Obesity is a serious disorder that must be prevented since prevention is better than cure. This is one of the most prevalent diseases in children in the U.S. and Saudi Arabia. In prevention of this disorder, physical exercises should be enhanced in small children. In both countries, seriousness in controlling this devastating calamity should be enhanced to ensure that by 2015, the affected number is decreasing instead of rising.
Every individual should be in a position of trying to control the disease. It has also been revealed that the disorder is affecting people of other ages. Proper and optimistic strategies have to be laid down to curb the problem and to save the generations to come. The health sectors in these two countries should be on the front line in controlling this epidemic and educating people (Kopelman, 2005).
After the research was conducted, effective measures in controlling this disorder were found to be optimistic if followed to the latter. If applied it will control the problem and save future generations. One of the ways is to ensure that newborns are breastfed as per the guidelines of doctors. This will help in controlling occurrence of obesity in days to come. In addition to breastfeeding, parents and children should be educated on nutritive and healthy diets (Dietz & Stern, 1999).
With this, parents will be in a position to provide their children with healthy foods and not always giving them junk foods. Since one of the most important ways of controlling big bodies is through exercise, physical education should be enhanced and be put to practice. Another way that was found effective in solving this issue is the discouragement of sedentary life and limiting the time used in television viewing (Gardner, 2009).
From the findings it was clear that obesity is on the rise in both countries and that effective measures have to be taken. This came out as the data from organizations revealed that the population of children affected by obesity is increasing day after day. Like In the U.S., the data shows that 16.9% of the children aged between 2-19 years are victims of the circumstance.
The data also implied that the disease is mostly affecting children who are from high socioeconomic families. This is similar to what was found in Saudi Arabia although in the U.S. all children were affected. The data was also proved that in the U.S., children are not involved in physical exercises and they eat much junk foods and that is the reason the number of obese people in the U.S. is comparatively higher to that in Saudi Arabia.
It was also clear that obesity does not increase with age but those aged between 6-11 years are mostly affected than those aged between 12-19 years. It was clear that most of the children are lonely and that is the reason they could not manage physical exercises and they had to watch television for most of their time. Therefore, loneliness came out as one of the factors contributing greatly to obesity (Strauss, 2000).
To eradicate or control this disease the above measures should be followed to the latter. They can be used to save future generations and control other diseases such as pediatric hypertension that are associated with obesity. Children and parents should show their interest in controlling this disease and by 2015, the number of victims would have decreased. In other nations, specifically developing countries, citizens should put efforts in curbing the disease (Goodman & Whitaker, 2002).
References
Dietz, W.H. & Stern, L. (1999). The official complete home reference guide to your childs nutrition. American Academy of Pediatrics, 25(3), 1-9.
Gardner, T. (2009). The 5 problems caused by childhood obesity. Web.
Goodman, E. & Whitaker, R. C. (2002). A prospective study of the role of depression in the development and persistence of adolescent obesity. American Psychological Association, 105(2), 1-15.
Kopelman, P. G. (2005). Clinical obesity in adults and children. New York, NY: Blackwell Publishing.
Strauss, R.S. (2000). Childhood obesity and self-esteem. American Psychological Association Pediatrics, 105 (1), 15.
A number of factors can be blamed for the occurrence of obesity in children; there is no one single thing that can be blamed on an individual; however in most cases, the condition appear when two or more such factors play their role, the following are the main factors:
Lifestyle adopted by modern children: Modern foods, mostly junk foods are freely available for children; this has resulted to a changed eating habits to such foods that increasing the rate of child obesity. On the other hand, children are now engaging more in in-house games using computers, video games, and television, they do not have the chance to exercise their body and muscles, and this increases their chances of being obese since they do not burn calories they have consumed.
Genetic and hormonal: Childrens genetic and hormonal factors influences how bodies accumulate fats on the body; where some people have the tendency of accumulating more fat than other peoples accumulate. When child has a higher tendency of fat accumulation, then chances of becoming obese are high.
Familial and nutritional: Closely related to genetic factors, some families have the tendency of accumulating more fat than others accumulate, as much as this may be from biological making, it has been influenced greatly by the behavior within a family. Obesity can be seen to run down a family, because of diet and nutritional issues in the family setting. If a family engages in inappropriate eating habits, then children in the family are likely to suffer from obesity.
Psychological and physiological factors: Children as they grow develop some food likings, when they have the cash to buy the foods, then they are likely to eat junk that might cause a higher consumption of fats causing obesity.
Solutions to childhood obesity
It is better to prevent than cure, obesity can be prevented in the county through the intervention of policy makers, parents and other stakeholders. To address the issue of obesity in the society, a countys health department has the role of enforcing rules and regulations as well as creating awareness to the people on how they can change their eating habits for the benefits of their children.
The country should ensure that children have enough playing ground, at school or village level so as they can use plays to exercise their bodies. Parents and junk food joints should be held responsible of children health; this can be through regulations that control advertisement of junk foods in the county and ensuring fresh and health foods are sold in the joints.
Every country should have a legislation that aimed at addressing the issue of obesity; it should;
Parents sensitization on good feeding process to their children, this will be offended in pregnancy clinic where feeding mechanisms of a child before birth and after both will be advocated.
Creating awareness on the dangers brought about by being obese, both children and adults obesity: knowledge is power thus when embarked on, it is likely to make people change their behavior
Develop guiding brochures to be given alongside birth notification certificate to newborn. The brochures will advise the parent on right feeding process that he should adopt; the material offered should be a method of aggressive anti-obese campaigns
Incorporate obesity cases in health insurance policies: this will assist the country suffering population to get proper medical attention for general improvement of their conditions
To attain the above objectives, there is need for corporation among all stakeholders involved. Parents should be given the mandate of ensuring that theory children are fed in the right way, they should ensure that food eaten by a child whether when with the parent or not is the right kind.
Various measures have been used to assess obesity and its health impact on a community. In the same regard, various measures are used to describe the status and needs of a community in assessing the dangers of obesity. One basic measure of assessment is the prevalence levels across different age groups, to determine which section of the population needs the most attention in the reduction of obesity (WellnessProposals, 2011, p. 1).
In this type of measure, the number of people suffering from the condition, across a given population sample is noted. The second measure of assessment is the lifestyle of a majority of the people in the community (which predisposes them to obesity). This measure is used because obesity is often caused by a sedentary lifestyle, and when a community is identified to live such a lifestyle, it is highly likely that, the prevalence of obesity will be high.
The incidence of the disease is also another assessment tool used because it establishes the number of obesity cases within a given population group, and at a given time period. This measure is however not the same as the disease prevalence rate within the community, because it is only specific to the number of new cases observed within the community (assuming a specific population group is sampled at a specific period of time).
Policy Development
Since obesity has quickly become a communal and national problem in America, there are many policies which have been developed (or are being developed) at a communal or national level.
So far, the policies developed at the communal level include the banning of the sale of sodas and candy in public schools because it has been established that, schools are ripe grounds for the thriving of obesity, because many cases of obesity are currently being registered in schools as opposed to other social places (Longley, 2011, p. 2). Out of the school context, there is a requirement established for fast food restaurants operating within the community to show the level of fat and calories in the foods they produce.
