Overweight Children Essay

world hard is one of the major health problems among the youth of today. In the United States, the lean of shaverren becoming over system of weights is steadily increasing as they allot oft time watching TV, run a focusing movie games, and surfing or chatting on the Internet (Nemours Foundation, n.d.). According to the topic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, from the latter(prenominal) half of 1970s to 2004, the pervasiveness of excessive weight among children 2 to 5 geezerhood of age rose to 13.9 percent from 5 percent. Among children 6 to 11 old age of age, it escalated to 18.8 percent from 6.5 percent, while it additiond to 17.4 percent from 5 percent among those who atomic number 18 12 to 19 years of age (Center for indisposition Control and cake CDC), 2008).Thus, certain efforts were make by health and education experts to help p arnts march on their children to engage in sports, exercise, and devour a healthy, balanced meal. After all, legal community is breach than cure. If non taken care of, the excessive weight sack up make children vulnerable to certain diseases like steep job, diabetes, and different health illnesses (CDC, 2008 Boyse, 2007). Many experts suggest that one of the ways to help these children to abide weight without sacrificing the feed that they want to run through is to encourage them to engage in sports and early(a) assemblage activities (Weintraub et al., 2008 Nemours, n.d. Boyse, 2007). By engaging in personal activities, it allow non only help the individual shed physical structure fat, it would besides come on egotism-esteem (Weintraub et al., 2008).Definition, Detection and Causes of Overweight Being gruelling is a ensue of imbalance mingled with the viands intake and the activities needed to spend the energies taken (Daniels, 1997). It is characterized by an exceptionally large volume of torso fat with regard to lean luggage compartment mass (Stopka, 2005). To know if an indiv idual is telling or laboured, his or her frame mass index or BMI is computed (Stopka, 2005 Daniels, 1997). This method considers the equilibrium of the individuals weight to his or her height child (Stopka, 2005 Daniels, 1997). The bailiwick Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP) states that individuals with BMI of 25 to 29.9 are considered as adiposis, while those with a BMI of 30 and above is considered as cogent (Stopka, 2005). A number of studies have discovered that that breastfeeding is associated with overweight children (Hediger, et al., 2001). at a time a m other(a) fails to nurture her child with the practice of breastfeeding, chances are that the child allow become overweight in the future. Breastfeeding helps to lower the risk of fleshiness during the stage of childhood and adolescence (Hediger, et al., 2001).Most cases of overweight among children occur during the adolescence stage when the passing from child to adult happens (Hed iger, et al., 2001). The food intake is later on built up as fats if not properly burned out of the body (Hediger, et al., 2001). Fat distribution is also changed during this stage which also incorporates hormonal square ups. The thoughtfulness also varies according to gender. According to Heidger and his associates (2001), girls are much presumable to be overweight than boys. Most individuals on the adolescence stage are busy with their studies and move in activities that depart help them be informed and entertained. Many of them play video games and watch television after domesticate as their make way of overcoming stress and pressures from school. While in the midst of these activities, they also mash junk food and drink sodas. As there are high derives of calories in unhealthy food and drinks, they make children overweight (Collins, 2007). The incessant arrestning of fast food chains, consumption of calorie-dense foods and taking too much dim drink bring out more energy intake (Collins, 2007).However, this would not be a problem if the child regularly exercises and participates in activities. lose of necessary exercise and physical activities also receives children to be overweight. When children eat more calories, they also need to burn more calories (Collins, 2007). Eating food that is damaging to ones health without enough physical activities to burn it forget guarantee a child to be overweight (Collins, 2007). This is also utter to be an environmental cause of corpulency due to the technological direction of entertainment available for children today. Collins (2007) calls this phenomenon as modern obesity. Another cause of being overweight is the genetic roots of the child. The genes of the parents are inherited by children upon birth. Babies who are born to mothers who are overweight are more believably to gain more weight and are less active in actions (Collins, 2007). The metabolism of a child is also inherited from his or her parents. Thus, an rotund parent whose metabolism is slow would have children with slow metabolism as well (Collins, 2007).The family eating habits also play a great influence as to why a child becomes overweight. Preparing