Role of Physical Activity in Preventing Child Obesity
Prospectus: Role of Physical Activity in Preventing Child Obesity
Problem Statement
It is well known that in order to be vigorous people should go in for sport and physical activities. Currently obesity among the population of the United States has reached enormous statistics and is one of the most hazardous diseases which threaten our nation. American Academy of Pediatrics states “According to the 1999 –2000 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the prevalence of overweight or obesity in children and youth in the United States is over 15%, a value that has tripled since the 1960s” (AAP, 2016). Doctors say that obesity in children is caused by the lack of physical activity. According to Harvard School of Public Health “Physical activity can protect against weight gain, but globally, people just aren’t doing enough of it” (HSPH, 2016). Sport is the means which can be of assistance in both prevention and forfeiting of obesity. The importance of physical activity has been ascertained and it demonstrates valid and actual beneficial results during many years, as it facilitates people the process of staying healthy and maintain their weight in normal frames.
Significance
The significance of physical activities and its impact upon a human being can’t be exaggerated. As well as obesity is the cause of a long succession of other diseases a person may suffer, it is crucial to preclude it and physical activity is the means of it.. NIH informs “An inactive lifestyle also raises your risk for coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, colon cancer, and other health problems” (NIH, 2012). Physical activity is the method which assists in preventing obesity and others diseases caused by it, that’s why it is vital to endow pupils with appropriate physical education in early childhood and make sport a regular practice of each child. Winterfeld et al. state “Lifetime habits begin in the school years, and healthy eating and active living can be part of what children learn—or don’t learn—at school” (Winterfeld et al., 2010). With the help of physical activity children can build their healthy life and contribute to successful future. But it should be stated that obesity fighting involves various participants, not one single child or family. WHO informs “Effective obesity prevention depends on action by multiple sectors to create a healthier environment” (WHO, 2012). That’s why the success is determined by each participant and the country collectively in order to succeed and make a prevalence in the confrontation for the health of our future generation. Children must be taught in schools and at domestic surrounding that sport is a vital habit and it should be present on a daily basis of each individual.
Background
As for the background of the given dilemma I have selected the statistics which demonstrate the digit of children who have a medical condition of obesity and the results of physical activity and the effect they have upon destruction of the given disease. In 2011-2012, 16.9% of children from 2 to 19 suffered obesity, which then turned into the number of 34,9 % of adults who had obesity in a grown up age (Oqden et al., 2014). These results demonstrate that the impact of childhood obesity enhances the growth of adult obesity almost twice and one of the causes is deficiency of practicing sport and physical activity. Doctors state that the significance of sport is outstanding not only in disposing of obesity, but foremost it assists in preventing the disease. Physical activity is beneficial not for health only, it contributes to good disposition and contentment from the activity itself, positive emotions and the sentiments of success and self-improvement.
Various researches were made in order to inquire how physical activities influence the weight of people. One of such experiments was conducted with females and the results confirmed that “women in the normal weight range at the start needed the equivalent of an hour a day of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity to maintain a steady weight” (HSPH, 2016). As for children, they need near 60 minutes of everyday physical activity to prevent obesity and maintain themselves healthy.
Framework
Theoretical background is the basis which serves for argumentation of the specified idea. The framework for this study is based upon the scientific and experimental results which were conducted with the aim to discover the percentage of populace within the country who participates in sport regularly and the benefits it produces to them, including decreasing of risk of obesity. Also, a wide range of programs were used for creating the framework of this study. Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration Project (CORD) is the program which is aimed at promoting healthy lifestyle and the importance of physical activity. This program works in six states and encourages people and facilitates to solving the crisis of obesity (CDC, 2015). Supplementary programs fund by the CDC are State Public Health Actions to Prevent and Control Diabetes, Heart Disease, Obesity and Associated Risk Factors and Promote School Health (State Public Health Actions), and the Programs to Reduce Obesity in High Obesity Areas (High Obesity) and their role is to promote healthy nutrition and sport activity throughout all 50 states (CDC, 2015). Such programs are vital in promotion of sport in people’s lives but it also depends on each person and everyone is responsible for own health and being aware of the benefits which physical activities beget is to accountability of every person.