These measures are directly aimed at reducing the rate of obesity within the community because medically, the consumption of fast foods, sodas and candies have been identified as some of the leading causes of obesity. These policies have been adopted by the state government because they have legislative control over public institutions and businesses. In future, the same policies should be implemented at a national level.
Assurance
In curbing obesity, several programs should be developed to curb excess calorie intake, encourage the consumption of healthy foods and encourage the undertaking of physical activities.
For instance, there should be a health promotion and physical activity program and a healthy choice and dietary program to ensure people undertake exercises, at least one hour a day, and strictly observe the consumption of healthy foods.
The standards and regulations to be upheld in these health programs should be enforced by the state governments, and upheld in schools to impart proper eating behavior to students at a young age.
Teachers should therefore be the enforcers of such programs, but they should be subject to state authority and supervision. The state authorities should therefore be the custodians of the program standards. In further upholding the standards and effectiveness of the above mentioned programs, the observance of these programs should be made a licensure issue, before schools and other learning institutions are registered by the state (Longley, 2011, p. 2).
References
Longley, R. (2011). Can Legislation Prevent Obesity in America? Web.
WellnessProposals. (2011). Health Promotion and Wellness Programs: Top Health Risks. Web.
According to American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry report of 2008, obesity is an increased body mass resulting from fat accumulation in a childs body, which may cause health dangers to the child. Recent living conditions have resulted to an increase in malnutrition disease. Among the children, obesity is one of health condition that has been caused by the lifestyle that people are continually adopting (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 2008).
To determine the whether a child is obese or not, there are some age expectations that are set and pegged to a certain age that a health child is likely to be having. If the child weight is higher than the given age, with a percentage of over 20% then to child is considered as obese. Child obesity has been on the rise especially in modern societies where eating habits have changed. The medical condition can be prevented through simple practices and changing of eating habits (McNair, 2009).
Children obesity statistics
The Unites States of America is believed to be having the highest number of obese children; health officials have observed that there are 23million obese or overweight children in the country, the obese children falls in the ages of between of two years and nineteen years (World Health Organization, 2011).
Obese children are not healthy and are at the risk of developing diseases later in life or at tender age. According to CRC Health Group website 2000, 19% of children aged between the ages of 2-11 were obese and 17 % of those aged 12-17 years were obese (Institute of Medicine, 2004). In the world ranking, united states records the highest number of obese children in the world.
Between 1999 and 2004, the rate of child obesity has increased for 15.1 to 18.1%; these are children of the ages 6-11. According to institute of medicine report published in 2005, it was estimated that there are approximately 9 million children in United States.
The concern for the increase was brought about by increase in diseases that are related to the condition among them diabetes type two. The reports blame parents of lack of control over their children habits but were quick to point out the influence that junk food joint have on the children (Waters, Seidell & Swinburn, 2010).
Causes of obesity among the Americans
A number of factors can be blamed for the occurrence of obesity in children; there is no one single thing that can be blamed on an individual however in most cases, the condition appear when two or more such factors play their role, the following are the main factors:
Genetic and hormonal
McNair, 2009, states that people have different biological making; genetic and hormonal factors influences how bodies accumulate fats on the body; where some people have the tendency of accumulating more fat than other peoples accumulate. When child has a higher tendency of fat accumulation, then chances of becoming obese are high. This cause is the hardest to control however if parents act consciously of this factor, then they can check foods taken by a child to reduce chances of obesity in their children.
Familial and nutritional
Closely related to genetic factors, some families have the tendency of accumulating more fat than others accumulate, as much as this may be from biological making, it has been influenced greatly by the behavior within a family. Obesity can be seen to run down a family, because of diet and nutritional issues in the family setting. If a family engages in inappropriate eating habits, then children in the family are likely to suffer from obesity (Paxton, 2006).
Psychological and physiological factors
Children as they grow develop some food likings, when they have the cash to buy the foods, then they are likely to eat junk that might cause a higher consumption of fats causing obesity.
Lifestyle adopted by modern children
Modern foods, mostly junk foods are freely available for children; this has resulted to a changed eating habits to such foods that increasing the rate of child obesity. In the United States, there are a number of junk foods outlets where children can buy junk food with or without their parents (Ben-Sefer, Ben-Natan & Ehrenfeld, 2009).
On the other hand, children are now engaging more in in-house games using computers, video games, and television, they do not have the chance to exercise their body and muscles, and this increases their chances of being obese since they do not burn calories they have consumed (Bascetta, 2005).
Dangers brought about by obesity
According to Paxton, Donahue, Orlean and Grisso, 2006, there are different dangers that come with being obese; when a child has a lot of fat deposit in the body, there is a lot of sodium deposited in the body.
The resultant is an increased blood volume that increases the rate of blood pressure; increased blood pressure force the heart to work harder a factor that is likely to cause high blood pressure. Children suffering from high blood pressure have their life hampered as they can hardly enjoy their childhood, youthfulness and sometimes it has an effect in adult life.
When the body has excess fat deposits, there is a high resistance to insulin. When this happens, the body lacks the energy that it requires to maintain at equilibrium. The resultant is type 2 diabetes; diabetes is one of the most dangerous diseases that the world is trying to fight, it is a disease that cannot be cured through managed through daily injections.
When there is heavy weight exerted joint and cartilage, there are high chances that the weight will lead to Osteoarthritis, and this offers lifelong complications. The worst medical condition that a person develops from being obese is cancer (Paxton, Donahue, Orleans, & Grisso, 2006).
Measures that the United States can take to reverse the obesity trends within their country
It is better to prevent than cure, obesity can be prevented in the county through the intervention of policy makers, parents and other stakeholders. To address the issue of obesity in the society, the county health department has the role of enforcing rules and regulations as well as creating awareness to the people on how they can change their eating habits for the benefits of their children.
The country should ensure that children have enough playing ground, at school or village level so as they can use plays to exercise their bodies. Parents and junk food joints should be held responsible of children health; this can be through regulations that control advertisement of junk foods in the county and ensuring fresh and health foods are sold in the joints (Koplan, Liverman, & Kraak, 2005)
Every country should have a legislation that aimed at addressing the issue of obesity; it should;
Parents sensitization on good feeding process to their children, this will be offended in pregnancy clinic where feeding mechanisms of a child before birth and after both will be advocated.
Creating awareness on the dangers brought about by being obese, both children and adults obesity: knowledge is power thus when embarked on, it is likely to make people change their behavior
Develop guiding brochures to be given alongside birth notification certificate to newborn. The brochures will advise the parent on right feeding process that he should adopt; the material offered should be a method of aggressive anti-obese campaigns
Incorporate obesity cases in health insurance policies: this will assist the country suffering population to get proper medical attention for general improvement of their conditions
To attain the above objectives, there is need for corporation among all stakeholders involved. Parents should be given the mandate of ensuring that theory children are fed in the right way, they should ensure that food eaten by a child whether when with the parent or not is the right kind (Koplan, 2007).
Conclusion
Children obesity continues to be a challenge to the Americans; to get a remedy for the disease, the government, parents, communities, and patients should join efforts and promote healthy eating habits. At all lengths, junk foods and foods with high fat /oil contents should be avoided; the government has the role of controlling fast food and restaurants businesses. Outdoor activities should also be promoted to ensure that children use the calories they consume in foods. Parents should train their children right eating habits from infancy.
References
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. (2008). Obesity in children and teens. Web.
