CHILDHOOD OBESITY

Childhood Obesity

ABSTRACT

In this study, we try to explore the concept of Childhood Obesity in a holistic context. The main focus of the research is on “Childhood Obesity” and its relation with “Income status of parents”. The research also analyzes many aspects of predicting factors of obesity and tries to gauge its effect on childhood obesity. Finally, the research describes various factors, which are responsible for childhood obesity.

Childhood Obesity

Introduction

Childhood obesity is on the rise in the United States, and our children are falling victim to the obesity epidemic. It has been predicted that U.S. life expectancy will decline for the first time in recent history because of increasing childhood obesity (Gittelsohn & Kumar, 2007). Childhood obesity is a very serious condition as it predisposes young children to an increased risk of developing both chronic diseases and disabilities. Consequences of childhood obesity include increased risk for cancer, cardiovascular disease, and type I and type II diabetes (Centers, for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2009). With high costs of health care services and the detrimental results of this disease, childhood obesity imposes a burden not only on the family of the sick child but also places a burden on society.

The burden to society has been “predicted to reach 50 billion per year by 2050, based on current trends” (Shepherd, 2009, p. 24). Typically, people think that there is a simple so1tiom for preventing childhood obesity: increase physical activity and obtain a healthier diet. However, the solution to childhood obesity is more than just exercise and a healthy diet. It requires children's behavioral change that consists of changing one's bad habits, taking into account the “interplay of genetics, biological processes, and social and environmental mechanisms” as well, (Huang & Horlick, 2007). Specifically, the greatest influence on a child's life may be their parents. However, little research has taken into consideration whether parents' background status would contribute to a child's obesity tendency.

Thesis Statement

Income status will negatively predict childhood obesity. As income status increases, the risk for childhood decreases. Discussion

Obesity can be defined, as the excess of body fat (Loughrey, 2009, p. 147). For children, obesity can be defined as having a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 (Ruxton, 2004). “Weight gain in children has become a self propagating condition because of the continued reliance on heavily processed foods” (Maman, 2005, p.48). Processed foods are composed of large amounts of salt, sugar and processed white flour. While these ingredients are tasty and assist in relieving stressors, they do your body more harm than good because they provide a sense of fulfillment and relief that is only temporary.

Before you know it, you are hungry again, seeking a need to fulfill your hunger pains. The CDC (2009) has identified various health conditions that overweight children and adults are at high risk of developing coronary heart diseases. That are type 2 diabetes, cancers (endometrial, breast, and colon), hypertension (high-blood pressure), dyslipidemia (for example, high total cholesterol or high levels of triglycerides), stroke, liver and gallbladder disease, ...