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Cynthia Brown

Graduation Project Research Paper

26 May 2017

Childhood Obesity is a Problem not a Symptom

Do you think childhood obesity is fully the parents fault ? Childhood obesity is a problem

and not symptom, meaning there are measures that can be taken to counteract the effects of

childhood obesity. Childhood obesity can lead to diabetes, high blood pressure, and high

cholesterol. Childhood obesity occurs when a child is significantly over the ideal weight for his

or her height. The percentage of children aged 6-11 years old in the US who were obese

increased from 7% in 1980 to nearly 20% in 2008. This number continues to rise. Even though

many people believe obesity is a matter of personal responsibility, childhood obesity is a

critical issue because family eating habits contribute to obesity, technology advancements

has made children less active, and increased consumers of fast food causes children to

become obese.

It is important to address this topic because the childhood obesity epidemic is an

increasing concern with respect to the health and well-being of the child. Children with

childhood obesity are also bullied and teased more than their normal weight peers and are more

likely to suffer from social isolation, depression, and lower self-esteem ("Healthy Schools"). This

negative outcome on a childs well-being can cause mental health, substance abuse, and suicide

(World of Children). Childhood obesity is a problem! Today, nearly 1 out of 4 children and

teens in developed countries are overweight or obese . Those extra pounds put kids at risk for

developing serious health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, and asthma. Childhood
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obesity also takes an emotional toll according to the article Childhood Obesity and Weight

Problems.

Family eating habits contribute to obesity because of some family daily routine. Some

children have to eat on the go, or some families cannot afford to eat healthy. In some families,

there are parents who are always working and do not have time to fix a meal for their children so

they fix the meals themselves. Obesity is a growing health problem when someone is so

overweight that it is a threat to their health. As Rozina Sabur states Providers can play a critical

role in decreasing this internalisation by treating patients with respect, discussing weight with

sensitivity and without judgment, and giving support and encouragement patients who struggle

with weight. This evidence supports my claim because it states similar facts about childhood

obesity and how childhood obesity has a long term impact on physical, social, and emotional

health.

Therefore, childhood obesity is a problem because the effects are detrimental. The writer

Sabur suggests modeling good or bad eating habits. If kids are going to change, we can not

expect them to change themselves. Parents can give support to their children by cooking large

portions of food when they have time so they could continue to eat healthy while their parents

are away. Parents can celebrate their children when they make good eating decisions and

encourage them to keep up the good work so children can feel like they have that good support

from their parents and their kids will continue to make good or better food choices. Parents and

providers play a big role in childhood obesity due to the long term impacts that damage children

mentally and physically the providers tend to blame others for their problems.

Childhood obesity continues to be a growing problem. Today, nearly 1 out of 4 children

and teens in developed countries are overweight or obese. Those extra pounds put kids at risk for
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developing serious health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, and asthma. According to

the article Helping Your Child Who Is Overweight. Helping your children beat obesity begins

with helping them change their eating habits with foods. Sometimes changing everything makes

you want to cheat yourself sometimes , but instead you should help your children start by making

small steps like taking some fatty foods out your childs surroundings and swapping them with

healthy foods such as vegetables, fruits, healthy snacks .

In other words as supported by the research that is provided it is critical we do something

because 1 out of 4 children and teens are obese. think about the adults and in a couple years how

much that number would increase. Family eating habits contribute to Childhood obesity: a

growing problem. Over the past 30 years, the number of kids with weight problems has increased

at an alarming rate worldwide. ... Those extra pounds put kids at risk for developing serious

health problems. In conclusion childhood obesity is a problem not a symptom parents as them

being adults should watch what their children eat because it can effect them tramidisually.

technology advancements has made children less active because Todays families are different.

Technologys impact on the 21st century family is fracturing its very foundation, and causing a

disintegration of core values that long ago were the fabric that held families together. Juggling

school, work, home, and community lives, parents now rely heavily on communication,

information, and transportation technology to make their lives faster and more efficient.

Entertainment technology (TV, Internet, video games, iPads, cell phones) has advanced so

rapidly, that families have scarcely noticed the significant impact and changes to their family

structure and lifestyles. A 2010 Kaiser Foundation study showed that elementary aged children

use on average 7.5 hours per day of entertainment technology, 75 percent of these children have
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TVs in their bedrooms, and 50 percent of North American homes have the TV on all day. Gone

is dining room table conversation, replaced by the big screen and take out (Bartleby).

As Cris Rowan states video games , tv , ipad , cell phones has played a big part in

childhood obesity today MOST of the children homes has at least one of these utilities. Parents

Encourage healthy eating habits small changes can lead to a success in children weight parents

should Reduce sedentary time , Help your kids understand the benefits of being physically

active ,Provide plenty of vegetables, fruits, and whole-grain products. if your children see you

are making a change being encouraging and helpful they will take act and cooperate.