Bascetta, C. (2005). Childhood Obesity: Most Experts Identified Physical Activity and The Use of Best Practices as Key to Successful Programs. Boston: DIANE Publishing.
Ben-Sefer, E., Ben-Natan, M., & Ehrenfeld, M. (2009). Childhood obesity: current literature, policy and implications for practice. International Nursing Review, 56(2), 166-173.
Koplan, J. (2007). Progress in preventing childhood: How do we measure up? New York: National Academies Press.
Koplan, J., Liverman, C., & Kraak, V. (2005). Preventing Childhood Obesity: Health in The Balance. New York: National Academies Press.
McNair, T. (2009). Childhood obesity. BBC Corporation. Web.
Paxton, C., Donahue, E. Orleans, T.,& Grisso, J. (2006). Why should we care about? childhood obesity? Web.
Paxton, C. (2006). Childhood Obesity: The Future of Children. New York: Brookings Institutions Press.
Waters, E. Seidell, J & Swinburn, B. (2010). Preventing Childhood Obesity: Evidence Policy and Practice. New York: John Wiley and Sons.
World Health Organization. (2011). Global strategy on diet, physical activity and health. Web.
Obesity can be defined as a medical situation whereby the body accumulates fat in large quantities leading to poor health conditions thus reducing the rates of life expectancy. Research indicates that obesity increases the chances of disease contamination and occurrence due to the lack of proportionality of the body. The types of diseases affiliated with obesity are chronic in nature. This illustrates the need to improve the eating habits to regulate the occurrence and spread of the disease (Hanevold 239). Obesity is generally caused by genetically related aspects, lack of appropriate exercise and combination of irrelevant consumption of food rich in energy, fats. Proper exercise procedures and dieting are solutions to control the occurrence of obesity and related diseases. The level of mortality rate in reference to obesity is alarmingly high worldwide. This has increased over time regardless of the availability of solutions to limit and control the spread and occurrence of the disease (Boudina 31).
Health Effects
People suffering from obesity are prone to many chronic diseases which in most cases lead to death. This indicates that obesity creates numerous health hazards on the patients due to immobility and adverse effects on medical attention and responsibilities. The mortality rate affiliated with obesity is relatively high and solutions to counter-check these occurrences have resulted in minimal results. The lack of appropriate exercise and a combination of irrelevant consumption of food rich in energy fats and containing high levels of calories is the major cause of obesity and related diseases. The types of diseases affiliated with obesity have adverse effects on a persons health thus the need to improve on the eating habits to regulate the occurrence and spread of the diseases and reduction of the mortality rate. Patients suffering from obesity have difficulties in moving from one location to the other (Hanevold 242). This indicates that obesity results in limitations in movement and mental illness. The complications realized by the presence of obesity are either indirectly or directly related.
Causes of Obesity
Scholars show that obesity can result from a number of factors; genetic, the lack of exercise, poor diet, lack of recreational areas, depression, pollution and medicine. The relationship between genetics and obesity has been studied for decades and different conclusions and findings illustrated in the different mediums of publications. The occurrence of obesity in people whose parents had attained obesity at a particular time suffers from similar symptoms and illness (Katherine 330). This shows that people inherit genes from their parents. The presence of obesity during childhood relates to the adverse possibilities of the individual experiencing the disease in his or her adulthood.
The weight of mothers before and during delivery of the child also leads to the causes of obesity to the child. The weight of the parent is relatively proportional to the weight of the born child (Bardwell 343). The same effects on the child can be advanced in future if the right procedures are not followed to control further spreading of the disease. Proper attention should be given to newborn children who are overweight. This avoids future implications and effects of the disease on the children and the occurrence of other related diseases (Boudina 35). Food rich in energy, fats and contains high levels of calories should be consumed in low volumes to enhance appropriate diet in the body. High consumption of food rich in sugar and fat results in the accumulation of fats in the body which eventually causes obesity. In addition, the portion of food consumed also determines the occurrence of obesity. This result from intake of food and nutrients that are not relatively required by the body thus the excess food and nutrients is stored inform of fats which can relatively lead to obesity (Hanevold 244).
The lack of adequate exercise procedures to enhance on efficient metabolism processes and physical stability can result in cases of obesity. The lack of balancing the levels of calories in the body leads to obesity and related diseases. The calories are usually balanced effectively through the presence of physical exercise procedures. The body weight and level of calories consumed through exercise, normal functionality of the body should be balanced effectively with the ones consumed to generate effective caloric balance. The consumption of food should not exceed the normal requirement of the body and together with the one required to facilitate physical exercise. The maintenance of the caloric balance in the body through proper eating habits and facilitation of adequate exercise normalizes the body weight. This means that the lack of caloric balance results in storage of energy and fats in the body leading to chances acquiring obesity (Katherine 329). High consumption of food rich in sugar and fat results in the accumulation of fats in the body which eventually causes obesity. Food rich in energy, fats and contains high levels of calories should be consumed in low volumes to enhance appropriate diet in the body.
The education fraternity has effectively made use of the exercise programs as part of the curriculum in the facilitation of early knowledge in matters related to importance of physical exercises. The children are initiated in practicing different exercise programs to motivate their active participation in the exercise programs (Hanevold 247). The availability of physical exercise programs in schools and other academic institutions facilitates recognition of the required ways of keeping fit to avoid the occurrence of certain class of diseases. On the other hand, the locality and surroundings of a person can enhance the possibilities of obesity. Research indicates that people who live in areas where there are walk paths, social aerobics halls and other sports fields tend to involve themselves in physical exercises. The walk paths are usually meant for individual or group walks and acts as substantial aspects in the facilitation of exercise platforms in the eradication of obesity and other related diseases.
Research practitioners have generated different forms of eradicating the occurrence of the obesity disease. It is therefore essential to illustrate that obesity has risen relatively due to causes derived from ignorance and eating disorders. The relationship between genetics and obesity has been studied for decades and different conclusions and findings illustrated in the different mediums of publications. Proper attention should be given to the new born children who are delivered overweight. The calories are usually balanced effectively through the presence of physical exercise procedures (Bardwell 348). The body weight and level of calories consumed through exercise, normal functionality of the body should be balanced effectively with the ones consumed to generate effective caloric balance.
The mortality rate resulting from obesity can be decreased through the use of education facilities through publications, social media and by use of the door to door education programs. The occurrence of obesity can be regulated and controlled because the disease is caused by human error and ignorance (Boudina 39). The education programs offered in schools need improvement on advanced ways of eradicating on the spread and occurrence of obesity. The availability of physical exercise programs in schools and other academic institutions facilitates recognition of the required ways of keeping fit to avoid the occurrence of certain class of diseases.
In conclusion, the causes of obesity range from generic, lack of exercise and poor eating habits. Obesity increases the chances of disease contamination and occurrence due to the lack of proportionality of the body. The types of diseases affiliated with obesity are chronic diseases thus the need to improve on the eating habits to regulate the occurrence and spread of the disease. The level of mortality rates associated with obesity in the whole world is alarmingly high. The complications realized by the presence of obesity are either indirectly or directly related. There are numerous ways that can be used in limiting the occurrence of diabetes. Consequently, the states and government entities through the ministry of health and other relevant fields should facilitate educating programs on how to avoid and limit the chances of suffering from obesity. There are numerous sicknesses and disadvantages aliened to obesity. The health practitioners and their relevant bodies should ensure that sufficient information is communicated to people in the enhancement of proper physical fitness and healthy eating. The information on obesity should also be included in the teaching curriculum from junior levels to the higher institutions of learning.