and laying too much food on the table causes a child to eat more. obtain and buying unhealthy foods and calorie-rich items willing also cause the weight of children to increase (Collins, 2007).Effects of Obesity Risks are always present once a child is overweight. Chances are that the child will accumulate certain diseases more or less of which are related to too much calorie, cholesterol and sugar intake. jam problems are also expected for overweight and obese individuals. The social developing of a child is also affected because of being overweight. The overweight children whitethorn find it difficult to breathe. Obese children are often inactive and sluggish to do physical activities. This causes their hearts to weaken. With their relatively weak heart, it will wield harder than the normal sized individual. This stipulate is commonly known as cardiovascular abnormalities (Daniels, et al., 1997). Another cardiovascular abnormality that occurs in overweight or obese individuals is the escalation of blood pressure.When a child is obese, the blood pressure is more likely to increase. These cardiovascular abnormalities usually lead to a disease known as left ventricular hypertrophy which is a prevailing condition among obese and overweight children (Daniels, et al., 1997). This disease is characterized by an increased left ventricular mass, along with lean body mass, fat mass and abnormalities in the systolic blood pressure which predicts the accumulation of diseases such as coronary heart disease, gash and sudden death (p. 804). Hypertension is also common for children with too much weight (Daniels, et al., 1997 Nemours Foundation, n.d. CDC, 2008 Boyse, 2007). The disease Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is also common among overweight ch ildren with a BMI of 30 kg/m2, which, according to adult standard, is counted as obese. According to the National Cholesterol Education Program, acquiring this disease also makes them vulnerable to cardiovascular diseases such as a coronary artery disease (Daniels, et al., 1997). Being overweight also causes a child to mature early. In general, an overweight childs body develops faster than those who have normal body sizes. Overweight female children also reach the pubertal stage earlier. This whitethorn be due to the fact that most overweight female children do not have strenuous activity that can help them fall their weights. Since most foods taken by obese children are rich in oils and other fatty acids, they are also prone of having pimples, acnes and skin problems (Nemours Foundation, n.d. CDC, 2008 Boyse, 2007). psychological and social problems are also present when a child is overweight. bingle of the most common issues on this is depression. When a child grows bigger than his or her peers, he or she is more likely to be humiliated and torment in school for having a different body shape. This is a slight issue which the child may find hard to overcome. It also results in the childs low self esteem and negative self image (Strauss & Pollack, 2003 Nemours Foundation, n.d.).The normal interaction towards other children is also expressage because of this. more(prenominal) often than not, overweight children have fewer friends and their social life is limited to those who accept them as they are. Obese children are more likely to stoppage at sept rather than go out and play with other people. They are isolated which makes them feel depressed, lonely, and stressed out. Teasing overweight children is also said to be associated with increased suicidal tendencies out of frustration and depression. Their condition causes them so many complications physically, emotionally and developmentally (Strauss & Pollack, 2003 Nemours Foundation, n.d.).Prevention of Obesity It is better to prevent being overweight rather than regret it once a child becomes obese. This is not easy to do but it needs to begin as early as childhood days. This should be considered especially for those who are born to overweight parents. Behavior is also one good way of handling childhood obesity. Diminishing unhealthy eating habits and getting adept exercise result in a healthier body and lifestyle. In addition, reducing stagnant physical activities like watching television and video games will also lower the chances of being overweight. Limiting the intake of calories will also stop one from being overweight. Instead of drinking sodas and other carbonated drinks, a child may switch to drinking tonal fruit juices. Fresh juices are healthier instead of artificially made juices. Drinking the recommended number of glasses of water a day (8 to10 glasses) will also help in replenishing lost water in the body and digesting food easily, and therefore, prevent all those fatty food and huge amount of calories from getting stuck in the body. The children should also be advised to avoid eating meals in fast food restaurants, where the meals served contain preservatives and too much food extenders that have more calories (Matheson et. al., 2004).Parents should also encourage their child to eat home cooked meals and convince him or her that these meals are more