Childhood Obsesity

One of children’s greatest health problems today is not an illness or maltreatment, but it’s obesity. Childhood obesity is preventable and affects many children. More than 18% of children suffer from obesity in the United States in the year 2012 (CDC, 2015). With its growing presence and detrimental effects, it is now a worldwide concern that needs attention.

Obesity can be defined as having excessive body fat and is measured by body mass index, or BMI. BMI is calculated by measuring height and weight of an individual based on age. If children have a BMI that is greater than 85% and less than 95%, they are considered overweight. If the child’s BMI is greater than 95% of other children at their age, they are considered to be obese. You might also identify obese children by their excess weight and fat in their physical appearance, however observing physical appearance does not provide an accurate measurement when trying to distinguish obesity. You may also identify childhood obesity by its signs and symptoms. Uncontrolled eating, high blood pressure, diabetes, and trouble breathing are all symptoms that children might face when they have obesity. Other health risks that arise from obesity include heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnea, and cancer (OAO, 2015). One report in that studied the risk factors of childhood obesity reports that 70% of obese youth have at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease (Freedman, Zuguo, Srinivasan, Berenson, and Dietz, 2007).

Due to its major health risks and prevalence, obesity is considered a disease and has become a widespread problem. Not only have there been increases of obesity in adults, there has been an increase of obesity in children. In 1980 the rate of childhood obesity in the United States was 7%. Since then, the rate of childhood obesity has more than doubled and was measured to be around 18% in 2012 (CDC, 2015). To make matters worse, adolescents have an even high rate of obesity. During the same period of time, the CDC reports that rates of obesity in adolescents increased from 5% to 21% (2015). Obesity rates vary from state to state, but according to the National Survey of Children’s Health Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, South Carolina, and the District of Columbia have obesity rates over 20% for children ages 10-17 in the year 2011 (NCSL, 2015). Not only does childhood obesity affect the United States, but it affects many Western nations. Some of these countries include Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, and the Netherlands (Berk, 2013). Obesity rates have even increased developing countries, such as Africa. In 2010 the rate of overweight or obese children was 8.5% (Onis, Blossner, and Borghi, 2010). At a global standpoint numbers look even worse. The World Health Organization reports that the number of overweight or obese children ages 0-5 has increased from 32 million to 42 million from 1990 to 2013 if current trends continue. If this continues, there will be a global increase to 70 million overweight or obese children by 2025 (WHO, 2014). The prevalence of childhood obesity is quite shocking, but the rate of growth is unimaginable.

Causes of childhood obesity vary, but most causes are obesity are controllable. Environment plays a large role in childhood obesity. An individual’s environment helps shape their behaviors and actions, such as over eating. Factors that play a role in environment include a lack of knowledge about healthy diets, lack of access to affordable and healthy stores, a tendency to buy high-fat and low-cost foods, and family stress. Socioeconomic status is also an active factor under the realm of environment. Lower-income homes may not be able to afford healthy food or extracurricular activities, or they may not have the education about proper nutrition and good food choices (OCA, 2015). Parental feeding practices is also a major contributor. Children are more likely to eat the bad foods that their parents’ eat such as pizza and fries, but parents can also overfeed or pressure their children to eat due to their own anxieties and fears (Berk, 2012). Other causes of childhood obesity include a lack of physical activity and one’s heredity. Today’s children are living more of a sedentary lifestyle, where technology such as television and game systems rule out being active and playing outside. Heredity is also an element and contributes between 5-25% of risk for obesity (OAC, 2015). Although genetics may contribute to obesity, it is not the major cause of childhood obesity.

Although obesity has many influences, childhood obesity is preventable. I believe that many cases start at home while the children are starting to make choices for themselves. Children begin to overeat and cannot burn enough calories to balance their body, which leads to gaining weight. They also do not eat the right foods and often end up foods heavy in sugar. If the path is not reversed children will continue to gain weight, which will lead to obesity. This developmental pathway has very detrimental effects for children. Not only are there physical health risks related to obesity, but obesity also has psychological effects on children’s health. Obese children often face discrimination because of their physical appearance and may experience social isolation and bullying. Children’s reduced physical abilities and stereotypes about the obese might also play into discrimination. Datar and Sturm found that those who change weight status during their first four years of school, such as not overweight to overweight, are at significant risk for adverse school outcomes (2006). Children who are overweight or obese have problems with academic achievement, such as low grades, but difficulty is also seen with social-behavioral outcome. It is reported that obese children experience more emotional and social problem, and are therefore at risk for developing low self-esteem, depression, and suicidal thoughts (Berk, 2013). The physical health effects, psychological