Obesity Among American Children

American Childhood Obesity 1

OBESITY AMONG AMERICAN CHILDREN

Name of the Class

Professor

Name of the University

City

Date Due

American Childhood Obesity 2

OBESITY AMONG AMERICAN CHILDREN

A report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) outlined an overall

improvement in the health of American children from 2000 to 2015. It acknowledged a decline

in deaths caused by curable diseases and health conditions. However, it noted the ever increasing

trends of obesity and warned that this placed American children at risk of numerous health

challenges in the future (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2016). Similar concerns by

Stanhope and Lancaster (2016, 651) indicated that the prevalence of obesity among school going

children in the United States had more than doubled between 1980 and 2012. For children

between six and eleven years, this number had risen consistently from 7% to 18% of the

population. Correspondingly, an increase from 5% to 21% was realized in the population of

adolescents between ages twelve and nineteen. These left approximately 30% of all American

children obese or overweight. Considering the health implications, financial costs, and

psychological effects associated with obesity, many institutions and scholars attempt to generate

sustainable solutions to this challenge. This can be achieved through a proper understanding of

the causes, health risks, effects, and solutions for childhood obesity in the American population.

According to the Harvard School of Public Health (2012, 1), the leading causes of obesity

among American children include medical conditions, genetics, psychological factors, poor diet,

sedentary trends, environmental influence, poor trends of sleep, and socioeconomic factors. Of

these, the last five can be controlled and managed by adjusting children’s lifestyles and engaging

them in physically healthy activities. As explained by Walls, Peeters, Proietto, and McNeil

(2011, 1), Many American children suffer and remain at risk of suffering from a range of chronic

conditions. These include hypertension, bone complications, sleep apnea, asthma, high

cholesterol, metabolic syndrome, and certain types of cancer. While excessive limits of obesity

American Childhood Obesity 3

result in immobility and serious physical challenges, obese individuals have to face serious

psychological challenges relating to discrimination, self-esteem, and socialization. In extreme

cases, individuals lose their lives as a result of a combination of these chronic diseases as well as

psychological challenges.

As a result of these challenges, the American Government, various institutions, and

scholars have attempted to generate lasting solutions to these challenges. Research by Birch and

Ventura (2009, 72) exploits attempts to achieve the reversal of obesity trends through behavior

change and medication processes. Their research focuses three major aims in relation to

evidence-based effective strategies considered for the delivery of treatment and prevention of

childhood obesity. First, they define current primary prevention methods for childhood obesity

and outline the evidence of their impacts in their target areas. They also note that many strategies

present promising but rather ineffective or untested approaches that may otherwise prove

inefficient. Lastly, they devise a strategy for evaluating intervention components while

developing potent intervention strategies for childhood obesity. They identify that most existing

obesity intervention strategies have focused on school-aged children. These strategies indicate

limitations of success and minimal impact on their target populations. Thus, Birch and Ventura

(2009, 75) suggest that these approaches be expanded to residential areas including childcare and

babysitting locations.

Another evidence-based review of school-based programs in reducing childhood obesity

by Kropski, Keckley, and Jensen (2008, 1010) established the need for obesity intervention. In

their assessment, the authors identified fourteen studies with two divergent and combinative

approaches focusing on overweight prevention. One study purely focused on nutrition as an

approach to preventing obesity. Contrarily, two others focused on the promotion of physical

American Childhood Obesity 4

activities, while eleven others combined the two approaches in varied ways. Of the fourteen, at

least twelve studies reported positive effects that improved either the dietary intake of the

children involved, their involvement in physical activities, and reduced engagement in sedentary

lifestyles.

In summation, American trends of childhood obesity remain worrying and present

outstanding challenges to the population. Current findings of evidence-based effective strategies

indicate a general acceptance of the effectiveness of school-based intervention programs

focusing on physical activities as well as those focusing on dietary changes and behavior change

to avoid sedentary lifestyles. However, noting that some children become overweight before

attaining school going ages, some authors suggest the extension of obesity campaigns to parents,

homes, and childcare settings. This would take care of the children who have not attained school

going ages. In addition, school-based programs should be enhanced to increase their

effectiveness with focus on gender and the durations of physical activities.

American Childhood Obesity 5

Reference List

Birch, L. & Ventura, A. (2009). Preventing childhood obesity: What works? International

Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders, 33, S74-S81.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2009.22

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2016). Childhood Obesity Facts: Overweight &

Obesity in American Population. CDC. Cdc.gov. Retrieved 13 August 2016, from

https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/childhood.html

Harvard School of Public Health. (2012). School Obesity Prevention Recommendations:

Complete List. Obesity Prevention Source. Retrieved 19 May 2016, from

http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/obesity-prevention-source/obesity-

prevention/schools/school-obesity-prevention-recommendations-read-and-print/

Kropski, J., Keckley, P., & Jensen, G. (2008). School-based Obesity Prevention Programs: An

Evidence-based Review. Obesity, 16(5), 1009-1018.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/oby.2008.29

Stanhope, M., & Lancaster, J. (2016). Public health nursing: Population-centered health care in

the community. Missouri: Elsevier Publishing.

Walls, H., Peeters, A., Proietto, J., & McNeil, J. (2011). Public health campaigns and obesity - a

critique. BMC Public Health, 11(1), 136. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-11-136

Place new order. It's free, fast and safe

Paper type

Deadline

Page count

550 words

Total price: $ 15.00

Our customers say

Jeff Curtis

USA, Student

"I'm fully satisfied with the essay I've just received. When I read it, I felt like it was exactly what I wanted to say, but couldn’t find the necessary words. Thank you!"

Ian McGregor

UK, Student

"I don’t know what I would do without your assistance! With your help, I met my deadline just in time and the work was very professional. I will be back in several days with another assignment!"

Shannon Williams

Canada, Student

"It was the perfect experience! I enjoyed working with my writer, he delivered my work on time and followed all the guidelines about the referencing and contents."

Obesity among american children

Place new order. It's free, fast and safe

Our customers say

Jeff Curtis

Ian McGregor

Shannon Williams