delicious than those that can be bought outside. (Matheson et. al., 2004). This will also guarantee parents that the food eaten by their child is strip down and well-prepared. The parents should also stop preparing large helps for their child, as this entices a child to eat more and makes him or her always expect the same size of serving every meal time (Matheson et. al., 2004). They should also limit the inactivity of children by giving them scheduled time for television and playing computer games (Matheson et. al., 2004). It will also help if a child is encouraged not to eat and watch at the same time. Too much focus on the television design makes a child unaware to the amount of food already consumed. For difficult cases like gene-related obesity, it is important to counter this by doing physical activities. Regular exercise helps to achieve good digestion and good metabolism. corporal activities such as biking, walking, and swimming can also be done with the solely family. These activities also help brings the heart in good condition.Playing bullock block games also prevents being overweight and helps children become more sociable towards their peers (Campbell et al., 2001). hoops and soccer are some examples of sports which can help overweight children lose and maintain their weight. At the same time, by engaging in these kinds of group activities, they will enjoy themselves with their peers (Campbell et al., 2001). Indoor physically activities like dancing will also help children lose weight (Campbell et al., 2001). In a new-fashioned six-month experiment condu cted by Weintraub (2008) and her colleagues among fourth and fifth graders, they divided the 21 participants into twain groups. The first group received a health education program after school, while the other was subjected to a soccer program.Midway through the study until the end, a significant decline in BMI was found among participants in the soccer group as compared to those who were in the health education group. In three months, there was also a considerable increase in the everyday average and strenuous physical activities among children in the soccer group. The authors reason that making overweight and obese children participate in an after-school soccer program is a practical, agreeable, and effective method to control the weight of these children. unreasonable weight increases the likelihood of children to acquire fatal diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. Being overweight also negatively affects their egotism and self-image, leaving them depres sed as a result. Encouraging them to eat a balanced diet and do physical activities such as family and school sports can aid overweight children in losing and maintaining a standard weight. This is a great opportunity not only for the children but for the whole family to hold up fit and active.ReferencesBoyse, K. (2007, February). Obesity and overweight. University of Michigan Health System.Retrieved April 15, 2008 from http//www.med.umich.edu/1libr/yourchild/obesity.htmCampbell K, Waters E, OMeara S, & Summerbell C. (2001). Interventions for preventingobesity in childhood a systematic review. Obesity Review, 2, 149157.Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2008, March 4). Overweight and obesity. Retrieved April 15, 2008 from http//www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/Collins, Anne (2007). Causes of obesity. Anne Collins. Retrieved April 14, 2008 from http//www.annecollins.com/obesity/causes-of-obesity.htmDaniels S.R., Khoury P.R., & Morrison J.A. (1997, June). The inferior of bod y mass index as ameasure of body fatness in children and adolescents differences by race and gender.Pediatrics, 99 (6), 804807. Retrieved April 14, 2008 from Pediatrics Database.Matheson D.M., Killen J.D., Wang Y., Varady A, & Robinson T.N. (2004). Childrens food consumption during television viewing. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition,79 (6), 10881094. Retrieved April 14, 2008 from the AJCN Database.Nemours Foundation (n.d.). Overweight and obesity. KidsHealth. Retrieved April 14, 2008from http//www.kidshealth.org/parent/general/body/overweight_obesity.htmlHediger M.L., Overpeck M.D., Kuczmarski R.J., & Ruan W.J. (2001). Association betweeninfant breastfeeding and overweight in young children. The Journal of American medical examination Association, 285 (19), 24532460. Retrieved April 14, 2008 from JAMA Database.Stopka, C. B. (2005) Chapter 18 Students with temporary disabilities and otherspecial conditions. In J. Winnick (Ed.), Instructors Manual, Adapted Physical Educat ion and Sport, 4th Edition (pp. 323-340). Champaign, IL Human Kinetics.Strauss R.S. & Pollack H.A. (2003). genial marginalization of overweight children. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 157, 746752. Retrieved April 15, 2008 fromArchpredriatics Database.Weintraub, D.L., Tirumalai, E.C., Haydel, F., Fujimoto, M., Fulton, J.E., & Robinson, T.S.(2008). Team sports for overweight children. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 162 (3), 232-237. Retrieved April 15, 2008 from Archpredriatics Database.