Childhood Obesity Today:

The Growing Problem of Childhood Obesity and Possible Solutions

Growing Problem of Childhood Obesity

2
Abstract

Childhood obesity is a growing problem in America today. It has reached an almost

epidemic level in the United States, and has a number of issues that parents, teachers, and
children need to work on. As children grow their eating habits stay with them, and breaking it is
hard. Teenagers become more at-risk of bullying and depression, continuing into adulthood.
The risks of obesity in children and the effects can be life threatening. The question is what can
we do about it? The easiest solution is education. Bad habits can be easily spotted; families
fixing them may need assistance. Parents and children need to learn ways to eat healthy and
increase their activity. The awareness of this problem and steps to overcome it are not extreme,
and it needs to be more publicized for more families to ask for help. Eating the right amounts,
and the right types of food, and being more active are the top steps to take to correcting this
problem.

Growing Problem of Childhood Obesity

Childhood Obesity Today: The Growing Problem of

Childhood Obesity and Possible Solutions
Obesity in American children is a growing concern that is becoming an epidemic with
long mental and physical effects due to lack of awareness, less physical activities, and parent
control, which makes food a major problem in young children and teenagers lives. It has double
from seven percent in 1980 to eighteen percent in 2012. There is a huge significance of obesity
in children and the effect it has on them is heavy. From high blood pressure to cancer, the health
effects are costly, yet easy to avoid. The steps need to be taken early, which will last a lifetime.
The growing problem of obesity in children and the risks to their health, the treatment needs to
start early, and with the entire family and learning prevention in schools to help our countries
children grow up healthy and productive.
Evaluating children the use of body mass index (BMI) with a growth chart for children
start to identify problems with weight. Portion control is already at schools, with children only
allowed a set amount. At home limiting the amount of sweets, which can include juice, and
where they eat and the size of the childs plate can help.
Causes of obesity can be linked to parents, emotions, habits and access to food.
Parents control access and types of food, along with showing children how healthy to eat.
Children with parents that allow them to have junk food constantly or fast food are at greater risk
of obesity. Parents can show, and give children ways to eat healthier, which can lead to a
lifetime of better eating habits. This also includes portion control, using the clean-your-plate
rule. When someone loads a childs plate with food, yet then expects him or her to eat
everything on it. Emotions can cause a person to eat, being bored, upset, and happy. As children
grow older, their habits get harder to break, which in turn causes more weight gain.

Growing Problem of Childhood Obesity

The highest risk of obesity is death. Heart disease, including failure, is below that.
More commonly is type 2 diabetes. Children then have to take medications and finger pricks to
process glucose. Sleep apnea, which causes a person to stop breathing for multiple seconds, can
go up to thirty times in just one hour. Medications, lack of sleep, and bad eating habits reduce
the quality of life, and mobility. Which by effect can have a bad effect on their joints.
Overweight children are at risk of being bullied by their peers. This does no help for
their self-esteem and makes a circle effect, causing them to eat more, and even miss school. This
can continue to weigh on a child and continue throughout their schooling. The bad habits
continue and are made excessive by an emotion, which makes them eat.
Education on healthy eating habits, and physical activity should be the main goal.
Helping children and families learn to reduce overeating and too many calories would have a
great effect on obesity. We also need to increase physical activity, which is at minimum 2
hours a week and 4 hours to lose weight. For children that have been bullied, or have other
personal problems counseling can help a child recognize triggers to their eating habits.
Knowledge is the key to loosing weight for children and their families.
The health of children depends on family, physical activity, and awareness on better
eating habits. Parents need to ensure their children take the right steps to stay healthy and start
good eating habits. Schools need to foster better awareness on how to prevent obesity and
correcting it. With parents and schools working together childhood obesity would lower and
more active children would result.

Growing Problem of Childhood Obesity

5
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