Causes of Childhood Obesity
According to my research, a small part of obesity is due to the hereditary factors of the parents. A child with at l east one obese parent has a greater likelihood to become an obese child, which in turn will continue on into the adult years. Obesity tends to be a family wide problem. A family that is less active has a greater chances of becoming obese. “Although changes in the genetic makeup of populations occur too slowly to be responsible for this rapid rise in obesity, genes do play a role in the development of obesity. Most likely, genes regulate how our bodies capture, store, and release energy from food” (Center for Disease Control.)
Medical conditions can contribute to a child or adult becoming obese, although it is very rare. Medical causes can also come from hormone or other chemical imbalances and also metabolic disorders. A slower metabolism takes longer to burn calories and process nutrients. One way to counteract a slow metabolism is to maintain activeness. Children have a higher metabolism which should help maintain their weight, energy, and other activities. As we get older, our metabolism decreases and it becomes more difficult to lose the weight that may be necessary to remain healthy.
The fast paced life in America has become an excuse to make less time for home cooked healthy meals, and instead replace them with fast food dining. A child is trained to believe that the best snacks are burgers, fries, ice cream, cake, etc. If these foods were replaced with fruits and vegetables a child would be getting the proper nutrients and vitamins needed to remain healthier. Processed foods and sodas have become all too common in households across the country. Children should also be fed on a schedule at the same time every day. Healthy snacks such a fruits and vegetables provide more energy. The more energy the individual has, the more active they will remain.
Children are becoming less active due to the ever increasing popularity of television, video games, and computers. It is much easier for a parent to put on a movie and give the child a snack to keep them occupied while the parent does other things around the house. According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry “children watch an average of three hours of television a day.” The more junk food a child consumes, the more weight they gain, the less active they become. The child then continues to gain weight and become even more inactive. It’s an endless cycle, and most times, children have no idea that it is bad because that’s the way they have always known it to be. “Television, computers, and video games consume more and more of outside playtime. Television watching is the predominant sedentary behavior in children, second only to sleeping” (Kaur, Haroshena, M.D., MPH.)
Obese children normally grow up to become obese adults. There has been an increase in children being diagnosed with high blood pressure, Diabetes, and heart disease. Other health risks include high cholesterol, sleep apnea, and liver disease. Overweight children may also suffer from movement coordination issues which causes an increased risk of accidents and injury to the child. It is very important that steps are taken to protect the future of the human race.
When blood pressure is high, the heart must pump harder and with more force, to carry the blood through the arteries to the rest of the body. If the problem continues for an extended period of time, the heart and arteries may no longer work as well as they should. Eventually they will collapse, or burst which causes serious damage to the body. This increases the risk of heart attack and stroke when a person gets older.
“In diabetes, the pancreas does not make enough insulin (type 1 Diabetes) or the body can't respond normally to the insulin that is made (type 2 Diabetes)” (KidsHealth.org.) Diabetes occurs when the Pancreas does not produce enough Insulin, the hormone responsible for storage and release of energy. Diabetes can be treated by finding a balance between food, medication, and activity level to achieve a balance in blood sugar levels. By limiting concentrated sugars and regulating food consumption, balance can be achieved and the Diabetes can be treated more easily.
Heart disease is caused by a buildup of fatty substances in the blood. Heart attacks are the most common form of heart disease experienced by obese patients. It can be managed by eating foods that are healthier and less fattening, and low in sugar and cholesterol. If there is a genetic predisposition to heart disease the family should be monitored and tested regularly. A history of “early” cardiovascular disease should definitely be followed closely. “Early” history is family members under the age of 55 that have suffered some form of heart disease.
Obesity is “one of the most stigmatizing and least socially acceptable conditions in childhood.” (Schwimmer, Jeffrey B., MD ET AL.) The obese population is at a high risk of developing mental health issues due to the treatment of others, and to society’s outlook on them. Depression, low self-esteem, and the feeling of worthlessness are common problems. While some overweight adults have developed the “happy in my skin” thought process, it is not always that easy for children. For instance, an overweight child may be picked last for sports, other physical activities, and instances that being overweight may slow them down or cause a hindrance to the team.
Depression is a very common condition among obese children, especially adolescents. It is caused by a feeling of uselessness and by the teasing and bullying of peers. Many that enter the deeper stages of depression become suicidal either in actions or ideas. People deal with depression in a variety of ways, with a variety of coping mechanisms. Eating is among the top forms of coping. For some it is easier to “eat your feelings” than it is to verbalize them.
