Exploring Child Obesity In America

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Exploring Child Obesity in America

In America, childhood obesity has worsened making the health problem become an

epidemic. The rising levels of this health problem are attributable to certain factors with some

being environmental, genetic and biological. As a result, health agencies and related bodies have

taken on active roles through the presentation of treatment and prevention interventions with the

objective of lowering the obesity trends being experienced in the contemporary American

society. However, no research has adequately demonstrated the effect that such interventions and

treatments have generated with reference to the current obesity trends.

Currently, childhood obesity is in the first position among health concerns that the

American population is experiencing mostly due to the health problems associated with this

issue. In the previous three decades, childhood obesity has tripled adding to the high adult

population experiencing this health problem. The current statistics that almost one among three

American children experiences or shows signs of obesity has raised numerous concerns among

health practitioners, politicians, parents and health agencies. In response, Michelle Obama has

launched campaigns aimed at terminating the current trend with regard to childhood obesity

(Rabin).

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Studies demonstrate that the heightening levels of childhood obesity is attributable to

cultural and behavioral differences, as well as differences in the access of safe and nutritious

foods at school and home levels. In children, obesity rates have escalated due to the accessibility

and increased consumption of high-caloric and fatty foods (Ellis and Haman 548). In the recent

years, the number of fast food eateries has increased leading to the availability or accessibility of

high-carbohydrate foods in the American population. Furthermore, families have moved from

the traditional foods to fast foods due to the level of convenience attributed to them exposing

their children to the risk of becoming obese and overweight.

In addition, families have allowed the thriving of sedentary lifestyles where children

engage entirely in passive entertainment activities that do not encourage exercising for instance

watching television and playing games (Ellis and Haman 548). Consequently, these passive

entertainment activities enable children to disengage from normal and active lives, which

promote weight loss through burning of excessive body calories. Therefore, children consume

fatty and high-caloric foods continually without acquiring the opportunities of shedding off

excess calories leading to obesity.

The increased levels of fast food intake are believed to be induced by constant exposure

to television, which present marketing commercials that relate to fatty and high-caloric foods.

Therefore, television and the mounting levels of food-related commercials are believed to entice

children into the consumption of the fatty and high-caloric foods (Ellis and Haman 548). Hence,

children have developed preferences to the unhealthy foods, which have influenced their eating

habits from an earlier age. As a result of continued consumption and adoption of such unhealthy

food preferences and eating habits, the number of children affected by the obesity epidemic has

overly risen within the American societies.

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According to Blanco, Lisa, Samantha, Horsch and Ortega, ‘having a low socioeconomic

status does increase the risk of higher levels of obesity.” The socioeconomic status influences the

categories of foods accessible to families where those with those with higher socioeconomic

status can afford healthy foods. Conversely, families with low economic status have limited

choices in terms of food, which makes them consume foods that are accessible to them.

Therefore, such families end up opting for the cheap, fatty or high-caloric foods that promote

obesity. The problems at the family level are reflected in the health of the children who adopt

eating habits and food preferences that promote obesity. In the end, the children experience

obesity at younger ages, which haunts them through into adulthood.

In a study assessing childhood obesity prevalence, the author acknowledges that children

from the wealthier backgrounds demonstrate a 20 percent obesity prevalence lower than those

emerging from other socioeconomic status. Similarly, obesity prevalence among children from

families with low socioeconomic status was high indicating the influence that this has on the

overall trends in America (Cunningham, Kramer and Narayan).

The critical statistics about childhood obesity have prompted health agencies, the

government, health practitioners and educators to join in the fight against this health problem.

The current interventions are aimed at alleviating the obesity epidemic from the ground through

exercise programs, promotion of better eating habits, as well as, creating awareness among

families on the contributors and dangers of obesity. The promoters of healthy living and

lifestyles that address the obesity menace recognize the reason this issue has escalated into a

significant health problem.

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Obesity is a significant health issue because acquisition of this condition exposes children

to early deaths. Obesity doubles the incidence of acquiring a condition regarded as pre-diabetes,

which usually leads to other associated diseases causing early death. Furthermore, obesity

exposes children to the risk of acquiring high blood pressure and heart disease whose rates have

recently soared and led to numerous deaths in America (Smith 6). Childhood obesity predisposes

the young generation to coronary diseases where blood vessels within the heart block leading to

heart attack.

