research proposal

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2010. Prevalence of Obesity Among Children and

Adolescents: United States, Trends 1963-1965 Through 2007-2008.

Retrieved on October 17, 2012,

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/obesity_child_07_08/obesity_child_07_08.htm

There have been disparities in obesity prevalence among children and adolescents in the country

along racial and ethnic lines. Non-Hispanic black adolescent girls 16.3% were more likely to be

obese compared with non-Hispanic white adolescent girls 8.9% in the period 1988-1994. In

20007-2008, the prevalence was lower among non-Hispanic American boys 16.7% as compared

to Mexican –American adolescent’s boys 26.8%. non-Hispanic girls, along the same period and

non-Hispanic black adolescents 29.2% were significantly more likely to be obese compared with

non-Hispanic white adolescents 14.5%. A report by Similarly Healthy People in 2010 identified

obesity and overweight as the leading health indicators and called for a reduction in the

proportion of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese, but the United States has

made little progress toward the target goal. Progress toward reducing the national prevalence of

overweight and obesity is analyzed using data from the National Health and Nutrition

Examination Survey (NHANES). This is important because as a country we have not made

significant steps in the fight against obesity in children and the country is still stuck in the same

obesity levels as before.

2.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2006). Nutrition and the Health of Young People.

Retrieved on October 17, 2012, http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/nutrition/facts.htm

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This source is concerned with healthy eating which greatly influences reduced risk for many

diseases, including several of the leading terminal diseases such as; heart disease, stroke, cancer,

and diabetes. Promoting healthy eating in children and adolescents is important for proper

growth and development and can prevent health problems such as obesity, dental caries, and iron

deficiency. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend a diet rich in fruits and

vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free and low-fat dairy products for persons aged 2 years and

older. The guidelines also recommend that children, adolescents, and adults limit intake of solid

fats which are major sources of saturated and trans fatty acids, cholesterol, sodium, added sugars,

and refined grains. However, most young people do not follow the recommendations set forth in

the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Learning institutions are best placed to promote healthy

eating and help ensure appropriate food and nutrient intake among students. Schools should

provide students with opportunities to take different types of foods and beverages throughout the

school day and ensure students to learn about and practice healthy eating practices, learning

institutions should provide a comprehensive education on healthy eating behaviors to their

students and also ensure only nutritious foods and foods that have high value and low chances of

causing obesity are provided in school’s cafeteria and vending machines.

3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2010. Childhood Obesity,

Retrieved on October 17, 2012. http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/obesity/

This source explains many facts that have occurred in our time related to childhood obesity.

Childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past three decades. The percentage of children

aged 6–11 years in the United States who were obese increased from 7% to 20% between 1978

to 2008. The percentage of adolescents aged 12–19 years who were obese increased from 5% to

18% over the same period. In 2008, more than one-third of children and adolescents were

overweight or obese. The CDC defines being overweight as having excess body weight for a

particular height from fat, muscle, bone, water, or a combination of these factors. The agency

defines obesity as having excess body fat. Overweight and obesity are the results of having too

few calories expended for a number of calories consumed and are affected by various genetic,

behavioral, and environmental factors. Most of the young people are falling within these

unhealthy balances and succumbing to these factors.

4. National Initiative for Children’s Healthcare Quality, Childhood Obesity.

Retrieved on October 18, 2012, from http://www.nichq.org/childhood_obesity/index.html

The national Initiative for Children Healthcare Quality, NICHQ, is an organization committed to

childhood obesity prevention and control. They aim to eliminate the childhood obesity epidemic

by working with policy makers, and institutions that work to ensure better health for the young,

such as, clinical improvement professionals, and healthcare professionals to ensure every child

has access to high-quality care through a medical home. Their aim is to ensure that as early as

conception, parents, healthcare providers and leaders can take steps from prenatal care to keep

children fit and on track for a healthy future free from obesity. It is organizations and institutions

like these that we need. Creating more awareness and involvement will create a widespread

effect and influence more people committing towards fighting against obesity and validating the

importance of this fight.

5. Rellergert, Linda. 2006. Number of Overweight Youth a Concern.

Retrieved on October 18, 2012

from http://www.missourifamilies.org/features/nutritionarticles/nut33.htm

This source gives the data on the number of overweight children in the United States and shows

that this number continues to climb sharply, according to initial results of the latest National

Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted by the Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention. Young children and adolescent today participate in less active activities

than before. Few children walk or ride bikes to school or play outside when school is over.

Several studies have shown that the more time spent watching television, the greater the risk of

becoming overweight. In addition to being less active itself, TV watching also seems to lead to

more snacking and to actually reduce metabolism. This is one of the most important factors in

childhood obesity. Children do not want to play outside anymore that era has long passed there is

only a handful that still play physically outside. This data is of utmost importance because there

is a need to change the way children interact and lay ground for more active activities.

6. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Weight Control Information Network. 2007.

Statistics Related to Overweight and Obesity. Retrieved on October 18, 2012, from

http://www.win.niddk.nih.gov/statistics/index.htm

According to this source, over two-thirds of adults in the United States are overweight or obese,

and over one-third are obese, according to data from the National Health and Nutrition

Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003–2006 and 2007–2008. Overweight and obesity are risk

factors associated with diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and other health problems.

Because there is no single cause of being overweight and obese, there is no single way to prevent

or treat overweight and obesity that will help everyone. Medication may include a combination

of exercise, behavior modification, diet, and sometimes weight-loss drugs. In some extreme

cases of obesity, bariatric surgery may be recommended. Once the disease is there it plans on

staying there is no easy way of getting rid of it. The signs and symptoms should be read early

and proper actions are taken to avoid future complications when the disease goes to a later stage.

7. Meyer, James E. 2006. Teaching Life-Long Health Skills to Our Kids.

Retrieved on October 18, 2012, from

http://www.missourifamilies.org/features/nutritionarticles/nut123.htm

Guardians and parents will do anything to protect their children from ailments that attack in

middle age and beyond according to research by Tulane University. Childhood is the period that

has a high influence on growth, with an impact on a child’s weight, height, bones and tooth

strength. Other diseases have their origins in childhood too. Diseases such as high blood

pressure, heart disease, and diabetes all can be linked back to poor habits developed during

younger years of development. Some ideas on how to help protect a child’s health include, not

mixing food and television, sitting down to a family meal and reducing uptake on sugary foods

and drinks like juice. This is particularly important because the children want to take the sugary

and junk foods which appeal to them. If the parents can play their parts in ensuring the children

practice good-eating habits, it will be of great importance in fighting the overweight and obesity

menace.