There is nothing that will bring down a person’s self esteem quicker than harsh judgment by someone close to them. It is easy to criticize someone when you do not understand what they are going through or how they feel. This, added to the pressure of peers and the teasing and bullying from others, will destroy the sense of self-value and self-worth a person has for him or herself.
Doctors have also discovered that in obese children there is an increase in the likelihood of Oppositional Defiant Disorder or ODD which is described by the Mayo Clinic as a “persistent pattern of tantrums, arguing, and angry or disruptive behaviors toward you and other authority figures” (Health Articles.)
While more common among adolescents than children, the pressure to fit in with the thin, attractive crowd can become overbearing to an overweight or obese teen. In an attempt to quickly lose weight, a teen may resort to conditions such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa. Anorexics develop a fear of becoming fat, so they avoid food and eating. Bulimics, however, may eat to the point of making themselves miserable, and then induce vomiting or laxative abuse to get rid of the food. Both conditions may lead to severe nutritional and health issues.
It is very important for a child to feel that they are loved and accepted by family members, especially the mother and father. A child’s own idea of themselves will be highly reflective of the way they are treated by their parents. Parents need to make the time for games and activities with the children. Such activities can include playing sports, walking, dancing, and riding bikes. A child needs encouragement to try new activities to help them find something they can enjoy. Children, much like adults, will enjoy something they choose to do themselves over something they feel like they are forced to do. Allow freedom and time for the child to find what is right for them.
The most important thing a parent can do is to educate themselves about the nutritional needs of children. Adults have to recognize that a serving size for a child will usually differ from an adult serving size. Encourage the children to help make dinner. As they are helping this is a great time to educate them on different foods and what is good for them and why. Find out about the menus at school and offer the children a healthy alternative to the school food. This allows the child some freedom to choose what they would like for lunch. It is helpful early in life to help develop the understanding of the nutritional values for fruits, vegetables, and breads. Instead of cake and ice cream, offer fruit and low fat whipped cream. As adults, we understand the concept of “I am full and don’t want to eat anymore right now.” Children also understand this concept; they just don’t know how to express their fullness. A baby may turn away from the bottle, or play with their food, or simply become upset because they are no longer hungry but are being forced to eat anyways.
· Change the way you explain the need for good nutrition and good overall health.
· For girls, explain to them that eating healthy and being active can help them grow gorgeous shiny hair, nails, and teeth: as well as make sure they have energy for hanging out and going shopping with their friends.
· For boys, explain to them that eating healthy and being active can help them stay strong for their sports and hanging out with their friends, as well as help them have healthy skin which will help them feel good about themselves.
· Encourage all children to enjoy outdoor activities ranging from walks to throwing the ball around.
· It is a necessity to limit television time and exchange it for activity time.
· Don’t use food as a reward for behavior or as a means of getting the child to clean their plate. By offering them cake if they finish all of their vegetables, they are learning not to enjoy their food because they only want the cake in the end.
· Everyone is familiar with the “clean your plate” routine. By forcing a child to eat everything on the plate they are subconsciously training themselves to always empty the plate. As we grow up, the plate does get larger. The more food that can be put on the plate means the more they have to eat. It’s an endless cycle.
· Watching television while eating dinner often distracts us from realizing the amount of food we have eaten during that time.
With the rising percentage of obesity, medical bills as well as medication usage has greatly increased. “Nationwide, it is estimated that annual costs for prescription drugs, emergency room treatment and outpatient services related to childhood obesity total more than $14 billion, with an additional $238 million in inpatient hospital costs” (Children’s Defense.)
- A family with an obese child spends 30% more in healthcare and 77% more in medication costs.
- The United States was ranked the #1 obese country in the world in 2010 with a percentage of 34%. Japan was the lowest with 3%.
- Mississippi ranked #1
- Georgia ranked #18
- Colorado ranked #50
- Obesity percent by race
- Alaska Native/Native American – 20.7%
- Hispanic – 17.9%
- Non-Hispanic White – 12.3%
- Non-Hispanic Black – 11.9%
- Asian/Pacific Island – 11.9%
Obesity in children is causing serious medical and emotional issues. The costs of healthcare and medication are considerably higher for obese families. These costs are rising as much as 77% more than non-obese families.
Childhood obesity can be alleviated by adopting a healthier, more active lifestyle. By teaching children about the importance of exercise and nutrition, they will learn how to have a happier, healthier life.
By following some simple changes a family can reduce the health risks and make adulthood more productive and fulfilling. The changes must be made, for the entire family and not just for one or two individuals, for it to be effective.
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