B90075 Applied Health Studies

Question: Childhood obesity is becoming a serious problem in many countries. Explain the main causes and effects of this problem, and suggest some possible solutions. Answer: Introduction There was a time when children who were chubby were viewed as cute. It was assumed that their baby fat would melt away as soon as they transitioned into adulthood. It is known that childhood obesity is unhealthy to children not only in Egypt but also globally. Childhood obesity has the potential to cause not only psychological problems but also health problems (Moore, William and Debra 828). In analyzing the root causes of obesity, we can come up with measures to reduce the disease. In this paper, I will discuss the causes of childhood obesity, the effects as well as the solution of tackling the epidemic. Causes Of Childhood Obesity According to the world health organization, obesity, as well as overweight, are described as the excessive accumulation of body fat which presents a high risk to individual health. Children who have body mass index (BMI) of more than or level at 95% are deemed as obese. Obesity is a major risk factor of a host of chronic diseases like cancer and heart-related diseases. There is the adage which states that a person is a reflection of what he or she eats. Hamburgers and French fries have replaced vegetables as well as fresh fruits. Most children currently have not been taught how to eat healthily (Vittrup and Danielle 88). Most of the parents spend most of their times bombarding children with sugary meals, fast foods and drink commercials that have the potential of causing cavities. Some of the major causes of childhood obesity are the genetic factor, inadequate physical activity, poor or unhealthy patterns of eating of the combination of the mentioned factors (Nghiem and Rasheda 4817). Children whose parents are obese may suffer from overweight. However, the main cause of obesity is too little exercise and poor eating patterns. Some of the behaviors that enhance childhood obesity include eating foods rich in high calorie, foods with low nutrients as wells as beverages. In the united states of America, the Department of Health and Human Services have reported that more than 32% of the young girls and 53% of the young boys take an ounce of soft drinks per day. Little physical activity is also a cause of childhood obesity (Robinson 220). Exercise burn calories thereby helping children maintain and have a healthy weight. Thus, children who do not exercise tend not to burn their calories suffering from obesity. Effects Of Childhood Obesity Children who are overweight or have obesity can have high cholesterol and hypertension which are some of the risk factors for heart-related diseases. They can have enhanced risks of insulin resistance, imbalance glucose tolerance as well as have type 2 diabetes. They can also have problems while breathing like sleep apnea and asthma. They are probably to suffer from joint problems as well as discomfort in muscular skeletal. Psychologically children can suffer from depression and anxiety, reduced self-esteem and reduced quality of life and social challenges like stigma and bullying from other people. Solutions To Childhood Obesity It is important for children to play and do exercise instead of watching television or sleeping. Parents should ensure that if their children are hungry between their meals, vegetables or fruits should be given to them instead of chips or ice cream (Nielsen et al. 9). Parents should reduce or even ban the consumption of high fat, snacks, high calorie and foods low in fiber. Parents are also advised to reduce the consumption of fast food foods for their children. They should seek the advice of nutritional counselors for guidance regarding the health of their children. References Moore, Elizabeth, William Wilkie, and Debra, Desrochers. “All in the Family? Parental Roles in the Epidemic of Childhood Obesity.” Journal of Consumer Research, vol. 43, no. 5, Feb. 2017, pp. 824–859. Nghiem, Son, and Rasheda Khanam. “Childhood Obesity and the Income Gradient: Evidence from Australia.” Applied Economics, vol. 48, no. 50, Oct. 2016, pp. 4813–4822. Nielsen, Tenna Ruest Haarmark, Cilius Esmann Fonvig, Maria Dahl, Pernille Maria Mollerup, Ulrik Lausten-Thomsen, Oluf Pedersen, Torben Hansen, and Jens-Christian Holm. Childhood Obesity Treatment; Effects on BMI SDS, Body Composition, and Fasting Plasma Lipid Concentrations.” PLoS ONE, vol. 13, no. 2, Feb. 2018, pp. 1–18. Robinson, S. M. “Preventing Childhood Obesity: Early-Life Messages from Epidemiology.” Nutrition Bulletin, vol. 42, no. 3, Sept. 2017, pp. 219–225. Vittrup, Brigitte, and Danielle McClure. “Barriers to Childhood Obesity Prevention: Parental Knowledge and Attitudes.” Pediatric Nursing, vol. 44, no. 2, Mar. 2018, pp. 81–94.

B90075 Applied Health Studies

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