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In the United States, there is a severe issue that affects 14.4 million children and
adolescents. This issue is childhood obesity, and it has an impact on 19.3% of youth in
the United States as of 2018. (CDC. 2022).The age group I will be researching in this
paper is children aged 4-18 years of age. For decades this issue has been putting children
at risk for poor health and weight management problems. Childhood obesity is defined as
“a serious medical condition that affects children and adolescents. It's particularly
troubling because the extra pounds often start children on the path to health problems that
were once considered adult problems — diabetes, high blood pressure and high
cholesterol. Childhood obesity can also lead to poor self-esteem and depression.” (Mayo
Clinic, 2022).
There are several reasons and causes for a child to become obese, some of these
reasons include diet, lack of exercise or physical activity, genetics and family factors,
certain medications, and psychological factors. Physical activity and a healthy diet is
crucial to children’s development, and if they are lacking these things it will put them at a
higher risk of being overweight. “Although children seem to always be on-the-go, it is
also important that they engage in daily periods of vigorous physical activity. The
benefits of physical activity include improved cognitive function and motor development,
opportunities for socialization, a sense of personal accomplishment, improved physical
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and mental health, and increased fitness. The calories burned during vigorous physical
activity provide an opportunity to increase children's food intake and, thus, make it easier
to meet their nutrient requirements.” (Marotz, 2015). When you instill healthy habits in
children at a young age, they will most likely carry these habits into adulthood.
If a child is overweight/obese, there are several health risks that could become issues later
in life. Some of these health risks include becoming diabetic, or having high cholesterol
and blood pressure. “These factors can contribute to the buildup of plaques in the arteries,
which can cause arteries to narrow and harden, possibly leading to a heart attack or stroke
later in life.” (Mayo Clinic, 2022) Other health complications that could occur is bone
and joint pain, liver or gallbladder disease, shortness of breath of the development of
asthma, and obstructive sleep apnea. “Overweight children have a tendency to mature
earlier. Overweight kids may be taller and more sexually mature than their peers, raising
expectations that they should act as old as they look, not as old as they are. Overweight
girls may have irregular menstrual cycles and fertility problems in adulthood.” (Gavin,
2018).
There are various ways to treat and prevent childhood obesity in your home and in
school. A healthy lifestyle should start at home if economically possible for the family.
These things don’t have to be drastic and you can make them enjoyable for your family
or students. Some of these things include having healthy options around, such as fruit and
vegetables. Some snack options include “Options include air-popped popcorn without
butter, fruits with low-fat yogurt, baby carrots with hummus, or whole-grain cereal with
low-fat milk.” (Mayo Clinic, 2022). Incorporating at least 60 minutes a day of physical
activity is crucial to maintaining a healthy weight. Activity options can be made fun by
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going on a family hike, walking around a park, swimming, or playing a game. A way to
promote healthy eating with children is also to have them help plant a garden and take
care of it. This could also be done in a classroom, and with the food grown you can
prepare meals together, which will also help children with their vocational skills. The
NAEYC standard that supports this healthy way of living is Standard 5: Health. The
official website for NAEYC states that the program should have “Snacks and meals that
are nutritious, and food that is prepared and stored safely.” It also states that “The
program promotes the nutrition and health of children and protects children and staff
from illness and injury. Children must be healthy and safe in order to learn and grow.
Programs must be healthy and safe to support children’s healthy development.”
(NAEYC, 2022).
Overall, there are many factors and components when it comes to childhood obesity. If
parents and educators start instilling a healthy way of living in their children and students
at a young age, it will help them grow up to be conscious of their health and diet. Being a
good role model for them will benefit everyone in the end. The amount of obese children
in the United States is at an all time high, and even though some of the cases cannot be
helped due to certain lifestyle factors, there are still things we can do to reduce the
number of children affected.
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References
The 10 NAEYC Program Standards. (March, 2022). National Association for the Education of
Young Children. Retrieved from
https://www.naeyc.org/our-work/families/10-naeyc-program-standards
Marotz,L. (2015). Health, Safety, and Nutrition for the Young Child. Cengage Learning.
Childhood Overweight and Obesity. (30 August 2021). Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/childhood/index.htm
Childhood Obesity. (2022). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved from
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/childhood-obesity/symptoms-causes/syc-203548
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Gavin, M. (2018 June). Nemours Children's Health. Overweight and Obesity. Retrieved from
https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/overweight-obesity.html
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