Childhood Obesity A Condition That Affects Children

Childhood obesity is a condition that affects children in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the rates of obesity in children have more than doubled in children in the past 30 years. There was increase of 18% from 1980 to 2012 in children 6 to 11 years of age, estimating that more than one third of children are overweight or obese. (Childhood Obesity Facts, 2014) Obesity usually begins in children during the ages of 5 and 6. The most troublesome fact is that studies have shown that obese children between 10 and 13 have a predisposition of becoming an obese adult. (Obesity in Children and Teens, 2011) Consequently, overweight teenagers have a 70 percent chance of becoming obese or overweight adults, and if at least one parent is obese the child’s predisposition rate increases to 80 percent. (Bishop et al., 2005) What is obesity? Obesity is defined in terms of Body Mass Index (BMI), a number calculated from a person’s height and weight. Although it does not measure body fat directly, it is considered an alternative for direct measures of body fat. The formula to calculate Body Mass Index (BMI) is weight (lb) / [height (in)]2 x 703. From this formula, the result obtained is used to determine the state of obesity in the patient. (About BMI for Children and Teens, 2011) In children ages 2 to 19 years of age, BMI is assessed by age and sex specific percentiles. Obesity is a BMI above the 95th percentile andShow MoreRelatedChildhood Obesity : A Serious Medical Condition That Affects Children And Adolescents991 Words   |  4 Pagesadolescent obesity rates continue, predictions say by 2035 there will be more than 100,000 additional cases of heart disease linked to obesity (Collins 1). Childhood obesity has become more of an epidemic over the last few years. Although there are debates of childhood obesity being a problem, several factors contribute to childhood obesity such as parental feeding styles and fast food, nonetheless, which can all be prevented. Childhood obesity is a serious medical condition that affects children and adolescentsRead MoreChildhood Obesity : A Serious Medical Condition That Affects Children And Adolescents Essay1116 Words   |  5 Pagesquestion will identify the leading causes of childhood obesity in New Zealand. Childhood obesity is a serious medical condition that affects children and adolescents (Mayo Clinic, 2014). It occurs when a child is well above the normal weight for his or her age and height (Mayo Clinic, 2014). This enquiry question will mainly focus on children who are obese in New Zealand. Through survey, The 2012/13 New Zealand Health Survey found that 1 in 9 children aged 2–14 years were obese (11%), in New ZealandRead MoreChildhood Obesity : A Serious Medical Condition That Affects Children And Adolescents878 Words   |  4 Pages Research Paper on Childhood Obesity Childhood obesity is a serious medical condition that affects children and adolescents. It occurs when a child is overweight and well over the normal weight for his or her age and height. Child obesity is an important issue because the extra weight can lead children down the wrong path to health problems, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes to name a few. Childhood obesity can cause children to become depressed and have poor self-esteemRead MoreChildhood Obesity : A Serious Medical Condition That Affects Children And Adolescents Essay1736 Words   |  7 Pageshealth risks that children face today is not an atrocious disease like cancer nor is it learning or behavioral problems—it is obesity! The Mayo Clinic, a nonprofit organization committed to clinical practice, health education and research, defines child hood obesity as â€Å"a serious medical condition that affects children and adolescents, that occurs when a child is well above the normal weight for his or her age and height† (Mayo). The Mayo Clinic goes on to say that childhood obesity is particularlyRead MoreChildhood Obesity Affects The Children s Emotional Health1717 Words   |  7 PagesChildhood obesity has been a crucial global concern for the past years, especially in the United States. Obesity within children has become a concern because it can develop multiple health risks. Although some of the health risks can be treated, there are many that could follow them for a lifetime. Some of the health risks could be minor, but many of the health issues are deadly. Childhood obesity has been related to affecting the majority of the child’s main body systems. For example, childhoodRead MoreChildhood Obesity And Its Effect On Children s Wellbeing And Health999 Words   |  4 PagesChildhood obesity is described as a condition whereby excessive body fat interferes or affects child’s wellbeing and health. The condition is often diagnosed based on the Body Mass Index (BMI) since it is considerably difficult to determine the body fat directly. This condition is now recognized as a serious issue requiring public health concern owing to the increased of its prevalence among the children. To avoid stigmatization, overweight is often used in children rather than obese (Ogden, 2014)Read MoreChildhood Obesity And Its Effect On Children1273 Words   |  6 Pagesincline, childhood obesity is one of the most important issue. Often times, parents are willing to do anything for their child with the idea that it is â€Å"healthy.† When they figure out that not everything is healthy, some even take efforts to sue the company. Parents do not realize the underlying factors that cause this type of obesity. Childhood obesity can be a result of many factors in this upcoming society. Many consider genetics and hormonal development as a proof for childhood obesity. HoweverRead MoreChildhood Obesity : An American Epidemic1263 Words   |à ‚  6 PagesChildhood Obesity: An American Epidemic America is facing a serious challenge! Children’s health is becoming a critical concern. Childhood obesity has become an â€Å"epidemic disease† that has rapidly grown over the years in the United States. According to the National Center for Health Statistics in 2011 states that, â€Å"childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents in the past 30 years. In 2012, more than one- third of children and adolescents were overweight or obese†Read MoreChildhood Obesity : Obesity And Obesity1505 Words   |  7 PagesChildhood Obesity Introduction Childhood Obesity has become more critical public health issue worldwide. However, obesity ratio varies from country to country. In addition, up to a quarter of Australian children are suffering from childhood obesity and obese children are at higher risk to become obese adult. For this reason, child’s weight always matters because it can impact on their health in future. There may be many reasons which affect childhood obesity including sedentary life style, lack ofRead MoreChildhood Obesity : Is It Being Taken Seriously?957 Words   |  4 PagesIn the article Childhood obesity: is it being taken seriously?† the author, Honor Whiteman, quickly explains how childhood obesity affects children. She goes into detail on how outside influences affect children and brainwash them into having unhealthy lifestyles. These bad habits, that Whiteman describes, lead children into a tunnel that ends with lifetime obesity. There are moves people can take that will allow them to avoid this preventable issue, yet hardly anyone considers them. This article