CHILDHOOD OBESITY

Childhood Obesity

Childhood Obesity

Introduction

Childhood Obesity is growing problem in the United States. Between 5-25 percent of children and teenagers in the United States are obese (Dietz, 1983). This increasing percentage has conveyed into the light the problem of childhood obesity. Children are growing fatter younger. The second National Children and Youth Fitness Study found that 6-9 year olds have thicker skinfolds compared to their counterparts in the 1960s (Ross & Pate, 1987). During the same period, some have documented a 54 percent increase in the frequency of obesity among 6-11 year olds. The prevalence of obesity increases with age among both males and females (Lohman, 1987), and there is a greater likelihood that obesity beginning in early childhood will last throughout a life span. So while an obese baby may not become an obese child and an obese child may not become an obese adult, the likelihood increase and may last a lifetime. It is safe to say that childhood obesity is an issue that needs to be explored.

Factors of child hood Obesity

If the problem of childhood obesity is acknowledged and corrected, it is first very crucial to consider the reasons for its existence. This will provide a logical way to go about correcting the problem. Many children suffer from obesity because of a combination of factors. A poor diet is a major factor, which is mainly caused by the poor food that is available in today's schools and restaurants. Many of the foods that are served today are full of preservatives and are more fattening than they have ever been. For demonstration, pay vigilance to an mean school's cafeteria menu. A good portion of the main courses are fried foods that are fattening and just generally unhealthy to consume.

The only way that this can be corrected is with new efficient meal options in the restaurants and school cafeterias that kids are regularly exposed to. School cafeterias need to have new menu options that are healthy as well as somewhat appealing to the kids. Kids are not going to want to have something like a can of spinach for lunch but the food needs to be appealing in some way.

Fast food restaurants could do the same thing, mainly by offering more options that are both healthy and appealing. By making food options healthy for kids, the road to recovery for most of kids with obesity will become that much easier. Also, curiously enough, "Television viewing is thought to promote weight gain not only by displacing physical activity, but also by increasing energy intake. Children seem to passively consume excessive amounts of energy dense foods while watching television." This just means that many children often eat unhealthy foods while they are watching television.

Another assisting factor to childhood obesity in America is a way of life that needs personal activity. It is especially common to find that most of the kids that suffer from obesity have a lifestyle that includes very little ...