Furthermore, childhood obesity might influence the functionality of heart muscles

leading to a health condition regarded as obesity cardiomyopathy (Smith 6). Childhood obesity

may also instigate abnormal lung functioning leading to further health issues for the younger

generations. The incidence of such complications all of which emanate from obesity can create

health and economic problems in American partly because this means that people would have to

part with hefty health costs despite the worsening economic conditions. These demonstrate the

significance of alleviating childhood obesity before the issue escalates further to unmanaged

levels.

In response the critical childhood obesity statistics, researchers have evaluated and led to

the introduction of different intervention programs. Currently, every state has intervention

programs that promote healthy lifestyles while assisting the affected families and individuals.

However, the effectiveness of such interventions is unclear because of poor evaluation strategies

at the local levels. According to Krisberg, the US hangs back compared to international plans

that other countries have implemented in order to evaluate the growth of their anti-obesity efforts

(1). Furthermore, the funding for such international plans is not consistent, which undermine the

evaluation of the country’s intervention strategies against childhood obesity.

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The inadequate capacity, resources and data for assessing obesity trends have also

undermined the identification of intervention needs while tracking short-term and long-term

progress. Therefore, even moderate improvements in the evaluation process can offer clarify and

determine the course of the anti-obesity efforts that the American government has adopted. This

way, legislator will assess areas of policy amendments so that the anti-obesity efforts garner

more funding and support from the government. Nevertheless, the evaluation and intervention

plans might not function effectively without proper support and collaboration from governmental

and nongovernmental agencies (Krisberg 1).

The intervention and awareness programs that have been launched in different states

demonstrate positive results in terms of alleviation of childhood obesity. According to Krisberg’s

article, there is notable progress in the alleviation of childhood obesity rates where 19 states and

US territories have experienced slight declines in obesity among preschoolers from low-income

families from 2008-2011 (1). In other states, the obesity rates have stabilized demonstrating that

the intervention programs have worked in most states across America. However, some states

continue experiencing high obesity rates possibly due to poor access to intervention and

awareness programs and poor funding of such intervention projects. The states that have shown

progress in terms of alleviating the obesity menace among children have adopted healthy food

preferences and active living for their young ones. Experts are urging parents to capitalize on the

proven strategies in order to assist their children assume healthier lives that discourage the

consumption of the fatty and high-caloric foods that contribute heavy to the obesity menace

(Krisberg 1).

In conclusion, childhood obesity emerges among the most significant health issues the

American, which translates into an epidemic. Passive lifestyles, unhealthy eating habits and food

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preferences are believed to add extensively to the health problem. Partly, the socioeconomic

status of families contributes to the problem due to poor access to healthy foods. In addition,

television and exposure to unhealthy food commercials have promoted the existing food

preferences and eating habits among children contributing indirectly to childhood obesity. In

response, governmental and nongovernmental agencies working with researchers, educators and

health practitioners have developed and implemented intervention programs aimed at alleviating

childhood obesity. However, the efficiency of the intervention programs has not been evaluated

due to inadequate funding and reluctance of the American government in the adoption of

international plans. Nevertheless, some states have received declines in the overall childhood

obesity trends prompting the adoption and strengthening of certain intervention programs.

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Works Cited

Cunningham, Solveig A., Kramer, Michael R. and Narayan, K.M. Venkat. Incidence of

Childhood Obesity in the United States. The New England Journal of Medicine, 2014;

370:403-411, January 30, 2014. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1309753

Ellis, Lee and Haman, Dan. Population Increases in Obesity Appear To Be Partly Due To

Genetics. Journal of biosocial Science, 36, 547–559, 2004. DOI:

10.1017/S0021932003006357

Krisberg, Kim. Researchers see signs of progress in fight against US obesity epidemic. The

Nation’s Health, 0ctober 2013. Print.

Rabin, Roni Caryn. Child Obesity Risks Death at Early Age, Study Finds. The New York

Times. 2010. Web. April 8, 2014. Available at

<http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/11/health/11fat.html>

Smith, J C. Understanding Childhood Obesity. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi,

1999. Print.

Tipping the Scales- A Documentary on Childhood Obesity. Dir. Blanco, Lisa, Lloyd

Samantha, Horsch, Arielle and Ortega, Angela. Arizona State University, 2012. Film.

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