This evidence support my claim because no child should be or want to be overweight

they dont make that decision it chooses them if your child is less active and eats unhealthy foods

then yes your child is more likely to be obese if your child is more active and eats vegetables and

other health foods then they would be less likely to be obese.

Parents and caregivers can help prevent childhood obesity by providing healthy meals

and snacks, daily physical activity, and nutrition education. Healthy meals and snacks provide

nutrition for growing bodies while modeling healthy eating behavior and attitudes. Increased

physical activity reduces health risks and helps weight management. Nutrition education helps

young children develop an awareness of good nutrition and healthy eating habits for a lifetime.

Children can be encouraged to adopt healthy eating behaviors and be physically active when

parents:

Focus on good health, not a certain weight goal. Teach and model healthy and positive attitudes

toward food and physical activity without emphasizing body weight.

Focus on the family. Do not set overweight children apart. Involve the whole family and work to

gradually change the family's physical activity and eating habits.

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Establish daily meal and snack times, and eating together as frequently as possible. Make a wide

variety of healthful foods available based on the Food Guide Pyramid for Young Children.

Determine what food is offered and when, and let the child decide whether and how much to eat.
Plan sensible portions. Use the Food Guide Pyramid for Young Children as a guide (Bartleby).

Dont make your child feel as if they're different because of there weight gain you have

to be a support system for your child if your child feels that encouragement from their parents

then they will have a different outlook and be healthy. Many factors can contribute to obesity and

overweight, including lifestyle choices (e.g., lack of exercise, too little sleep), medical conditions

(e.g., hypothyroidism) and genetics (i.e., heredity). When a person takes in more calories than he

or she uses, overweight and obesity result.

Technology advancements has made children less active some children appear to greatly

depend on technology that they will limit their creativity. In fact, because children are living in a

modern world with full convenience,they may assume that the need for creativity will be

lessened. However, as technology is changing every minute and require people to be creative in

everyday activity, children, instead, will be pushed to enlarge their creativity(Min Ph). In

conclusion as adults and parents you should watch what your children eat help them to be more

active All children should be physically active for at least one hour a day. You can help by

encouraging your child to find activities they enjoy, and building physical activity into family

life. Most children love running around a park or playing in a playground.

One reason why physical activity in childhood is so important is because it helps your

child to maintain a healthy weight. But that's not the only reason: physical activity is part of the

way children discover the world, and themselves. It helps build strong muscles and healthy

bones, as well as improve. Increased consumers of fast food causes children to become obese. In
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the United States, there are many people who believe that if it wasnt for fast food restaurants,

they would be eating healthier and wouldnt be overweight. People have even tried to sue fast

food restaurants for their own self esteem issues (Bartleby).

Many people are willing to believe that fast foods are responsible for their children being

overweight. But how can you hold someone responsible for the parents or adults poor decisions .

when they don't even understand the good chance that many obese children have parents who are

overweight as well If they can't lead by example.

This evidence supports my claim because regardless of whos to blame, the fact is that

we do have one. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tells us that one in six

children in the United States is obese. And according to the World Health Organization,

childhood obesity is one of the most serious public health threats of the 21st century. There are

now nearly twice as many overweight children and almost three times as many overweight

adolescents as there were in 1980 and it previously took 30 years for the number of

overweight American children to double. So we have to admit that something, somewhere, is

very wrong (Kaplan).

Are children responsible for the fact that a large percentage of two- to seven-year-olds -

and an even larger percentage of eight- to eighteen-year-olds - have TVs in their bedrooms?

That, according to a 2010 Kaiser Family Foundation study, kids are spending an average of 7.5

hours a day with electronic media? Is it the kids fault that theyre not born with self-limiting

mechanisms - and that, yes, too often parents have forgotten how to say no? If children were able

to set their own limits with regard to media consumption theyd need parents only to provide

food, clothing, and shelter. And, speaking of food, is it the childrens fault that supersized

servings confront them at every turn? That fast food consumption is out of control?
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Is it the childrens fault that play spaces are disappearing from the landscape? That

playgrounds are not given the same priority as parking lots? That cities are built, not for walking

and biking, but with automobiles in mind?

The problem is, once a child is obese as a result of all these adult-made decisions, the

odds are pretty much stacked against him. Not only are behavior patterns, like eating and

physical activity habits, established in childhood (educational psychologist Benjamin Bloom

contended that 90 percent of an individuals habits and traits are set by age 12), but long-term

studies have also shown that excess body fat tends to persist throughout childhood and into

adulthood. Forty percent of obese children and 70 percent of obese adolescents become obese

adults. Indeed, by the time a child is six years old, her chances of becoming an obese adult are

over 50 (Pica).

This evidence prove the point i am trying to make because there's really no one to blame

but the parents and adults that interacts with the children that are obese But the main focus are on

the children that are being affected by this problem. Increased consumers of fast food causes

children to become obese fast food is not the reason that humans are preconditioned to eat fatty

foods, thus when lots of it is readily available to us, we cant help ourselves but eat it frequently.

