Childhood Obesity

Introduction

Childhood obesity is increasing among our children at an alarming rate. According to the Center of Disease Control, the number of obese children has tripled within the last thirty years. About ten percent of toddlers (ages 2-5 years) is overweight (CCCC). Forty years ago only four percent of our children were considered obese and today fifteen percent of them are. The main cause of childhood obesity is unhealthy eating habits and not enough physical activity. There are many things we can do in our homes, schools, and communities to help fight childhood obesity. Childhood obesity can lead to other health and social problems that will affect the children throughout their lives.

Childhood Obesity

There are many risk factors that contribute to childhood obesity and typically they work together with each other. Some of the risk factors include the child's diet, activity levels, genetics, psychology, family factors, and socioeconomic all these have an effect on the child's likelihood of becoming obese. If the child has overweight family members then he or she might be more likely to have weight gain and may not have the resources to eat healthy or exercise regularly. Physical activity may not be encouraged at home. Some children use food as comfort for stress or boredom. All of these factors contribute to the epidemic of childhood obesity. Another major factor is technology. With children having cartoons available 24hours a day and 5 to 7 days a week, the computer, and/or video games they may not feel like they need to go outside to have fun cause they can have fun from sitting on the couch. Children are not getting enough exercise daily. They need to be getting at least sixty minutes of exercise daily.

There are many complications and diseases that develop because of obesity. Things like Type 2 Diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, sleep disorders, liver disease, and metabolic syndrome (Mayo). Studies have been done and have identified a connection with obesity to asthma (CDC). Overweight children and teens have been found to have risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CDC). In a sample of five to seventeen year olds, almost sixty percent of overweight children had at least one cardiovascular disease risk factor and twenty-five percent had two or more cardiovascular disease risk factors (CDC).

These diseases are ones that with follow the children into adulthood. The emotional and social effects on the children are just as concerning as the physical effects. Children that are obese tend to have low self-esteem. They are often bullied at school and they are at a greater risk of becoming depressed. The obese children sometimes start acting out and become disruptive or they become almost invisible. Obese children are more likely to have learning and behavioral problems than those that are within the normal weight range. Depression in children is just as severe as it is in adults.

The physical, emotional, and social affect on the children should motivate us to make a change for the health and wellbeing of our children. Genetics is ...