Preventing Obesity In Children

Introduction

Obesity is a chronic disease of multifactorial origin that is characterized by excessive accumulation of fat or hypertrophy, overall adipose tissue in the body. The WHO (World Health Organization) defines obesity as BMI or body mass index (calculated by height and weight of the individual) is less than 30 kg / m². It is also considered a sign of obesity an enlarged abdominal circumference in men greater than or equal to 102 cm and in women greater than or equal to 88 cm (Sweeting, 32).

Obesity is part of the metabolic syndrome, still a risk factor known is that predispose to various diseases, particularly cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea, stroke, osteoarthritis and some forms of cancer, dermatological disorders and gastrointestinal (Adams, Murphy, 2000). Although, previously considered a problem confined to high-income countries, obesity is now also prevalent in countries of low and middle income".

Obesity affects individuals of all ages and sexes, showing a high prevalence in Chile, estimated at 13% adult men and 22.7% for women. Its frequency increases with age until about 60 years in both sexes and is consistently greater in women of all ages, especially those of lower socioeconomic status. It is also associated with a higher prevalence of pathological conditions such as chronic hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cholelithiasis, dyslipidemia, coronary heart disease, cancer, respiratory disease, psychiatric, arthritis and many other chronic diseases, which limits life expectancy, with higher cost of health for the population, which represents a serious public health problem worldwide (Kushner, 15).

Central obesity is excess fat in the abdominal area. Central obesity is considered according to statistics, associated with increased risk of heart disease, high pressure and diabetes. Widespread belief that central obesity ("beer belly") may be associated with the consumption of beer, finds no evidence, neither body mass index, or ratio of waist circumference and hip circumference, with the use of beer is not associated. The patient is sick of central obesity, if the ratio of waist to hip size greater than 0.9 for women and 1 for men. A pathological type of obesity is commonly associated with disturbances in the human endocrine system, leading to lipid metabolism disorders (Imaz, 7).

Obesity in America

As known to all long, obesity represents one of the most worrying problems of Western societies, specifically in the United States has an alarming character. It is because obesity affects the health of individuals in a direct way. The life and eating habits are the basis for many of the problems of obesity in this country and others who see obesity gains ground incessantly. Particular concern is the incidence in childhood and adolescence, and that condemns millions of children to be overweight adults, with fatal consequences for their health. Often, policy makers and public health relegate this issue to focus on other issues (Flegal, 1086-93). When we talk about education and values, obesity is on the sidelines too often, despite the many problems it causes, including medical expenses resulting from enormous attention for health problems related to ...