CHILDHOOD OBESITY IN TEXAS

Childhood obesity in Texas

Childhood obesity in Texas

Introduction

Obesity is a metabolic disorder that occurs in all ages from childhood to old age. Here, as we often think of as a healthy city, athletic, an epidemic attacks our children. A condition that harms every organ in the body, wreaking havoc on our lives and shortens life expectancy has become alarming. Obesity affects nearly one in four fourth-graders in Texas. Obesity is an alarming condition and like any epidemic, it requires our attention. This is not only a serious health problem for many children, but also a threat to our economy and national preparedness.

Obesity increases the risk of diabetes, depression, cancer, stroke, heart disease and other costly diseases. In fact, rising rates of obesity accounted for approximately 27% increase in health spending between 1987 and 2001. Texas companies lost more than $ 3.000 million a year for the problem, due to increased health care costs, absenteeism and lower productivity. And in 2025, obesity cost Texas businesses to reach nearly $ 16.000 billion, according to the State Comptroller.

Discussion

Being overweight in the childhood is the forerunner of obesity in the adulthood. A number of interrelated physical and emotional issues accompanying obesity may last a lifetime, especially in women. Moreover, the likelihood of obesity among adults in this case increases: 50% of children who were overweight at age 6 are adults; in adolescence, this probability increases to 80%. Currently, one out of 5 U.S. children are overweight by more recent data NHANES, children begin to suffer from excess weight before. More than 10% of preschool children are overweight. Thus, an additional 15% of children and adolescents aged 6 to 19 years are at risk of obesity (www.dshs.state.tx.us, 2011).

Dramatic increase in prevalence of overweight among children, "fueled" by many social and ethical factors, including increased diversity of food, the quantity of portions and selectivity in the diet, as well as increased consumption of sweetened beverages and decreased physical activity. Genetic syndromes, including Cohen and Bardet-Biedl, presented features of dysmorphia and developmental delay in addition to obesity. Slowing growth in length is associated with Prader-Willi syndrome and endocrine causes of obesity such as hypothyroidism and the syndrome of Cushing. Moreover, children with idiopathic increased body weight is often higher than average growth (for their age), usually over 50 the percentile and are often burdened with a family history of obesity.

Consequences of Childhood Obesity

Children who are overweight should be screened for concomitant diseases. Under the pathology understand diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, skin diseases associated with weight orthopedic problems, gallstones, depression, and cardiac risk factors.

Educational outcomes also suffer. A study by the Center for the Promotion of Healthy Life Dell revealed that students in Texas who are physically fit than their peers on standardized tests. Obesity also leads to truancy, which is a cost to school districts that receive funding based on daily attendance. With one of the highest rates of childhood obesity in the country, Texas puts its students at a ...