Expository Essay Final

Obesity in Children and Adolescent

Rodney Martinez

3/2/2016

Obesity has increased rapidly within the past 30 years and most alarming. It’s having an impact on our children and young adolescents who will become the leaders of tomorrow. Today, fifteen percent of American Children are overweight, which is three times greater that the obesity rate 30 years ago. Berg F., (2005)P 104. Obesity is becoming a crises and without intervention and prevention programs, our children’s health, welfare and safety will have serious consequences. The consequences could and will lead to a multitude of medical conditions, which will include Diabetes, Heart Disease, Mental and Emotional Problems. Our children are subjected to an increased bullying, social stigmas and unrealistic media pressures, which could affect their ability to grow and become a healthy and happy person. Research has proven, obese children are at a higher risk of becoming obese or overweight adults . These children have been subjected to poor nutrition with fast foods, higher fat, increased sugar and greater sodium, combined with decreased activity. Our children have been supersized. We are facing a crisis, which is leading to an epidemic. The increase in obesity among American Children and young adults will have a lifelong and negative impact, if we don’t educate our children and their families, health care providers, educators and our government.

Today, for every three children, at least one is overweight or obese. A large number of families, communities, economic, social and culture factors contribute to the increase in obesity, Cawley J., (2010);1138-1145. Our young adolescents and teen children have been introduced to video games, computers and cable television, which has also lead to decrease activity and motivation among our young adolescents. The school system has played a major role in the crises, by decreases school activities in the form of budget reductions. The schools have placed vending machines in the lunch rooms and failed to provide quality and nutritional lunch options. Theses lunch options may meet the government recommendations, but are these government recommendations providing healthy meals for our children by giving them a corn dog, fruit cup and a pint of milk. When discussing the crises we are facing, it’s difficult to discuss the crises without explaining the impact our schools, health providers and governments should have on education and prevention. With our country recognizing the importance of Early Childhood Education, our children are starting their education as early as 3 and 4 years old , which means a they are spending more time at school and receiving one or perhaps two meals a day at school. With both parents working or the increase in single parent homes, children are gaining their nutritional habits from preschools and the education system and taking this knowledge into their High School years. Our education system is supported by the Government at the state and national level. The Politicians and Government Agencies cite a struggling economy and budget reductions as to their slow response to intervention and prevention programs.

Thirty years ago, children had the opportunity to engage in activity during P.E. and Recess on a daily basis. P.E. Programs can be effective in reducing and preventing childhood obesity. Physical Education Programs can play a significant role in maintaining weight or preventing overweight in elementary school students. Particularly girls. The CDC recommends expanding existing P.E. Programs 1-hour per week, which will significantly reduce childhood Body Mass Index (BMI) for overweight girls. (CDC 2004) The study conducted by the CDC, projects that expanding exiting PE instruction time nationwide by at least 5 hours per week for kindergarteners could reduce the BMI of overweight among girls by 43% and of overweight boys by 60%. Small increases in PE instructions time could still have a significant impact on childhood overweight and obesity among girls. Childhood Obesity is linked to behavior problems among young girls today. Girls as young as kindergarten have behavioral problems with anxiety, loneliness, low self-esteem, depression and anger, arguing and fighting. The Nation has seen the increase in Bullying around the country. Especially among girls. Boys may be at risk of lower academic performance. Overweight children have lower math and reading scores, compared to non-overweight children in elementary school. The CDC recommends all schools require students from Kindergarten to High School, to have physical education-everyday. The American Heart Association and Sport and Physical Education support these guidelines. Most important, the school lunch programs need serious reform, because our children, especially low income children receive free or reduced, breakfast and lunch at school. Which is nearly half the calories they consume per day. Michelle Obama has created a new Program called, “Let’s Move”. The program has teamed with the USDA’s Administration Program to create new federal nutritional standards for school lunches.

Once the child returns home, the parents must understand the consequences of raising an obese child, through education, government assisted programs and informational resources and healthy options. Children of obese parents are higher risk of being obese. Winning the war against obesity will not only make the children healthier, but the parents as well. Parents should understand the important strategies for preventing obesity by healthy eating behaviors, regular physical activity, and limit the amount of television, video games, computer and sedentary activity. The Parents, through resources should understand the importance of a healthy lifestyle. They must understand the need for healthy meals and snacks and the dangers to fast foods, sugars and sodium. With limited education and resources, many cultures, especially African American Families who are raised on “soul food”; foods that are higher in fats and sodium and the consequences when eating these foods (Talpade, Medha 2002) “Soul Food” is higher in fats and lower in vegetables, fruits and grains. They must understand good modeling, eating behavior and attitudes. African American and Hispanic children, including adults are the highest racial group at risk of Obesity. The health care system has seen an increase in diabetes and High Blood Pressure among African American Children. All obese children are more likely to become obese adults and are at risk of increased risk for Type 2 Diabetes, heart disease, arthritis and several cancers. Obese children are 70% higher at risk of Heart Disease in adulthood. The cost to the health Care System will be impacted by the increase need for health care to assist the obese child and adult. The public sector will be effected financially, by the high demand of the additional health care cost. For the first time, our children will have shorter life expectancy than their parents.

The increase in obesity among American Children and young adults has been proven to have a lifelong and negative impact. If we don’t educate our children and their families , the consequences will have an impact on the future of the children. The most effective way to have an impact on the crisis is to include our health care providers, social services, educators and our government. If we as a society and community don’t acknowledge the crisis, our children will be at risk of diabetes, heart disease, arthritis and early mortality. Gollust, S E., (2013) P 52.1. Our children will be the first generation to live shorter life expectancy that their parents. We must work together to educate, provide resources and create prevention programs with proven track records of success. The government should collaborate and work together to bring awareness, prevention programs and tracking measures to insure the programs are working. To insure success, we must also focus on the low income and minorities who have limited access and resources available to them. Our children are the future of tomorrow, they must be taught the importance of a healthy, active childhood and they will thrive and reach their potential and become the adult they were meant to be.

References

National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Fact-Sheet-Actual Causes of Death in the United States, 2000. March 2004. Available at http://www.ced.gov/nccdphp/factsheetst/death causes2000.htm

(American Psychological Assoc.)

Gollust, S.E., Niederdeppe J., & Barry, C.L. (2013). Framing the Consequences of Childhood Obesity to increase Public Support for Obesity Prevention Policy. American Journal of Public Health, 103(11), e96-e102. Doi:10.2105/APH.2013.301271 (American Psychological Assoc.)

Li, J., Hooker, N.H. (2010). Childhood Obesity and Schools: Evidence from the National Survey of Children’s Health. Journal of School Health, 80(2), 96-103. Doi:10.1111/j.1746-1561.2009.00471 (American Psychological Assoc.)

Fulton, J.E., Carroll, D, D., Falukska, D.E., Lee, S. M., Eaton, D.K.., Brener, N.D., & Song, M.

(2011). Physical Activity Levels of High School Students—United States, 2010. (Cover story). MMWR: Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report, 60(23), 773-777.

Airhihenbuwa, C.O. & Kumanyika, S (2002) Cultural aspects of African American eating problems Ethnicity & Health), 1(3), 245-260.

�Kathleen Robinson:

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�Kathleen Robinson:

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�Kathleen Robinson:

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�Kathleen Robinson:

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�Kathleen Robinson:

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