Children and Obesity

Abstract

This paper describes about the worldwide issue “Children obesity.” It describes all the aspects of the issue such as its aetiology, genetic risk factors, environmental factors, effects of lifestyle and the interventions needed to prevent the disorder and to minimize its effects on lives of children. It describes about the pharmacological,surgical and lifestyle interventions in preventing and treating the disorder in children.

Children and Obesity

Introduction

Obesity is the most prevalent and common nutritional issue worldwide, as well as in the Australia. This disorder in children has become a serious issue. Although, this issue has involved all subgroup of the population and has been prevalent in people of all ages, ethnic and all socioeconomic groups. Obesity is a nutritional problem faced by the youth and adult populations all over the world. The causes of obesity are multifactorial and includes various risk factors, genetic factors, and environmental factors. The consequences of the issue can be divided as immediate and long-term, which affect the physical and psychological health of population.

Discussion

Obesity is a global health issue, which has affected almost every country in world and is prevalent in children, adults and in old age. Obesity is a disorder of abnormal accumulation of adipose fat tissue to an extent that impairs an individual's health. It can be calculated by Body Mass Index (BMI), which is the weight in kg, divided by height in m2. The range of obesity have been set from 25 (for overweight) to 30 (for obesity). The severe obesity is calculated as follows: overweight person has BMI, 25.0 to 29.9; the Class I obesity has BMI, 30.0 to 34.9; the Class II obesity has BMI, 35.0 to 39.9; and the Class III obesity has BMI, 40.0+ (Ogden, Carroll, &, Flegal, 2008).

Several periods in children's development are critical for the development of obesity and its related disorders. These are the prenatal period, early childhood, and the adolescence. Some people suggest that breast-feeding may prevent against obesity. The persistence of adult obesity is related to age at onset of obesity (Krebs, Hime, & Jacobson, 2007).

Increased energy intake is a major risk factor for obesity development. Dietary factors such as consumption of diet, total calories, fat consumption, fruit and vegetable intake, snacks, high- calorie sugar-rich foods, fat-foods and soft drinks, all have been regarded as causes of obesity. Increased usage of fruits and vegetables can reduce the intake of fat and calories (Davies, & Fitzgerald, 2007).

The individuals above the age of 2 years must consume 3 to 4 servings of fresh fruits and 4 to 5 servings of fresh vegetables daily. However, children and adults consumes only 3.6 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables daily. The fried food accounts for a large percentage of their servings. Various other dietary things, such as soft drinks, snacks, and infant feeding supplements have also been associated with childhood obesity. Research suggests that the increased intake of sugar-containing soft drinks and snacks, which are high in sugar and fat, and fast-foods have associated with increase in energy intake of ...