Introduction
The main focus of the essay is the issue of childhood obesity. This refers to a condition where a child is overweight for their age as well as height. It can result in high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol. Many healthcare officials describe it as a lifestyle illness since it is mainly caused by an individual not exercising as regularly as they should. Additionally, performing less physical activity can lead to a child developing the condition. Apart from that, consuming foods and drinks that are rich in calories can contribute to the issue. Rarely genetic or hormonal factors are assumed to play a role. Healthcare expenses related to childhood obesity annually in the United States are estimated to be more than one hundred and eighty billion dollars (Schroeder et al., 2021). The direct expenditure may consist of diagnostic, treatment, and preventive services.
Research shows that childhood obesity has existed even in the twentieth century. For instance, its prevalence in the United States is said to have been stable through the 1960s as well as the 1970s (Schroeder et al., 2021). However, it started rising in the 1980s (Schroeder et al., 2021). It reveals that it might be impossible to determine whether the problem existed before the 1960s and 1950s as there lacked national surveys of the illness prior to 1963 (Schroeder et al., 2021). The condition has become worse over time as the issue of overweight among kids and adolescents has risen ridiculously from four percent in 1975 to above eighteen percent in 2016 (Caprio et al., 2020). The increase has happened similarly in males and females (Schroeder et al., 2021). Six years ago, eighteen percent of girls and nineteen percent of boys were recorded as overweight.
In the past, it was normal to see kids outside in playgrounds playing and involved in various physical activities. This helped to maintain a low percentage of children impacted by obesity. However, this has failed, especially with the improvement of technology which has produced gadgets and devices that entice kids. For instance, they have become more addicted to these games than playing or interacting with peers outside their houses. Government agencies in the field of healthcare have attempted to remedy this by advising schools to make sports a priority or as part of the curriculum. Sports are good for those who cannot commit to a regular workout or exercise session. However, this has been ineffective as issues such as the COVID-19 pandemic have restricted movement (Caprio et al., 2020). In 2020, kids could not attend school as the parents, teachers, and governments feared infection.
The problem of childhood obesity could best be solved by parents ensuring that they are not enablers. They are supposed to force their kids into a proper diet. It has been determined that even though children might be active in school and participating in physical exercises, it is their guardians who fail them. Some of them buy video games for their kids and let them spend more time indoors than recommended. Additionally, a section of the parents is unfit physically themselves, which means that the kids following the example of their parents automatically adapt. An objection to the stated solution would be that children are unable to participate in sports as a result of health issues (Caprio et al., 2020). To them, my response would be to try to include them in a sporting event that involves less physical activity but still requires one to be active and always possess medical equipment nearby, such as an inhaler.
Obesity in Children Has Become an Issue in the United States Today
There was a moment when the issue of being overweight among kids was thought to be good. The expectation was that the baby fat would end as they grow older into adulthood. Obesity in children can be dangerous, as people have come to identify (Caprio et al., 2020). The condition can cause not only physical but psychological disorders as well. The matter can be reduced by assessing the contributors to the illness. Obesity among kids is a significant public health matter. Physical, social, and mental issues resulting from the illness (Caprio et al., 2020). It has the capability to have long-term effects on the patients. Parents taking part in their children’s lives regarding nutrition and physical activities can aid in solving the issue.
Description of the Problem
Childhood obesity results from eating habits instilled in kids at a younger age. A major reason children are growing to be obese is poor nutrition. Food has become cheaper over time, which means that they easily obtain unfit foods from stores as well as fast-food restaurants (Lanigan et al., 2019). Moreover, parents and guardians offer them food that does not meet nutritional needs standards beginning at a tender age. As the kids grow, they adapt to such behaviors (Lanigan et al., 2019). As a result, they enter into a pattern of consuming foodstuff that does not contain any nutritional value.
History of Childhood Obesity
Childhood obesity has existed for a long time, but the issue has become worse in recent history. Due to a lack of interest in participating in physical activities during as well as after school, the illness is on the rise. According to Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (2020), outside of educational institutions, kids seldom participate in exercises. This results in a lack of enough physical activity the body needs to eliminate the chances of becoming obese (Caprio et al., 2020). Parents or guardians should send their kids to school with healthy lunches and cooked food low in cholesterol levels and trans-fatty acids. Additionally, they are supposed to encourage them to get involved in sports.
The Causes of Childhood Obesity
Entertainment has changed over time, leading to a rise in the number of individuals experiencing childhood obesity. The media, caregivers or parents, as well as schools play a role in the development of the condition. It can be said that kids being the most profitable segment, are lured into the lifestyle through advertisements and promotions of inappropriate foodstuffs (Giddens, 2021). Many television stations promote junk foods produced by companies that pay them without considering the effect on the audience. Children’s attention is not on playing and interacting with others outside anymore. The internet, electronic devices as well as television entice them more. They are more interested in social media than riding bikes with peers outdoors.
Effects of Childhood Obesity
Parents and guardians have a great impact on the kids’ well-being. They are capable of contributing to their risk of developing obesity by cooking as well as purchasing unfit foods and permitting much time spent watching television. According to Healthy Markets Initiative (2021), it might be tough to create a well-balanced diet for a child when both parents work. If this fails to be done, it may cause the kid to become obese in their adulthood. The condition can result in various medical problems, including increased blood pressure and diabetes.
The Solution
A solution to this problem would be to educate parents and their kids about the dangers of obesity and the way to avoid it to raise awareness of the epidemic. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2021), informing them about the risk factors and effects could aid in helping them understand the risks associated with the condition. Not only do the parents become more knowledgeable about the topic, but they will manage to implement what they have learned into their routine.
Strategies to implement Solution
All schools need to provide a half-hour mandatory session that educates kids concerning eating well as well as exercising on a daily basis. During the teaching session, it could be explained how to make it enjoyable for the kids (Smith et al., 2020). It would be good to discuss how it involves playing with their peers as well as eating foods they still love but in a healthier manner. Once kids begin to implement this in their life, they will start to feel better.
Conclusion
Children are extremely fragile and need much guidance on various issues. Obesity has physical consequences for their lives which means that the matter needs seriousness. The media needs to support them in addition to parents and schools. It has been discovered that most of the foods consumed by children are those that are promoted on television stations or in newspapers. It is important that all stakeholders be on the same page when it comes to proper nutrition. This would, in turn, help create a healthy society with kids that are free from illnesses. There is a better chance that a condition such as childhood obesity would reduce and forgotten if the risk factors are eliminated. Lastly, education is important and can play a major role in the prevention of the issue.
References
Caprio, S., Santoro, N., & Weiss, R. (2020). Childhood obesity and the associated rise in cardiometabolic complications. Nature Metabolism, 2(3), 223-232.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Childhood obesity facts. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Giddens, J. F. (2021). Concepts for nursing practice (3rd ed.). Elsevier.
Healthy Markets Initiative. ShareAction. (2021).
Lanigan, J., Tee, L., & Brandreth, R. (2019). Childhood obesity. Medicine, 47(3), 190-194.
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2020). Childhood obesity. Mayo Clinic.
Schroeder, K., Schuler, B. R., Kobulsky, J. M., & Sarwer, D. B. (2021). The association between adverse childhood experiences and childhood obesity: A systematic review. Obesity Reviews, 22(7), 1-18.
Smith, J. D., Fu, E., & Kobayashi, M. (2020). Prevention and management of childhood obesity and its psychological and health comorbidities. Annual review of clinical psychology, 16, 1-32.