Research Question(s) and Hypotheses
The given study is aimed at discovering answers to the questions about physical activity and its importance in order to preclude and dispose of various diseases, childhood obesity in particular. What impact does sport have upon human’s health and obesity averting? According to AHA “Physical activity helps with: controlling weight, reducing blood pressure, raising HDL ("good") cholesterol, reducing the risk of diabetes and some kinds of cancer, improved psychological well-being, including gaining more self-confidence and higher self-esteem” (AHA, 2014). The substance of sport can’t be exaggerated when we address health. Of course, the significance of a diet and healthy food are principal as well, but sport also influences other spheres of human’s health and assists in preventing a wide range of diseases. Do the state and the Ministry of Health Service help to fight this illness? According to CDC “The medical care costs of obesity in the United States are high. In 2008 dollars, these costs were estimated to be $147 billion. It shows that the government spends a lot of financial efforts in order to make the nation healthier, promotion of physical activity is included into these programs as well” (CDC 2015). In addition, various programs aimed at promotion of sport are widely spread not among governmental representatives, but a lot of celebrities attempt to demonstrate a beneficial pattern practicing sport regularly and encouraging other people to act the same way. This confirms that the problem of obesity was admitted on the highest level and the attempts are made in order to dispose of the disease with the assistance of physical activities in particular.
Nature of the Study
The nature of the study is introduced by the stating of the significance of physical activity in order to decrease the digit of obese children and make the future generation healthier. The significance of sport in the process of obesity fighting may be presented by various statistics and researches conducted. Hills et al. claim that physical activity is the thing which helps to reduce the percentage of obese children and consequently to prevent from this disease in the adulthood (Hills et al., 2011). Various studies confirm the fact that PE in schools is one of the most important factors which contribute to teaching pupils about the necessity of physical activities. Teachers have to emphasize the fact of regular sport activity and in this way educate pupils (Chan, 2016). The nature of the study is also based on the interviews of doctors and scientists who claim that physical activity assists in improving skeleton health, physical development of a body and psychological state of a child (Janssen, Leblanc, 2013).
Secondary Data Types and Sources of Information
In this study I have utilized the qualitative research method which contributed to discovering the data required and analyzing it accurately. This method is inducted and “grounded” and it helps to construct comprehensible conclusions based on accurate facts and evidences. According to FHI that “The strength of qualitative research is its ability to provide complex textual descriptions of how people experience a given research issue” (FHI, 2016). That’s why I consider that this exact method corresponds with my study and assists me to perform it properly and credibly.
References
American Heart Association (2014). The AHA's Recommendations for Physical Activity in Children. Retrieved from http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/HealthierKids/ActivitiesforKids/The-AHAs-Recommendations-for-Physical-Activity-in-children_UCM_304053_Article.jsp#.VpVzKvkrLZY
American Academy of Pediatrician (2016). Active Healthy Living: Prevention of Childhood Obesity through Increased Physical Activity. Retrieved from http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/pediatrics/117/5/1834.full.pdf
Andrew, P., Andersen, L., and Byrne (2011). Physical activity and obesity in children. Retrieved from http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/45/11/866.abstract
Barnes, M. (2010). Promoting Healthy Communities and Preventing Childhood Obesity. Retrieved from https://www.deltastate.edu/PDFFiles/hper%20outdoor%20program/Marywood/promoting_healthy_communities_and_preventing_childhood_obesity1.pdf
Centers for disease Control and Prevention. (CDC). (2015). Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration Project (CORD). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpao/division-information/programs/researchproject.html
CDC. (2015). State and Local Programs. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpao/state-local-programs/index.html
CDC. (2015). Adult Obesity Causes and Consequences. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/adult/causes.html
FHI. (2016). Qualitative Research Method: A Data Collectors Field Guide. Retrieved from http://www.ccs.neu.edu/course/is4800sp12/resources/qualmethods.pdf
Chan, T. (2016). School of Public Health. Obesity Prevention Strategies. Retrieved from http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/obesity-prevention-source/obesity-prevention/schools/school-obesity-prevention-recommendations-read-and-print/
Janssen, I., Leblanc, S. (2013) Systematic review of the health benefits of physical activity and fitness in school-aged children and youth. Int J Behave Nutria Phys Act2010; 7:40.CrossRefMedline.
Harvard School of Public Health (HDPH). (2016). Obesity Causes. Retrieved from http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/obesity-prevention-source/obesity-causes/
Harvard School of Public Health (HDPH). (2016). Obesity Prevention Source. Retrieved from http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/obesity-prevention-source/obesity-causes/physical-activity-and-obesity/
NIH. (2012). What Causes Overweight and Obesity? Retrieved from http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/obe/causes
Oqden et al. (2014). Prevalence of childhood and adult obesity in the United States, 2011-2012. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24570244
World Health Organization (2012). Population-based approaches to CHILDHOOD OBESITY PREVENTION. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/childhood/WHO_new_childhoodobesity_PREVENTION_27nov_HR_PRINT_OK.pdf