Works Cited
Bardwell, Genevieve. Feasibility of Adolescents to Conduct CommunityBased Participatory Research on Obesity and Diabetes in Rural Appalachia. Clinical and translational science 2.5 (2009): 340-349. Print.
Boudina, Sihem, and Evan Abel. Diabetic cardiomyopathy, causes and effects. Reviews in Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders 11.1 (2010): 31-39. Print.
Hanevold, Coral. The effects of obesity, gender, and ethnic group on left ventricular hypertrophy and geometry in hypertensive children: a collaborative study of the International Pediatric Hypertension Association. Pediatrics 113.2 (2004): 328-333. Print.
Katherine, Kosa. Economic causes and consequences of obesity. Annu. Rev. Public Health 26 (2005): 239-257. Print.
The matter of childhood obesity and poor nutrition are some of the catastrophic issues that bedevil the American society today and who should take the responsibility in eradicating it has been the subject of debate since governments, parents, schools and the media carry substantial blame.
Statistics in America indicate that the cases of children suffering obesity have spiraled and for the last thirty years, the cases of obesity have increased by fifteen percent (Child Obesity, n.d.). Many reasons have been put forward to justify why obesity cases are on the rise: Doctors associate obesity cases with the fact that children are not consuming the exact type of foods required as a balanced diet and secondly, the American children are getting exposed to less physical exercises everyday.
It is argued that eliminating the cases of obesity in America will be hard unless parents are willing to accept the responsibility to inform their children about healthy lifestyles. There has been a strong debate about the party that should be held responsible for these rising cases of obesity.
There are those who argue that it is the responsibility of the government to eliminate it while others argue that it is the responsibility of the parent and the family at large to eradicate it though it is conventional that a child is charged with the responsibility to manage his/her body. It has been turned into a blame game where the parents blame the government and on the other hand the government blames the parents.
Main Analysis
Educating children about good and healthy eating decisions can assist in reducing cases of obesity among them. This can be achieved through the institution and formulation of laws by the government. The rising cases of obesity is slowly getting out of hand, whereas many believe that the government is to save the country from obesity; the available government policy is not well formulated to solve the problem hence the need for parents to encourage their children to adopt better and healthy eating habits.
To encourage healthy lifestyle and good eating habits, the government should raise the health care charges for people who are obese. Although this policy can be argued to be bad, it will motivate those who are obese to adopt health lifestyles while rewarding those who practice good healthy habits.
Consequently, despite the fact that such a policy will increase the costs of health care, it will end up promoting healthy eating and encourage body exercise habits but this also depends on the examples set by the parents in their homes (Murtagh, 2011).
Those who argue that it is the responsibility of the parents to control children obesity put forward such points as the need of the parents to teach their children about good healthy habits and inculcating them to programs like weight watchers and girls on-the run which are vital in promoting healthy lifestyles.
Parents also need to teach healthy routines in their homes and they should inform their children the benefits of body exercises and also well rounded diet, which can as well be passed from one generation to another. It is argued that children who live with parents who promote healthy lifestyle will likely promote healthy lifestyle and good eating habits when they grow up.
Parents also argue that it is a mistake by the government since they are in position and they have the power to introduce some bans and also restrictions on the availability of fast foods and also to some extend prohibit some adverts that may be seen to be promoting unhealthy foods and eating lifestyles. Though these measures cannot completely curb the cases of obesity, they will greatly reduce obesity cases.
Although the government and those who advocate for the curbing of childhood obesity agree that the government should be responsible in eradicating it, they disagree with the governments argument that parents should teach their children good eating habits and instead, to them, it is the teacher who should be the one to teach the children about the dangers of childhood obesity.
Parents also argue that the government should instead operate some classes that offer lessons on obesity to the children. It is argued by the proponents that the parents will not mind paying for the classes since it is in their interest to eliminate childhood obesity (Public Health, 2011).
Conclusion
Since the elimination of childhood obesity cases rests with two main measures: first, the promotion of physical exercises and two, the promotion of good and health eating habits, the debate on who should take the task of eradicating it should not be a matter of concern since it will not in any way solve the problem at hand. It only requires good will and taking of action collectively by all the stakeholders.
Government has taken the responsibility to prevent obesity. This has been prompted by the fact that the prevalence of obesity increases the chances of people contracting other lifestyle diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes and also cancer.
There is a need for a collective action if childhood obesity is to be defeated; parents need to teach their children better eating styles and above that they should actually act as their childrens role models on matters of better eating habits. The government should also enact necessary laws to govern the sale of fast foods to children.
References
Child Obesity. (n.d.). Child obesity in America: taking care of our children. Help Cure Child Obesity. Web.
Murtagh, L. (2011). State Intervention in Life-Threatening Childhood Obesity. The Journal of the American Medical Association, 306(2), 206-207.
Public Health. (2011). News Release. Department of Public Health. Web.
Childhood obesity has been on the increase in the United States with negative implications on the health of children. Toledo, Ohio has not been spared of this obesity crisis and rates of obesity continue to rise in the region. The high prevalence rate of obesity among children in Toledo is a cause for alarm and it requires direct action aimed at coming up with effective strategies and programs to prevent or alleviate the problem among the population.
Owing to the fact that obesity reduces the quality of life and shortens the lifespan of the person, it is of importance that solutions be developed to deal with this problem in children. In recognition of this fact, Toledo Mayor Mike Bell led a delegation of high-profile leaders, earlier on in the year, to a meeting in Washington where they sought solutions to the childhood obesity epidemic that the Toledo area faces (Boyd-Barrett 1).
This paper will propose feasible solutions for the obesity problem that Toledo faces. The paper shall begin by highlighting the major causes of childhood obesity in Toledo. Solutions which include: healthy eating, dietary education in schools and increase in physical exercise will be proposed as the best ways to counter childhood obesity. The paper will make use of authoritative sources on the subject to reinforce the proposals made.
Childhood Obesity: Causes
While there are a number of causes of obesity, Jelalian and Steele declare that overindulgence in unhealthy foods and limited physical exercise are the major causes of the problem (23). This assertion is reinforced by the fact that obesity is mostly limited to people who eat unhealthily and exhibit limited physical exercise. Among the children in Toledo, unhealthy dietary habits are core to the increase in obesity.
The home and school environments are some of the major causes of these unhealthy eating habits. In the school environment, many elements such as vending machines and the fast foods offered at cafeterias encourage unhealthy eating habits. These fast foods contain trans fats which have been linked to increased risk of heart diseases and have also been grossly implicated other health conditions including obesity and diabetes (Frary 56).
There is also limited availability of healthy foods. Boyd-Barret notes that Toledo is aflicted by a scarcity of grocery stores. In the places there the stores are available, they seldom have any fresh fruits or vegetables to offer. This is in contrast to the high availability of fast food restaurants which are virtually around every corner.
