, gall bladder, thyroid, ovary, cervix, and prostate, as well as multiple myeloma and Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
All this affects/diseases are long term, people will have to live with them and take medication to control it and some will die.
Genetics can also play a role in determining whether a child will become obese, but these factors can also be aggravated with non-genetic factors. Behavior and metabolism are two major things that affect an individual's weight problems. Behavior comes in play when a child prefers certain activities like sitting in a desk, reading, eating certain sugary foods or fatty foods. A child also becomes obese depending on the environment around them because they might not provide them with a place to exercise. A child needs certain amount of activity per day and certain foods. All this depends on their lifestyle
…show more content…
In schools children aren’t really required to participate in any physical activity. Technology also comes in play because each year technology is more advanced and now kids prefer seating for hours in front of a television than going out for a run or any activity that involves movement.
Parents are also responsible because they stop giving attention to their kids while at work everyday. The fact that parents are at work leads them to buy fast food to take home to their kids at late hours after work. Since parents can’t be home to attend their children with a healthy food, children eat anything and by time start getting obese in an unhealthy way.
Obesity in a child can also lead to low self-esteem or depression. An overweight child may look as happy as he or she can, but inside they’re really not. Social Stigma is with them, and kids with obesity at the age of 6 already believe that they’re less likeable because of their situation. A child with obesity problems can translate it’s low self-esteem into feeling shame of it’s body and it’s own lack of self-confidence can affect it’s academic or education

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    These effects can either be short-term or long-term and impede children from performing to their full potential. During infancy, rapid weight gain is associated with accelerated puberty development and growth affecting early child development. Some short-term effects of childhood overweight and obesity are prediabetes, risk factors for cardiovascular disease (high blood pressure or high cholesterol), Sleep apnea, bone and joint problems depression, poor self-esteem, the risk for eating disorders, behavior and learning problems and the list goes on. Some long-term effects of childhood overweight and obesity are type 2 diabetes, various forms of cancer (breast, colon, ovary, prostate, etc.), heart disease, stroke, osteoarthritis and much more. Childhood obesity can also impede a child 's social interaction with his or her peers and lead to isolation due to poor self-esteem and fear of rejection, worsening psychological…

    • 1359 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Childhood Obesity Research

    • 1152 Words
    • 5 Pages

    No matter how many programs are offered at school the child has already learned a sedentary way of life at home. If the parent isn’t active, the child will not be active. Parents place their children in front of televisions, cell phones and leap pads instead of playing a game of hide and seek. This causes the child to be more sedentary which in turns causes that lifetime battle with obesity.…

    • 1152 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In fact, obesity and being overweight have totally different meanings. For instance, if you had a female child that was 5’3” and weighed approximately 152lbs she would be considered overweight, whereas if she weighed 197lbs at 5’3” she would be considered obese therefore, using the body mass index to determine if you are at a healthy weight, overweight, or obese. It is said that obesity is to be considered having excess body fat and overweight is having excess body weight for a certain height from a combination of factors such as fat, muscle, bone and water. Ultimately, health experts have suggested that if parents better the lifestyle of their children, we will see a decrease in this epidemic in obesity, whereas parents believe if food industries reduced the sugary junk food that this would in fact reduce the obesity rate, but what is the real underlying issue causing obesity to…

    • 1148 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Children in America are continuing to be exposed to a debilitating disease that is growing a major threat to their future well being. Childhood obesity is a condition in which a child is severely overweight for their age, height, and gender. This disease leads to very serious health problems such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and increased risk for heart attack. In addition to an already scary list, obese children can deal with diabetes, sleeping problems, and asthma.…

    • 1660 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    First, off it can lead to serious health problems such as, heart disease, type II diabetes, and high cholesterol. In ages 5 to 17, 60 percent of obese children had at least one CVD (Cardiovascular disease) risk factor (Health consequences). These types of health problems that used to only affect adults are now affecting children at such a young age and could be the first generation to live shorter lives than their parents. Lastly, Childhood obesity can have a social and psychological toll on their life. Overweight children are more likely to have depression and low self-esteem.…

    • 830 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Childhood obesity affect 17% of all children in United States according to neayc.org. In the textbook, it describes this as an overweight epidemic. Cheap easily accessible unhealthy food is widely available. Growing technology leaves children spending more time in front of a screen and less time playing and exercising outside. Many people believe bullying children would help them lose weight.…

    • 324 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Obesity is the condition of being grossly fat or overweight. In America, obesity is only increasing as the years go on. The statistics of childhood obesity have skyrocketed and that is where it all starts. If you are obese/overweight when you are younger you are more than likely to stay like that. Time Magazine research shows that there has been an increase in gains each year.…

    • 1226 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Obesity In America

    • 762 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Obesity can begin at any age. Many children in today’s society are overweight. This sets them up for health problems later in life. Some of the health risks of obesity are: high blood pressure, cholesterol, and heart problems. Children who are obese also tend to feel less secure, less happy, and…

    • 762 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Although external appearances are important, it 's a problem that is associated with health issues. Obesity can increase the risk of developing diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and orthopedic problems. Childhood obesity is a public concern because obesity is rapidly becoming the most prevalent issue among children. According to the article, Obesity: The New hungers, “over one-third of Americans are overweight.”…

    • 780 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Childhood obesity has become an epidemic that is sweeping the nation. Some people may not realize it, but childhood obesity is a serious disease that can lead to health problems and premature death. Obesity has doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents over the past thirty years. In November of 2015, statistics showed that every one in six children and adolescents are obese.…

    • 1160 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Obesity Swim Paper

    • 675 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Logan Pascoe Mr. Hamed Gym 11/23/14 Swim Paper Obesity is a condition of being overweight or fat. Also it means having too much body fat. Being overweight and obese is different because being overweight means weighing too much.…

    • 675 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    It could be an environmental issue, for example if people near school have a certain way of living, it could influence another child to follow down this path. Childhood obesity doesn't only affect a child's physical health it can also harm your emotional, spiritual, social and cognitive health. Social Health When a child is overweight, it is likely that it could affect their social health, this is due to exclusion.…

    • 1778 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Obese children are more likely to be obese as adults, which puts them at risk for heart disease, type two diabetes, stroke, several types of cancer, and osteoarthritis. Also, extra weight on a child 's body can cause problems with the development and health of a child 's lungs, leading to asthma or other breathing problems. According to Sahoo at the Journal of Family Medicine and care, “Until recently, many of these health conditions had only been found in adults; now they are extremely prevalent in obese children” (Sahoo 4). It is sad to think about what the world has come to and what we are doing to our children 's…

    • 1395 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Kayla Bilderback Psychology Research Paper Obesity and Depression in Adolescents Mental and physical health is important to a happy healthy life. With rates of obesity soaring worldwide and depression becoming more evident it is undeniable that there is a problem, not only in adults but also in children. There has been little information about childhood obesity but, in recent years, more studies are being done to find out what the effects are of being extremely overweight at a young age and to see if there is a possible connection or correlation with depression. Obesity is a serious health concern as a whole but is especially harmful for the world’s children.…

    • 987 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    The Fight Against obesity Childhood obesity is causing a broad range of health problems that previously weren’t seen until adulthood. There are several causes for obesity in America, including fast- food restaurants and their marketing. Childhood obesity in America is a growing disease that has become an epidemic that has health risk effects. Parents should take the lead in fighting against childhood obesity. In order to protect our children, parents should have a better understanding about obesity; encourage active lifestyle for their children and why fast food contributes to obesity.…

    • 1215 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays