Childhood Obesity

Childhood Obesity

“Childhood Obesity, prevalence, and prevention”

Nutrition Journal

Mahshid Dehghan, Noori Akhtar-Danesh, and Anwar T. Merchant

Childhood obesity levels has reached a high worldwide. Twenty five percent of children in the U.S. are overweight and 11% percent are obese. Environmental factors, lifestyle preferences, and cultural environment play significant roles in the rising prevalence of obesity worldwide. Explanation of the prevalence and prevention of the obesity epidemic was the primary aim of this study. Prevention for the obesity epidemic may be achieved through varies interventions. Those interventions include diet (calorie intake and fat intake), physical activity (sports), and TV watching. These interventions are implementations that need to take place in order to reduce obesity. Studies have shown that focusing on reducing sedentary behavior and encouraging free play has been more effective than focusing on force exercise or reducing food intake. In short, focusing on preventions methods may be the key plan for controlling the current epidemic of childhood obesity.

Further, the researcher had the structural functionalism theory in mind when initiating this study. The structural functionalism theory is made up of interrelated parts, those parts being social institutions. Healthcare would be classified under medicine. Medicine is one of the many social institutions depended on other social institutions. Medicine combined with the other varies social institutions make a functional society. People need prevention health measures in order to live a healthy abundant life. In this case, children need interventions in their life to reduce and or prevent the onset of obesity.