Another reason for the prevalence of childhood obesity in the region is a lack of nutritional education by the children. Lucas County Commissioner, Pete Gerken, noted that children are not as well-educated as they should be about exercise and diet which is what has made childhood obesity the number 1 health issue in Toledo (Boyd-Barrett 1). Nutrition education is also fundamental to the success of any obesity alleviation efforts since it can lead to the adoption of healthy lifestyles.
Lack of proper exercising has also led to the increase of obesity in children. Elected officials report that the obesity problem that Toledo faces is exacerbated by poor community planning and urban environments that fail to provide people with enough recreational opportunities where they live (Boyd-Barrett 1). Without exercising facilities, children are bound to continue with their unhealthy sedentary lifestyle which comprises of playing video games and watching TV.
Proposed Solutions
It has been elaborately shown that the quality of food served to children in the school setting is of low nutritional value and unhealthy. Economic considerations result in fast foods being preferred in school cafeterias over healthy foods. Unhealthy fast foods are lower priced compared healthier meals which not only cost significantly more but they also take longer to prepare.
The foods that are available to children in schools are mostly made up of snacks, fast foods and sodas; all of which are rich in unhealthy fats, sugars and salt. With this in mind, it is evident that the key to solving the problem of childhood obesity is an overhaul of the school nutrition program.
To begin with, schools should endeavor to get rid of fast foods in schools. The very presence of fast foods undermines the health foods since fast foods are not only cheaper but also sweater. Research by Frary et al indicated that the number of fruit and vegetable intakes by children decreased as intakes of sugar-sweetened beverages increased (61).
It can therefore be inferred that decrease in junk foods and sodas will result in an increase in healthier food intake. Without a doubt, the funding of healthy eating programs would be expensive to the parents and the schools. Money is a major consideration since poverty is a big challenge for Toledo where nearly 20% of residents receive food assistance (Boyd-Barrett 1).
As such, it will be necessary for schools to participate in the Federal Meal program. These programs adhere to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) thus providing students with nutritious meals. These meals are reimbursable by the state thus greatly decreasing the price per meal making them much more affordable.
Proper education on nutrition and proper diet is one of the means through which obesity can be combated in Toledo. The CDC highlights the need for provision of nutritional education guidelines to school-age youths so as to ensure that health lifestyles are adopted early in life and perpetrated all through adulthood.
A solution that increases knowledge on proper diet and exercise is therefore appropriate. Schools are the venue through which this solution can be implemented Schools are a major influence for children and they are responsible for instilling principles in the childs life. Schetzina et al declare that the most effective means through which a healthy eating culture can be ingrained in the minds of children is if they are taught this at the earliest stage possible (23).
Devoting some educational time to teaching children sound nutritional principles may result in the children adopting favorable lifestyles. The incorporation of nutrition education at the elementary school level would increase the likelihood of children adopting healthy eating habits which would continue through their lives. This would reduce the risk of the children developing obesity even more.
Proper exercising is another means through which childhood obesity can be curbed in the region. Physical activity in children can be encouraged through physical education. As it currently stands, physical education has taken a back seat as schools lay more emphasis on studies and other academically oriented activities.
This clearly indicates the low priority that Physical education is given in schools. As a result of this, there are minimal opportunities for children to be physically active during school time and the physical education classes are one of the first to suffer when budgetary cuts are necessitated in schools (Jelalian and Steele 34).
The reality is that in most schools in Toledo, physical education classes are been squeezed out as pressure increases for students to raise their performance in the subjects which are examinable. Considering the importance of physical education, parents and teachers should continue to advocate for improved physical activity opportunities for children in schools.
Physical education classes should be consistent and regular and inclusive of all the students to make sure that every student benefits from proper exercising. At the community level, there is lack of proper facilities where people can exercise. The community should therefore continue to pressure the local authorities to improve the social amenities available. In particular, calls for creation of parks and other recreational spaces should be made so as to encourage healthy living.
Conclusion
This paper set out to highlight a problem that affects the Toledo community and propose feasible solutions to the same. The paper has addressed the issue of childhood obesity, which is a major problem since it affects children who are the future of the community.
This paper has proposed feasible solutions which are not only desirable but are the means through which we can restore the health of the children. It has been demonstrated that the biggest cause of obesity is poor eating habits exhibited by the school children and the lack of physical education programs in the schools.
As such, for any solution to yield favorable results, it must set out to tackle these core issues of nutrition and physical education. While the solutions proposed in this paper will come at a cost, the solutions will result in improved health of the children. This will be beneficial to all since the children are the future of the community.
Frary, Carol et al. Children and Adolescents Choices of Foods and Beverages High in Added Sugars Are Associated With Intakes of Key Nutrients and Food Groups . Journal of Adolescent Health 2004; 34:56-63.
Jelalian, Elissa, and Steele, Ric. Handbook of Childhood and Adolescent Obesity. Springer, 2008. Print.
Schetzina, K. E. et al Developing a Coordinated School Health Approach to Child Obesity Prevention in Rural Appalachia . Rural and Remote Health 9: 1157. 2009.
Obesity in children is on the increase making it to be termed as a public health issue. Health is a critical issue in the life of individuals and thus the need to maintain it to the highest level possible. Obesity is a serious disease due to the effects it has on a victims body and the treatment consequences that are associated with it. The problem is even worse in the United States of America where it affects many individuals irrespective of age.
Child obesity in the United States is, for example, an issue of concern since it has been on the increase, an ailment that was sometimes back associated with only old age and the elderly people. For this reason, child obesity in America has attracted a lot of attention from different angles including the state, federal, health institutions, and non governmental organizations among others all in an effort to find solutions to the ordeal and hence make the situation better by saving lives of the children.
I am interested in this topic since it is a concept that touches almost on every individual and provision of relevant information concerning the topic will help deal with the condition and thus make the situation better. The focused aspects of this topic to be covered include the causes of obesity, the risk factors associated with child obesity, the treatment that should be offered, family behavior and child obesity as well as some of the interventions that should be established by different bodies including the government, to handle the situation.
Some of the obstacles I would encounter in my research include inability to get specific statistics in relation to cases of child obesity. Meeting the victims or the relatives of those affected is also a difficult concept. I feel that the audience most suited for this topic is parents and caregivers. Medical practitioners and governments could also benefit from the research.
Preliminary Bibliography
American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. Obesity in Children and Teens. 2008. Web.
Blackburn George and Kanders Stefannie. Obesity: pathophysiology, psychology, and treatment Beatrice. New York: Jones & Bartlett Learning, 1994.
Christakis, Nicholas & Fowler, James. The spread of obesity in a large social network over 32 years. The New England Journal of Medicine, 2007. 357, 370-379.
Emedicinehealth. Obesity in Children. 2011. Web.
Fletcher Gerald, Grundy Scott and Hayman Lucia Laura. Obesity: impact on cardiovascular disease. New York: Wiley-Blackwell, 1999.
Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Committee of Public Accounts. Tackling child obesity first steps: eighth report of session 2006-07, report, together with formal minutes, oral and written evidence. New York: The Stationery Office, 2007.
Kalavainen, M. P, Korppi, M. O. & Nuutinen, O. M. Clinical efficacy of group-based treatment for childhood obesity compared with routinely given individual counseling. International Journal of Obesity, 2007, 31, 15001508.
Latnera, Janet, Rosewallb, Juliet. & Murray B. Simmonds. Childhood obesity stigma: Association with television, videogame, and magazine exposure. Body Image, 2007,4 (2), 147-155.
Olstad, Dana and McCargar, Linda. Prevention of overweight and obesity in children under the age of 6 years. Applied Physiology, Nutrition & Metabolism, 2009, 34(4), 551-570.
Rao, Goutham. Child obesity: a parents guide to a fit, trim, and happy child. London: Prometheus Books, 2006
Rhee, Kyung. Childhood Overweight and the Relationship between Parent Behaviors, Parenting Style, and Family Functioning. The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 2008, 615(1), 11-37.
Introduction
Health is a fundamental element in our day to day living. Poor health is associated with many negative effects, for instance, lack of productivity and in the extreme cases, loss of lives through death. Although being healthy is considered to be a natural process, some efforts also need to be put in place by an individual or parents/ caregiver incase of a child so as to maintain health.
This could be through proper care, for instance, by observing hygienic standards and proper diet necessary to keep the body in a good condition at all times. Health is heavily dependent on nutrition among other factors. Obesity entails a condition where an individual has body weight that is much greater that what is healthy.
It is a medical condition where excess body fat accumulates in the body to an extent of causing other complications such as reduced life expectancy, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Obesity in children is on the increase making it to be termed as a public health issue. This piece of work will give an in depth discussion on the issue of child obesity after which some recommendations to curb the situation will be suggested.
Causes of Child Obesity
There are various causes of obesity. Food or nutrition is the leading cause of obesity in children as well as in adults in United States of America and other parts of the world. Changes in nutrition among people in the US have been a contributing factor towards the increase in health related issues for instance diabetes, obesity among others.
People have turned to the consumption of fast and processed food, which usually lack the adequate nutrients needed to keep a person fit and healthy. Children are also introduced into these poor diet at a very tender age an aspect that affects them adversely more especially because of their inability to fight diseases and other attacks due to their underdeveloped immunity system. This affects their development and even shortens their life expectancy (American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Par 3).
Children parent communication is also crucial in the growth and development of a child. The parenting style has great influence on a childs attitude towards obesity. The television, through advertisements, for example, influences a childs attitude towards fast foods.
Just like in the case to adults, the media plays a great role in influencing behavior in children and presentation of processed and fast foods has great impact on the child where they consider them to be prestigious and hence the desire to consume them. This is an aspect that could only be corrected by parents through effective communication with the child, allowing for healthy lifestyle to be cultivated right from an early age (Fletcher, Grundy and Hayman 101).
According to Rhee (13), family behavior is closely linked to child obesity. Research reveals that a parents behavior towards a child has got very great influence when it comes to a childs growth and development since during the early stages; the child is helpless and entirely depends on the parent or the caregiver.
A considerable number of children suffering from obesity are at the stage of preschool and early school years where the parent could only be the source of influence. Among the specific causes of child obesity that fall under this category is lack of involvement in physical activity due to the spending of time watching TV and playing with the computer, poor diet and consumption of fast food among others. These are things that parents ought to look into for a child to be healthy.
Christakis & Fowler (371) asserts that social ties also contribute to the spread of obesity among children. Surveys have shown that there is a tendency of children to develop obesity where either of the parents is obese or suffers from over-weight complications. Although it could not be genetic, the fact that a child develops within the presence of a very big sized parent may lead to an attitude of appreciating it and hence having the urge to emulate them. This is dangerous as it starts from the mind.
Another parent related factor in relation to child obesity is that of lack of proper breastfeeding habits and the extensive consumption of processed beverages and foods.
Due to tight job schedules especially in the developed nations like the U. S, parents have little time to spend with their children and they do not give them a chance to enjoy breast milk, an aspect that is very crucial for child growth, development and immunity. To counteract this, the parents find themselves substituting breast milk with processed beverages which have an adverse effect on the health of the baby due to lack of the required nutrients for healthy growth (Blackburn and Kanders 54).
Risk Factors Associated With Child Obesity
There are various risks that go hand in hand with child obesity. Some of them include developing breathing problems, high chances of diabetes, sleeping difficulties, high blood pressure as well as an increased risk of developing heart diseases.
Emotional problems are also another feature that is brought about by obesity. They include low self esteem, withdrawal, anxiety, and depression among others. This shows the negative effects of obesity and hence a necessity to take proper preventive actions to avoid all these (Latnera, Rosewallb & Murray 147).
Treatment for Child Obesity
There are ways through which Child Obesity could be treated and prevented. Although treatment of obesity in children is a complex and complicated aspect, it is not impossible. There should be the development of effective ways of child obesity treatment to ensure that the child is not intimidated in any way and that the best possible results are achieved.
Child suffering from obesity needs a thorough and careful medical evaluation by a qualified pediatrician or even a family doctor. This is for the purpose of coming up with all the possibilities of a physical cause in order to come up with the best course of action. Motivation of the child is also crucial for the achievement of a lasting weight loss.
There should therefore be adoption of motivation technologies that are aimed at keeping the child on the move to improve the situation (Emedicinehealth par.4)
Early childhood development and care is a very crucial aspect in the determination of a childs fate in regard to obesity. Proper care of the child should commence right during pregnancy to ensure that the child grows in a healthy manner.
Parental environment plays a great role in prevention and management of child obesity especially in regard to influencing a childs attitude towards food and general lifestyle. For this reason, preventive measures should be taken by all mothers as early as possible to prevent complications that could develop later in life (Olstad & McCargar 561).
According to Kalavainen, Korppi & Nuutinen (1501), there should be diversity in the prevention and treatment strategies undertaken in regard to child obesity. Instead of routine individual treatment programs, group based treatment strategies should be adapted to avoid boredom.
Research carried out by these authors asserts that group therapy is one of the best and effective treatment strategies that should be utilized in the treatment of child obesity since it yields desirable results. This could be linked to the idea that the child does not feel deserted but rather appreciated and loved for whom he or she is. It raises the childs self esteem and hence motivation to achieve the desired goals.
Interventions to Arrest the Situation
Various Intervention measures have been put into place. Child obesity being one of the leading health issues in the modern society raises dire need for strategic and proper intervention measures to be put in place in an effort to improve the situation and make the world a better place for child growth and development, which has in turn a great influence on the later life of an individual.
This is because the probability of maintaining good health from childhood all through to adolescence and later to adulthood and old age is much higher than that of having to deal with health complications at a tender age where chances of affecting the childs future health conditions negatively are high. Many steps have been taken for instance presentation of fitness shows and change of menus in restaurants and learning institutions.
Despite these efforts, the rate of obesity is still high and hence the need for the government to take necessary steps to curb the problem. This can only be possible through the imposition of control measures upon the food industry where the foods produced should be health sensitive irrespective of the cost incurred.
The government can impose sanction upon the food industries, influence the media and also take part in campaigns aimed at educating the public on the benefits associated with eating healthy as well as the drawbacks that go hand in hand with poor nutrition (Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Committee of Public Accounts 113).
Recommendations
To manage child obesity, the following recommendations should be adhered to; Parents and caregivers should be informed on the importance of living a healthy life and eating well balanced meals so that they may take good care of their children right from the time they are born to avoid major complications that may arise later in life. This is because prevention is always better and easier than cure.
The government should take part in regulating the food industry. There should also be aggressive campaigns to do away with ignorance among the Americans since most of them are not conversant with nutrition and the foods they should avoid consuming. The campaigns should emphasize on the importance of eating healthy and the effects associated with poor nutrition.
Other general means through which child obesity could be managed include involving the child in weight management programs that will assist in reducing the weight in a healthy manner, making improvements in the eating habits for instance developing a routine and eating in small quantities and controlling portions while at the same time reducing the amount of calories (Rao 202).
Apart from food issue, parents and care givers should engage children in physical activities, for example, walking so that they may have a more active lifestyle to avoid accumulation of fats due to lack of proper utilization. Being conscious of what your child takes whenever he or she is not around home for instance while at school is also crucial. Food should also be treated as a necessity rather than a reward so that the child may grow knowing the importance of food.
Parents could also enhance the process of managing the weight of a child suffering from obesity by raising his or her self esteem. This could be easily achieved through concentrating and emphasizing the childs strength, improvements and positive qualities instead of focusing on the weight issue, an aspect that could lead to self hatred and self blame which could affect the process of healing or rather managing weight negatively.
These are some of the measures in which both the parents and the child should participate in an effort to maintain or improve a childs health and avoid complications (Latnera, Rosewallb & Murray 146). When carrying out these measures, it should not be done in isolation but rather as a family issue, for instance, the child should not be put on special diet from the rest of the family members to avoid the feeling of self hatred or blame.
Conclusion
It is evident that there has been an increase in health related problems particularly among the Americans, an aspect that has attracted a lot of attention among various responsible agencies as well as the government.
Child obesity has been received with a lot of concern since it was not common in the early days and various bodies are ready to do anything to help improve the situation and save the nation from the epidemic. There are various causes of child obesity and proper care should be taken by mothers as early as possible since most of the causes can be easily prevented as discussed above. Proper treatment should also be sought when the child obesity occurs.
Works Cited
American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. Obesity in Children and Teens. Aacap, 2008. Web.
Blackburn, George, and Kanders Stefannie. Obesity: pathophysiology, psychology, and treatment Beatrice. New York: Jones & Bartlett Learning, 1994. Print.
Christakis, Nicholas, and Fowler James. The spread of obesity in a large social network over 32 years. The New England Journal of Medicine, 2007.357, 370-379.
Fletcher, Gerald, Grundy, Scott, and Hayman Lucia Laura. Obesity: Impact on Cardiovascular Disease. New York: Wiley-Blackwell, 1999. Print.
Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Committee of Public Accounts. Tackling Child Obesity First Steps: Eighth Report of Session 2006-07, Report, Together With Formal Minutes, Oral And Written Evidence. New York: The Stationery Office, 2007. Print.
Kalavainen, MP, Korppi, MO. & Nuutinen, O M. Clinical efficacy of group-based treatment for childhood obesity compared with routinely given individual counseling. International Journal of Obesity, 2007, 31, 15001508. Web.
Latnera, Janet, Rosewallb, Juliet, and Murray Simmonds. Childhood obesity stigma: Association with television, videogame, and magazine exposure. Body Image, 2007, 4 (2), 147-155. Web.
Olstad, Dana, and McCargar Linda. Prevention of overweight and obesity in children under the age of 6 years. Applied Physiology, Nutrition & Metabolism, 2009, 34(4), 551-570. Web.
Rao, Goutham. Child Obesity: A Parents Guide to A Fit, Trim, And Happy Child. London: Prometheus Books, 2006. Print.
Rhee, Kyung. Childhood Overweight and the Relationship between Parent Behaviors, Parenting Style, and Family Functioning. The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 2008, 615(1), 11-37. Web.
This article by Emma Woollacott entitled Obesity Could Be Catching, is a medical related article. This article tries to find obesity related issues leading to the infection of liver diseases.
Briefly, the article clearly seeks to illustrate reasons behind the occurrences of obesity and its side effects, for instance infections. Moreover, the article points out the way Yale scientist tested mice and found out that they could develop Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. They also came to the conclusion that antibiotic treatment of mice could bring microbial composition back to normal.
NAPLD can also be found in humans; 30 million people suffer from it in the United States. NAPLD leads to obesity and diabetes. Scientists hope they can find a treatment or cure for humans (Woollacott p. 1). They are eager to find a lasting solution of the liver disease that has affected many people in the world. The article highlights the process carried out to detect how the microbes that cause obesity could be transferred from one person to the other (Woollacott p. 1).
It is necessary to note that this is not directly administered to human beings. Given that it is an experiment, scientists are keen on using animals first until facts prove that it is safe for human. It was clear from the experiment that the microbes causing the disease are contagious since the healthy mice kept with the infected were found to be possessing microbes (Woollacott p. 1).
Woollacott further indicates that there are certain proteins responsible for the development of an immune system. The article also gives the discoveries by the Yale University team on the presence of the same inflammasomes microbes that profoundly contribute to the liver disease known as the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease NAFLD (Woollacott E p. 1).
Woollacott further says that the experiments prove that this comes along with other disease such as diabetes being also a serious cause of the deadly liver infections found in the western world. The article gives statistics on the people who suffer from the NAFLD infections in the US only.
It is shocking to note this is a serious threat to the future health. It is estimated that approximately 30 million suffer from NAFLD. These people are at the risk of contracting cirrhosis and the liver cancer (Woollacott E p. 1). It is alarming that even today no reason has been given to this.
Since proper research and documented proof is available, this research is valid. The statistics given in the article reflects a true finding. It is my heartfelt opinion that permission should be granted for it to move to the next stage.
Donors should be willing to finance the project since many Americans are at risk. Once the experiments are done on human and proved to be efficient, many lives will be saved. The government should as well be willing to sponsor volunteers to undertake the experiments. Medical findings in America should be given priorities.
Good incentives should be given to the devoted scientists to keep on the spirit of finding permanent health solutions for Americans. The experiments done on mice will be positive since mice are mammals meaning that their body systems are similar to those of the human beings, which gives the scientists some confidence that positive results will be obtained.
The attention of mass media and policy-makers is usually attracted to such health problems as cancer, AIDS, or smoking. Certainly, one cannot deny that they pose a significant threat to people. However, there are other risks that one should not overlook, and one of them is obesity. Its effects can be much more serious than many people believe.
This paper can be of some interest to educators and healthcare workers who need to join their efforts in order to address this issue. They can change peoples attitudes toward their eating habits and lifestyles, and they may play an instrumental role in implementing the solution proposed in this essay.
First, it should be noted that there are various definitions of obesity and there are different criteria for diagnosing it. Overall, from medical standpoint, it can be viewed as an excess of fat tissues that can eventually result in various health impairments and even reduced life expectancy (Alexander-Mott, 221).
This problem can be attributed to a variety of factors such as inappropriate diet, sedentary lifestyle, or eating disorders that can be attributed to mental health problems (Alexander-Mott, 222). The first two factors are probably the most important ones and their effects should be mitigated.
When explaining the problem of obesity, one should not overlook its possible implications. First, this disorder is associated with such risks as diabetes, sleep apnea, hypertension, gallstone, cardiovascular disease and some forms of cancer (Ostman, Britton, and Jonsson, 3). These risks may not manifest themselves during childhood or adolescence. Yet, they can become very widespread among adults. This is one aspect of the problem.
Furthermore, one should not forget that people who, have problems with extra weight, may often be stigmatized by peers especially during childhood and adolescence. In many cases, they are blamed for something that they are not guilty of.
