Tahj Davidson

Dr. Biswas

English comp 1

06 October 2019

The cause and effect of childhood obesity and how we can change it

Childhood obesity has negative effects on all phases of life. The unhealthy choices that

are ultimately made by their parents or their only choice by living circumstance often leave them

with limited options to change. According to health ranking in America, thirty-six percent of

children under twelve are ten to twelve pounds overweight. Around twenty-two percent of

children under twelve are fifteen pounds or more overweight. In a study conducted by Dr. Alan

Houston, a dietitian at the university of Tulane, points to the more impoverished households to

be more likely to have children in the obese range. This stat not only implies that being healthy is

expensive, but also how there are not many options for lower class families to be healthy.

Childhood obesity can have many downfalls for young children. Lazy traits are tied to the

lifestyle and bullying often lurks from their peers. The unhealthy lifestyle usually carries

throughout life and into adulthood, often restarting the cycle. Childhood obesity has treacherous

in family and warrants many consequences. The goal of dietitians and families everywhere are to

identify the issues and find heathier solutions to promote a more active and longer lifestyle. This

lifestyle can be achieved through promoting sports through childhood and outlets to health

production for lower class families.

 Trends in childhood obesity

According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Obesity is classified as a

bodily mass index (BMI) of thirty or more. Children facing obesity have risk for high blood

pressure and high cholesterol. In a population-based sample conducted by CDC.gov sixty percent

of children who are overweight have at least one risk factor for

cardio vascular disease. Since the 1970’s obese children in the U.S.

has more than tripled, 1-5 children are overweight or obese. The

rate of has obesity has increases so much because of not only the

trend of bad choices but also the lack of activity. Back then

children were secondary or even tertiary workers for their families.

Figure 1 shows percentage of children
Families were also bigger back then and there was not enough for who were obese from1971 -2016
children to have a lot a lot or be greedy. Now in our generation

there is much less expected from children. Electronics and video games have taken a more

fixated position in their lives and sports or playing outside has taken a backseat. According to

BBC network children spend six hours or more in front of a screen. This trend is not so much

anyone’s fault. The world is moving and upgrading faster technology wise there should just be

advancements in every aspects of young life.

Emotional effects of obesity

Children who are faced with childhood obesity often become targets for emotional abuse

from peers and even society. School bullying is at an all-time high within this generation and the

overweight child may feel the effects of this the hardest. According to accredited website

stopbullying.gov 70.9% of children between the ages of seven and thirteen experience bullying,

of that number 49% were bullied because of their physical appearance or weight. Along with
social humiliation children and pre-teens struggling with obesity can face anxiety and

depression. It becomes difficult for them to fit in and day-to-day life could become gloomy and

withdrawn. Binge eating could be an issue and the lack of being accepted or fitting in would

drive even further away from sports.

Solutions and potential breakthroughs

Children who deal with obesity may realize that they are overweight but may not know

what they can do to change that. Dr. Heather Colbalt, a child psychologist at Ohio state

University, suggest that one of the best ways to help children is to help them figure out what they

can do. She suggests to tailor movements to their interests, talents and capabilities. A lot of kids

that are non-athletic may be more subjective to finding out what they can comfortably engage in

to get them exercising such as dancing. One of the most effected communities by obesity is the

impoverished families. More and more the reality becomes that our diets impact physical and

metal health. These communities do not necessarily have access to adequate nutritious foods.

This leaves family to substitute good substances foods with fats food or junk food because it is

cheaper. Hamdi Felix, the head of agricultural studies at Virginia university, suggest that

agriculture advancements in inner-cities could be a great help to lower childhood obesity. He

says, “Educating people on the difference between food and real food could make a world of

difference” (Felix). Not only could growing food in inner-cities promote healthy lifestyles but it

could also pour money back into the communities.

Conclusion

Although childhood obesity has grown to be an epidemic community issue there are

many ways to fight against it. Educating about a healthier lifestyle in schools’ homes and

neighborhoods can be the first step of preventing it. Children must be led to understand a
lifestyle that may have never been taught to them. Being healthy can open doors to better

friendships and better life mentally, physically and emotionally. Childhood obesity has

treacherous in family and warrants many consequences. The goal of dietitians and families

everywhere are to identify the issues and find heathier solutions to promote a more active and

longer lifestyle. This lifestyle can be achieved through promoting sports through childhood and

outlets to health production for lower class families.

 References

Colbalt, H. (2016). Childhood obesity. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press, A part

of Gale, Cengage Learning.

Felix, hamdi. (2015). Children and Technology: Ten Ways to Help Parents Navigate

Technology with Children. Children and Libraries, 13(2), 36. doi: 10.5860/cal.13n2.36

Houston, alan. (2008). Childhood Obesity. Obesity and Weight Management in Primary

Care, 95–99. doi: 10.1002/9780470760185.ch12