LOW INCOME FAMILIES AND CHILDHOOD OBESITY

Low-Income Families and Childhood Obesity

Low-Income families and Childhood Obesity

Introduction

One of the most common problems associated with the current way of life overweight. Obesity and overweight are serious problems, which pose a great financial burden on national resources. Fortunately, this disease can be prevented if appropriate changes in lifestyle (Barlow, 1998, Pp: 1-11).

It is a chronic disease caused by many things and with many complications, is characterized by excess fat in the body and occurs when the body mass index in adults is greater than 25 units. Obesity does not distinguish color of skin, age, socioeconomic status, sex or geographical location. Previously it was considered that the overweight person has someone who was in good health, but now we know that obesity has many consequences on our health (Pratt, 2000, Pp: 63-70).

With the exception of people who are very muscular, those whose weight exceeds 20 percent or more the midpoint of the scale weight as the value standard height/weight are considered obese. Obesity can be classified as mild (20 to 40% overweight), moderate (41 to 100 per cent overweight) or severe (more than one hundred percent overweight). Obesity is severe in only 0.5 percent of obese people. But there is no satisfactory definition for this disease, either a ratio of weight to height where we define the disease and limiting complications and shorten life. Obesity is a threat to life, is a chronic progressive disease of epidemic proportions that affects everyone (Ebbeling, 2002, Pp: 473-482).

Thesis Statement

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the child obesity and low-income families and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions designed to prevent childhood obesity through diet, physical activity or lifestyle change and social support.

Discussion

Obesity in Adolescence

Factors influencing adolescent obesity are the same as the adult. Often, a slightly obese adolescent's gain weight quickly and substantially becomes obese in a few years. Many adolescents who are obese are a poor image of them and become progressively more sedentary and socially isolated. Their parents often do not know how to help. There are not many options in treatments for obese adolescents. There are few programs designed to trade them, few physicians experienced in the specific treatment of adolescents and the use of drugs that can be helpful. The modification of behavior can help adolescents to control obesity(Strauss, 2001, Pp: 2845-2848).

To reduce calorie intake by establishing a well-balanced scheme with food and doing regular permanent changes in eating habits and increase physical activity with exercises such as walking, biking, swimming and dancing. Summer camps for teens who are obese often help them lose a considerable amount of weight, but without a sustained effort generally lost weight is regained. Psychosocial assistance to help teens deal with their problems and fight their low self-esteem can be helpful(Dietz, 1998, Pp: 518-525).

Low-Income Families and Obesity

Family factors are another interesting question, 80% of children from two obese parents are obese, 40% of children from a marriage when one partner is obese, suffers from this disease ...