In the long term, such stigmatization can result in inferiority complex and depression, especially among adolescents (Ostman, Britton, and Jonsson, 26). Therefore, it is possible to say that obesity not only impairs the quality of a persons life, but also results into various physiological and psychological problems.
The importance of this problem can be illustrated by looking at its scale. According to the data, published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2012 more than 35 percent of adults in the US are obese (CDC, unpaged). It means that there are more than fifty million adult people who suffer from this problem. Additionally, 17 percent of children in the United States are diagnosed with obesity (CDC, unpaged).
Again, this percentage indicates that more than 12 million children have extra weight. This report takes into account only those people who were officially diagnosed with obesity, but the actual number can be much larger. Overall, the number of people with obesity problems has increased by more than 20 percent within the last twenty-five years, and this trend is projected to continue in the following decades.
Furthermore, as it has been said before, obesity leads to a variety of health problems, and the problems, and it significantly increases the costs of healthcare. For example, only in 2004, healthcare costs related to obesity problems such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or hypertension constituted $75 billion (Nnakwe, 208).
Moreover, the problem of extra weight is an important contributing factor to approximately 200.000 deaths each year (Nnakwe, 208). These are the main aspects of the problem. Every person living in the United States is affected by it, even if he or she does not suffer from obesity. In this case, it is possible to speak about the costs of this problem since this money might have been spent otherwise. Moreover, given current estimates, obesity is likely to impact almost every family of the country. This is why it cannot be overlooked.
There are several strategies that community can take in order to address this issue. One of the solutions that have been tried was to prohibit vending machines that distribute what is now called unhealthy or junk food. In particular, one can speak about food items as pork rinds, carbonated beverages, gums, and so forth (Heshmat, 70). Certainly, poor diet is one of the crucial factors contributing to obesity.
Moreover, it is necessary to minimize childrens exposure to this type of food. However, one should take into account that this initiative did not actually change childrens attitude toward their eating habits. Certainly, they may not be able to buy gums or potato chips in elementary or secondary schools, but it does not mean that they cannot do it outside of school.
Secondly, one can mention the regulations requiring food companies to disclose information about their products, especially their chemical composition. This policy is supposed to increase peoples awareness about what they eat. The problem with this solution is that many people do not pay attention to this information, and it is not emphasized by the producers themselves. For instance, it is often typed in a small print that is sometimes almost illegible.
Finally, economists argue in favor of increased taxation for unhealthy products. Certainly, this policy can generate extra income, approximately $ 1 billion annually (Heshmat, 73). This money can be spent on medical costs or other urgent problems. However, one should take into account that this tax burden can shifted on the shoulders of poor people are often the buyers of unhealthy food. Moreover, this initiative will not change peoples attitudes toward their food choices.
This problem can be effectively resolved provided that people change their attitudes toward their food choices and their lifestyles, especially sedentary lifestyle. This task requires active cooperation of both medical professionals, especially those who work in schools, and educators.
Secondly, this solution has to target both children and parents. The first initiative is to develop new physical education classes. During these classes, both teachers and medical workers will have to explain why unhealthy food and sedentary lifestyle are not good for them.
In particular, children should be able to see that such food choices will not make them stronger or more attractive. Later, this message can be reinforced during science classes when teachers would explain how exactly unhealthy food or sedentary lifestyle can harm a person (ODea and Eriksen, 280). Still, the most important task of teachers is to demonstrate that by leading more active lifestyles, children will have a much more fulfilling life. The key goal is to show the benefits that students can derive from healthy food or physical activities.
Teachers should not attempt to scare children by explaining all possible effects of obesity. This initiative should be intended for the students in elementary and secondary schools because people of this age are most susceptible to external influence (ODea and Eriksen, 280). Secondly, one should take into consideration that childrens lifestyle and their eating habits are largely determined by the opinions of their parents.
Provided that these people are tolerant to unhealthy food, their children will be more likely to have problems with extra weight. This is why schools should organize seminars or lectures for parents. Educators should first identify the dangers of obesity for children. Secondly, they need to show how food choices can lead to obesity. Finally, healthcare professionals have to explain what kinds of food are most suitable for people of various ages, especially children and adolescents. These are main components of this solution.
Admittedly, there can be several objections to this solution. First of all, some school administrators may argue that such campaigns have already been implemented. The main limitation of these campaigns is that they usually emphasized the dangers of unhealthy food and sedentary lifestyles.
Yet, they did not always emphasize the benefits of good food and physical exercises. In other words, children and parents did not see alternatives to them. Moreover, in many cases, anti-obesity programs were ill-adapted for the needs of children. For example, students may not be able to overcome information overload especially when they are lectured about the dangers of obesity for a long time (ODea and Eriksen, 280).
This is why teachers should incorporate these issues into physical education classes and other disciplines that can be related to health. Students must be able to learn about obesity problems at different stages of their education in school; otherwise the arguments of teachers and medical workers are not likely to affect their decisions. This is why this proposed solution is more likely to succeed.
Secondly, policy-makers and planners can argue that this initiative can be too expensive. Moreover, it will involve significant changes in the curriculum. This concern cannot be disregarded, but today the cost of obesity-related problems is much more significant than the hypothetical cost of this solution.
Moreover, in the future, these costs would be on the increase if no measures are taken. Furthermore, eating habits and food choices play an important role throughout a persons life. In part, the responsibility of schools and healthcare professionals is help students make better choices. This is why the changes in the curriculum can be justified. Overall, by introducing several new topics in physical education and science classes, teachers will not make them worse.
There can be another objection to this program. For example, some parents may view the changes in the curriculum as something unnecessary. In particular, they may argue that they know better what their children need. Yet, this problem can be overcome, especially during seminars and lectures that can be organized for parents.
The task of educators is to convince parents that they have common goals such as health of children. In addition, they need to show that there are alternatives to unhealthy food. Overall, educators have to explain that they are not trying to exercise more power of family life; instead the long-term goal is to avert a threat to the health of individuals and entire population, in general. This rhetoric will enable teachers and health professionals to resolve potential conflicts with parents.
The scale of obesity problem and its far-reaching implications call for active cooperation of parents, teachers, and medical workers. The proposed solution is based on the premise obesity can be attributed eating habits and lifestyles. Its key objective is to change peoples attitude toward these issues. If this strategy is successfully implemented, it can minimize many health risks to which children, adolescents, and adults are exposed. Moreover, it can save a significant amount of costs.
Works Cited
Alexander-Mott, Lee. Understanding Eating Disorders: Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Obesity, New York: Taylor & Francis, 1994. Print.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. U.S. Obesity Trends. 27 Feb. 2012. Web.
Heshmat, Shahram. Eating Behavior and Obesity: Behavioral Economics Strategies for Health Professionals, Berkeley: Springer Publishing Company, 2011. Print.
Nnakwe, Nweze. Community Nutrition: Planning Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Washington: Jones & Bartlett Learning, 2009. Print
ODea Jennifer and Eriksen Michael. Childhood Obesity Prevention: International Research, Controversies, and Interventions. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010. Print.
Ostman, Jan, Mona Britton, and Egon Jonsson. Treating and Preventing Obesity: An Evidence Based Review, New York: John Wiley & Sons, 2006. Print.