Abstract
The main purpose of this research is the provision of an overview about the child obesity, its causes, physiological and social changes, the existing advancements in childhood obesity, and prevention and intervention s of this problem. Attaining a complete impression about the factors linked with obesity in kids is really significant in developing the highly effective strategies of intervention. Community and family based intrusions have produced positive outcomes in order to reduce the level of BMIs and an improvement of the risk factors of MetS s. Inclusively, in the USA an increased level of obesity interventions and continuous initiatives of obesity prevention are vital to decrease the occurrence of childhood obesity.
Introduction
Childhood obesity has become a very rising health issue within the US. According to CDC (2015), every one child or teen among three is obese or overweight in America. Obesity prevalence in children has increased three times more from 1970 to 2011. At present, child obesity is a major issue that comes at the top leaving the issues like smoking and drug abuse behind within America (Ogden, 2002). There are a number of health issues that happen due to obesity among the children, for instance, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and rising cholesterol levels. There are multiple psychological effects that the obese are having like unappreciated body shape, low self-esteem, and depression.
Obesity is actually the possession of too much fat in body. Obesity in kids of the USA is the main problem in this study. Obesity occurs with time when a kid eats extra calories than he/she need obesity happen. A balance between calories out and needed calories is different for every child. When a child is obese it can increase the level of risk regarding heart disease, diabetes, stroke, cancers, and arthritis etc. If a kid is obese the weight loss of even 5-10% of total body mass can even slower or avoids many of these ailments. The main issue of obesity among children in the USA is also causing many other psychological problems that can be a dangerous thing for the future of the country so its management and prevention of child obesity has become very crucial.
What cause the prevalence of childhood obesity?
There are multiple factors that are increasing the obesity are overeating, genetic makeup, eating full fat foods, not being physically active of the kids and many others.
Genetic
If a child born in a family of obese people then he/she may have a high risk to obesity because of predisposed genetic condition mainly if food of high calorie is all time available and the kids are not encouraged about physical activity.
Behavioral
Behavioral factor is also a key factor in determining obesity as children may incline toward food for dealing the problems and other unconstructive feelings like boredom, stress or anxiety. This kind of behavior happens while a child is struggling to cope with a problem of death or divorce in the family and over eating may be used as a solution.
Environmental factors
Many environmental factors may be the reason of obesity in the children like if a child opens the cabinets and refrigerator then he/she may be greeted through the attraction of food by attempting wrappers, bags, pizza, and many other images of food that float in their minds because of the advertisements of products and the kids tend to eat these things. Now a day, TV ads are the main cause of children’s unusual eating habits like ads of pizzas, burgers, and many fast food restaurants. Equally, if a fridge is stocked with healthy foods like vegetables etc then the kids may have those instead of the unhealthy foods. There must be a balance between the healthy foods, fast foods, and other stuff for the children (Ogden, 2002).
Sugar consumption
Children usually tend to eat more sugar and sugar like stuff like candies, chocolates, and ice creams that is the other factor of causing obesity. So, increased consumption causes obesity among children in the USA.
Medical conditions
Another important aspect of obesity is the medical condition of the family and the kid. Genetic diseases and other problems like hypothyroidism, Prader-Willi syndrome, and Cushing's syndrome may cause obesity in the children. So, the medical condition of the children is also an important factor of obesity.
Demography
In America the population has now become concerned about child obesity because it is becoming a major problem in society.
Obesity has become doubled among kids and quadrupled in adults in last 30 years.
The children of age range 6–11 years in the USA has become increased in percentage of obesity 7 percent in 1980 to about 18 percent in 2012. In the same way, the % of adults aged from 12–19 years increased from 5percent to around 21percent in this time period.
Treatment/solution
Proper medical checkups of the kids are needed. Healthy diet and notorious food is necessary for the health and management of obesity in kids.
Preventions
Increased level of physical activity among children can be a preventive measure of obesity among children. Focus of kids toward vegetables and fresh fruits instead of fast foods can be driven within the minds of kinds while creating awareness about obesity.
Recommendation
Aerobic trainings around 20-40 minutes a day can give positive effects on obesity that can minimize the risk factors of obesity. Supplementation of Vitamin D can be used to improve the health problems and risk factors in obese kids. Extra involvement in games and other healthy community activities can lower the level of obesity among kids.
What must be done to reduce childhood obesity in the near future?
In near future awareness about the drastic affects of obesity can be spread in the USA to treat well with this problem. The competition in schools about the healthy foods and its knowledge can also help to manage obesity among kids in the USA.
Bibliography
cdc.gov. (2016, May 15). Childhood Obesity Facts. Retrieved May 15, 2016, from www.cdc.gov: /healthyschools/obesitywww.cdc.gov/facts.htm
Erickson, S. (2000). Are overweight children unhappy?: Body mass index, depressive symptoms, and overweight concerns in elementary school children. Archives of pediatrics & adolescent medicine , 931-935.
Ogden, C. (2002). Prevalence and trends in overweight among US children and adolescents. Jama , 1728-1732.
