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Childhood Obesity

Student’s Name

Institutional Affiliation
Childhood Obesity
Introduction

Over the past two decades, the United States of America has reported the greatest number

of cases of childhood obesity and overweight. However, it is essential to keep in mind that the

majority of developed nations, including the United Kingdom, China, Germany, France, and

Australia, have this condition. Overweight children are estimated to affect over 170 million

children worldwide, and the number seems to be rising at an exponential rate. Children are

particularly vulnerable to developing cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes as a result of the

high prevalence of elevated body mass index (BMI).

Methodology

A practitioner’s office would be a good place for this kind of research. Implementation of

the two kinds of interventions necessitates specific resources. For the child's diagnosis and

subsequent treatment, the medication approach necessitates the availability of the necessary tools

by a trained physician. In the meantime, parental schooling comprises of courses that will

envelop educative materials (Caprio, Santoro & Weiss, 2020). A medical facility, like a medium-

sized pediatrician's office, has all the resources needed in both situations. To avoid bias,

sampling may take place at a general population location like a school or at a pediatrician

because children treated there may already have potential health issues.

Children and young people between the ages of 2 and 20 ought to make up the sample for

this research study. When assessing childhood obesity, the Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention (2018) and the majority of studies on the topic take into account this age group. In

addition, the body mass index (BMI), a well-liked method of detecting obesity, is adjusted to

take into account the fact that children may grow at various rates and stages throughout their
lives. In light of their BMI estimation or determination by a certified doctor, all youngsters in the

example ought to be qualified as having corpulence. Convenience sampling will be the method

of selection, in which people who meet the criteria are chosen after parents have given their

consent and can be easily contacted. Despite the lack of heterogeneity in the results, this provides

a larger sample size.

Causes of Childhood Obesity

It is generally accepted that a society's overall health has a significant impact on how its

children are raised. The number of obese people in the US has been steadily rising due to the

country's socioeconomic status. Therefore, whose fault is this condition? Are these multinational

corporations responsible for inundating markets with processed foods? Is it the responsibility of

parents to ignore their children's dietary requirements? In most cases, there is no right way to

assign blame. The physical and emotional well-being of the children may also play a role in this

condition. Children who are bullied at school frequently consume junk food to alleviate their

emotional stress.

However, with the right support and direction from parents and the school, it is possible

to manage childhood obesity. The routines, such as increasing exercise and diet for the entire

family. It is vital to express no to handled food and unhealthy foods. Diet includes eating

nutritious foods on time, so it's best to stick to a schedule and exercise discipline. Calories in a

balanced diet are sufficient. It aids in health maintenance. It includes dairy products, fat, protein-

rich foods, whole grains, and carbs with a lot of fiber and fiber-rich fiber.

Habits like eating foods that provide the body with the calories it needs per day, avoiding

trans fats, eating unsaturated fats over saturated fats, and getting regular exercise like walking—
if they don't already—as well as reading nutrition labels and playing outdoor games like cricket,

football, or badminton should be incorporated by their parents. The saying "you are what you

eat" should be imparted to children by every parent. As a result, children will develop healthy

lifestyles. Although the problem of childhood obesity cannot be avoided, there are ways to

manage it and live a healthy life that should be pursued with strong motivation and discipline.

Impact of Childhood Obesity

Childhood obesity may result in "adult"-related chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes,

cancer, and cardiovascular diseases (high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, and insulin

levels). Over 60% of children under the age of ten who were overweight had a greater likelihood

of having one or more cardiovascular disease risk factors, according to a study (Lanigan, Tee, &

Brandreth, 2019). Overweight children are more likely to experience low self-esteem, which can

lead to social withdrawal because they don't fit in with their peers. This further prompts

wretchedness and self-fault, factors which further add to expanded load as the kids will return to

strange dietary patterns.

Obesity or excess weight has a negative effect on performance output. The majority of

children with this condition shy away from physical activities. They do not participate in

sporting or social activities. These kids enjoy staying inside, eating more junk food, playing on

computers, and watching television. The lack of physical activity and continual snacking

exacerbate the issue further. After that, this behavior persists into adulthood. Due to the low

output of these young adults, the economy will suffer.

Possible Solutions:
How does society in the United States combat childhood obesity? There are no clear

solutions, but reversing the current overweight numbers will be a significant accomplishment if

all stakeholders work together. The government, schools, health care facilities, parents, and

multinational corporations all have an important role to play in resolving the issue. Parents ought

to serve as role models as well; Children frequently adopt their parents' eating habits. Parents or

guardians should encourage their children to exercise and attend social events while they are at

home.

Schools ought to have proper menus and encourage participation in extracurricular

activities. Be on the lookout for children who bully and tease obese children. Additionally to

blame are the multinational corporations spending millions of dollars on children. There is a new

item on the store shelves every day (Smith, Fu & Kobayashi, 2020). Advertising these products

to children costs millions of dollars, which makes the problem worse. As a result of the fact that

the businesses cannot be successfully sued for it, it is essential for them to play their part and

advocate for the right ways to use their products. In order to monitor childhood obesity in the

United States, the government and its health institutions should work together with parents and

other stakeholders. There should be research done on how to handle the situation well.

Conclusion

The future any general public relies upon are the youngsters. Healthy children contribute

to a productive and healthy society. Obesity can be controlled if all parties involved work

together. Society ought to take care of, love, and accept children with this condition. Over the

past forty years, the prevalence of childhood obesity has increased at an exponential rate due to a

number of factors. Genetics, increased food availability, and a sedentary and convenient lifestyle

all play a role. Long-term health effects like Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and an increased risk
of cancer can result from these, as can a lack of consistent physical activity and a diet high in fat.

In addition, obesity in childhood results in higher emotional and medical costs in the long run.

Priority needs to be given to change. Schools, the media, and the government need to take the

lead in educating people about the long-term risk factors for childhood obesity and promoting

healthier food choices. Although it won't happen immediately, change is possible.


Reference

Lanigan, J., Tee, L., & Brandreth, R. (2019). Childhood obesity. Medicine, 47(3), 190-194.

Smith, J. D., Fu, E., & Kobayashi, M. A. (2020). Prevention and management of childhood

obesity and its psychological and health comorbidities. Annual review of clinical

psychology, 16, 351-378.

Caprio, S., Santoro, N., & Weiss, R. (2020). Childhood obesity and the associated rise in

cardiometabolic complications. Nature metabolism, 2(3), 223-232.

Rito, A. I., Buoncristiano, M., Spinelli, A., Salanave, B., Kunešová, M., Hejgaard, T., ... &

Breda, J. (2019). Association between characteristics at birth, breastfeeding and obesity

in 22 countries: The WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative–COSI

2015/2017. Obesity facts, 12(2), 226-243.

Qiao, J., Dai, L. J., Zhang, Q., & Ouyang, Y. Q. (2020). A meta-analysis of the association

between breastfeeding and early childhood obesity. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 53, 57-

66.

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