To this argument, one must also consider that humans have the ability to make rational choices

that differ from our primal urges. Sure, there is plenty of evidence that the human body likes to

consume fatty foods to protect against starvation that occurred in humanitys past. However, the

defining feature of a human is the ability to go beyond what our bodies urge us to do. Im fairly

certain this rationality can encompass the decision to eat a healthy selection of foods. In
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conclusion we shouldn't blame other people for our own personal matters we should take charge

and make a difference for ourselves and our children.

Some critics argue that obesity is a matter of personal responsibility, however

government regulation and society changes are key factors to decreasing childhood

obesity.According to Karen Kaplan, author of A Push to Screen all Kids for Obesity, Starting at

Age 6 , the official definition of obesity is having a body mass index in the top 5% for one's age

and gender, based on official growth charts. Ideally, that means only 5% of children and teens are

obese. But in America today, 17% of kids have a BMI high enough to fit that description. (An

additional 32% are overweight, with BMIs that put them between the top 5% and 15% on growth

charts.)

Children who are obese suffer health problems such as asthma, sleep apnea, high blood

pressure, insulin resistance and orthopedic issues and are likely to develop psychological and

mental health problems (Kaplan). Reducing childhood obesity would reduce the incidence of

these medical issues. Most obese teens -- nearly 80%, according to long-term tracking studies --

are on track to be obese when they grow up (Kaplan). In other words childhood obesity can

cause a lot of health problems Parents should choose what children can eat, what foods and

drinks are in the home, what foods and drinks are served at meals and snacks, what restaurants

they go but among those foods, parents should allow kids to choose whether they eat at all and

how much to eat.

Good nutrition and physical activity are particularly important for infants, toddlers and

young children who need an adequate intake of key nutrients while their brains and bodies are

rapidly developing. The foundations for lifelong, healthy eating and physical activity begin in

these formative years. A child's health is even impacted by the mother's underlying health before
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and during pregnancy where a mother's obesity and diabetes puts the child at increased risk

for a range of health concerns (Pica).

In conclusion childhood obesity is a major concern in the united states because childhood

obesity can impact a child mentally and physically and it is a problem and it should be addressed

because the number of children thats obese is increasing. Children who are overweight or obese

are more likely to be obese as adults. Being overweight or obese can put children at a higher risk

for health problems such as heart disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, stroke, cancer, asthma

and osteoarthritis during childhood and as they age (Sabur).

As stated in the body of this argumentative paper, there are three reasons why children

may become obese. The first reason is family eating habits and how that contributes to childhood

obesity children become overweight and obese because of their daily routine and there way of

eating. The second reason is technology advancements and how children become less active and

how more attention is focused on technology and not active. An increase in exposure to

technology goes hand in hand with a decrease in physical activity. The final reason is the

effects of childhood obesity are detrimental in other words Childhood obesity

has reached epidemic levels in developed as well as in developing countries.

Overweight and obesity in childhood are known to have significant impact on

both physical and psychological health. Overweight and obese children are

likely to stay obese into adulthood and more likely to develop non-

communicable diseases like diabetes and other diseases at a younger age.

Childhood obesity is a problem , not a symptom we go day by day not thinking about our

country or the children in our country and how it seems like it's a small problem but in reality its

has a big effect on children if it was your child or family member or someone close to you ..You
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would want something to be done. The reason i decided to do Childhood obesity and not just

Obesity is because I see a lot of children in my family that are suffering from these symptoms

and it's really taking a toll on their young bodies .

Childhood obesity is a great topic and it is important because it's a lot of children in the

US and other countries that are going through the same thing and children don't fully know what

to do or how to react to certain things in their life Obesity in America is a growing problem, and

not just in adults. Today, about one in three American kids and teens are overweight or obese . i

often feel so hopeless for them but just talking about this subject i will not stop here i will

continue to encourage the children in my family and other children that are going through this

crisis to keep thinking positive and don't give up . Did you know childhood obesity is now

killing triple the number of people who die from malnutrition.

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Healy, Melissa. "Fat, Lazy: Which Comes First?" Los Angeles Times, 30 Dec, 2016, pp. B.2,

SIRS Issues Researcher, https://sks.sirs.com.

"Healthy Schools." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention, 25 Jan. 2017. Web. 10 May 2017.

Technology Has Made Children Less Creative than They Were in the Past. - Cha

Writing Min Ph. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 May 2017.

Kaplan, Karen. "A Push to Screen all Kids for Obesity, Starting at Age 6." Los Angeles Times,
06 Nov, 2016, pp. A.12, SIRS Issues Researcher, https://sks.sirs.com
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Pica, Rae. "Who's Responsible for the Childhood Obesity Crisis?" The Huffington Post.

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29 Jan, 2017, SIRS Issues Researcher, https://sks.sirs.com.

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https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/obesity/facts.htm