Increase in Obesity among American Children
One major trend among children in the United States today is obesity. The trend has considerably grown in recent years and will keep on growing if we do not aware people of the serious medical risks involved. Obesity is not just a few extra pounds, but on average the ten percent of extra weight on a person depending on their height and body type. The condition of obesity most commonly begins in childhood between the ages of five and six. According to an article written by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, “Studies have shown that a child who is obese between the ages of ten and thirteen has an eighty percent chance of becoming an obese adult.” We need to teach children to avoid the extra sweets to have a healthy lifestyle.
Obesity is a condition we can avoid if we all make an attempt to eat healthy and exercise. A person gets to an obese stage if he/she eats more calories than the body burns. Overweight and obesity are both labels for ranges of weight that are greater than what is generally considered healthy for a given height. The ranges of both overweight and obesity are calculated using your height and weight by BMI (Body Mass Index). If a person’s BMI calculates between 25.5 and 29 a person is considered overweight and if a person’s BMI is 30 or greater that person is considered to be obese. A healthy weight should be a BMI of 18.5–24.9.
Many factors are considered to be causes of obesity among children. The causes are complex and include genetic, biological, behavioral, and cultural factors. According to the American Academy, “If one parent is obese, there is a 50 percent chance that the children will also be obese. However, when both parents are obese, the children have an 80 percent chance of being obese.” Parents have the greatest influence on their children; children eat whatever their parents give to them. Many children have poor eating habits and they over eat the types of food that are not good for them. Some children are considered couch potatoes because they lack physical activity. These children tend to be attracted to watching their favorite shows on T.V. and play video games all day. Medical illnesses and medications could also be causable factors.
Some children are attracted to eating and over eating food to pleasure themselves to deal with stressful life events or changes; parents being separated, divorced, moving to a new home, deaths, or abuse. As children get older, some develop a low self-esteem. Other children are obese because of their family history. These children are not aware of the serious issues; they need to be taught that over eating is not good.
During the years 2007-2008 an estimated 16.9 percent of children from ages 2-19 years old are obese in the United States. According to one study “Half of the U.S. children/adolescents overall will become overweight around the year 2070” (Beydoun). This is a serious matter. Obese children like to eat or drink things that are high in calories, salt, sugars, and fat; consuming the wrong portion size. All children like to eat food that is advertised especially food ones that come with toys. Many tend to persuade their parents to buy them McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, or cereal to get the toys that come inside. Many times a child that is obese eats too much fast food. An average happy meal including a hamburger, french fries, and a chocolate shack is 700 calories. Another issue is children drink too much sugar soft drinks. More than half of U.S. middle/ high schools vending machines and school canteens offer sugar drinks that are unhealthy. Once obese children consume these things they do not make an attempt to pursue any physical activities. Everyone should have at least sixty minutes of aerobic physical activity each day.
The condition of obesity has many risks and complications. Children are not aware of what could happen to them if they over eat and do not exercise. They feel that food makes them happy and they will eat until they are over filled. Children that are obese have a high risk of having high blood pressure and cholesterol that could end up turning into cardiovascular disease. Consuming a lot of sugar products could have a risk of impaired glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, and be diagnosed with type II diabetes. Being obese could enable a person to have breathing problems having a high chance of being diagnosed with asthma and sleep apnea. The extra weight added to one’s body may create joint problems and musculoskeletal discomfort. Social and psychological problems could also be a risk which may make an obese child be discriminated by others and have poor self esteem that could continue in the future. In some cases some children have tragically died from being obese. According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, “Unhealthy weight gain due to poor diet and lack of exercise is responsible for over 300,000 deaths each year.” This issue can be solved to better the children of tomorrow.
Obesity affects so many children in this country; with help and guidance they can make themselves healthy. Children that are obese can start with a weight-management program to lose the extra weight. They can change their eating habits by eating slow and develop a routine. Parents can have plan meals and make better food selections for their kids. These meals should have a reasonable portion and consume fewer calories. Having a lot of energy, children should have an increased amount of physical activity to be in shape and be sociable. Parents should know what their child is eating at school. Children should be at the dining room table to eat as a family instead of watching T.V. Parents can try to avoid constintly buying fast food as a reward and buy it once in a great while. The obese child should also attend a support group to give confidence in him/herself. Children are the future of tomorrow let them know the risks and get them involved in physical activities to avoid obesity.
Works Cited:
· “Obesity In Children And Teens.” 2010. American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. 3 Dec. 2011 <http://www.aacap.org/cs/root/facts_for_families/obesity_in_children_and_teens>
· Beyboun, May. Caballero, Benjamin. Kumanyika, Shiriki. Liang, Lan. Wang, Youfa. “Will All Americans Become Overweight or Obese? Estimating the Progression and Cost of the US Obesity Epidemic.” Research Journal Obesity. (2008). 3 Dec. 2011 <http://www.nature.com/oby/journal/v16/n10/full/oby2008351a.html>
· “Overweight and Obesity.” CDC. 2011. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 3 Dec. 2011 <http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/childhood/solutions.html>
Post Write:
- I analyzed a trend that exists in our country today, obesity. I added some quotations from the articles I found. I added the causes of obesity and what are the risks. I added that 300,000 children have died from obesity. I also added what can be done to avoid the children of the future.
- Don’t know what else I can add.
- 1) Do you agree that this is a major trend in the U.S.?
2) Does my writing flow smoothly from paragraph to paragraph?
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