Childhood Obesity In Americ A Case Study

Today, everything seems to be growing. For instance, the world’s population, companies, and technologies’ capabilities are growing. In addition, children are also growing, but not just height-wise. Thompson (2015) stated that one third of children are overweight, and of that third, one half are obese (p. 850). Obesity in children in America is becoming a nationwide problem. In fact, as explained in “Obesity in America” (2012) explained how in less than 40 years, obesity rates have increased by 50%. Obesity is a health crisis because it causes one in ten American deaths (para. 2-3). Not only does obesity affect health, it also affects society by draining the economy of $233 billion per year (para. 3). With obesity being such a significant problem …show more content…
Brown, Halvorson, Cohen, Lazorick and Skeleton (2015) stated how a lower intake of dairy or calcium products is associated with childhood obesity. In addition to the calcium intake, consuming sugar-sweetened beverages, especially in large amounts, will aid in childhood obesity. Also eating more and more fast has been associated with childhood obesity. Besides actual foods, eating when hunger is not present and having larger portion sizes have been linked to childhood obesity (p. 1243-1244). Adding onto causes, Ogata and Hayes (2014) explained that there is concern for children taking in excess amounts of dietary fats, saturated fats, sugar, and sodium. All have been linked to childhood obesity, and that is what kids are eating today (p. 1258). Ogata and Hayes stated sodium has definitely increased to unhealthy amounts and kids ages 2 to 5 are taking in about 2,230 mg/day while kids ages 6 to 11 take in 2,933 mg/day. The mean intake for kids ages 8 to 12 was around 3,260 mg/day. The recommended amount is supposed to be less than 2,300 mg/day (p. …show more content…
Journalist Barbra Loecher (2002) explained how at home parents should utilize the food pyramid to get the right amounts of nutrients without having a calorie-dense meal. Parents need to use the pyramid to give the children the right foods, but also leave it up to the kids to decide what to eat whatever is put in front of them (para. 16-18). Ogata and Hayes (2014) also added to the home-diet change because they recommended to shift to a more plant based diet. Also increase seafood and dairy products in addition to the shift in diet. This would then reduce the intake of added sugars and solid fats (p. 1268). In addition to parents using the food pyramid, Ogata and Hayes also stated how the food in schools needs to be improved. Not just school lunches need to be improved, but the breakfast, afterschool meals, and competitive foods need to be improved from preschool all the way to high school (p.