Classification of Obesity in Children - Research Paper Example

Childhood obesity Childhood obesity is a condition where there is excess body fat that affects the Childs well-being health wise. The diagnosis of obesity is determined by use of the Body Mass Index (BMI). The issue has become of public concern for the fact that there is increased prevalence of the disease among children in the world. The term overweight is commonly used by people who have a less stigmatizing body fat with a BMI of less than 30 but more than 25. According to Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, childhood obesity has taken a huge toll among many children. The obesity trends is rising day by day, and all that does emanate from the imbalance in the caloric content consumption. The trend has had detrimental effect to the children, exposing them to cardiovascular diseases, cancer and diabetes. The essay will expound childhood obesity with relation to classification, causes, effects and preventive measures. Classification of obesity in children Obesity is determined by use of BMI in children who are two years or older. The center for disease control and prevention has come up with the acceptable body mass index from that that needs medical attention. A BMI of 18 to 24 is classified as a standard body mass index with 25 to 29 being overweight. Obesity sets in when ones weight and height ratio goes beyond 30. On the other hand, a BMI of less than 18 is classified as underweight as well (Anderson and Butcher). However, the United States preventive task force confirmed that high BMI can identify a health problem but does not mean that all children need to lose weight. The prevalence of obesity in childhood is increasing in the world with the current estimates being in 42 million cases of overweight children (International Obesity Taskforce). According to (Force), the number of obese children has doubled from the ones in 1980 in all countries of North America that include Mexico, the United States, and Canada. Even though there is a decreased rate of childhood obesity development in the United States, the prevalence still remains high at 32.8 percent among children of age 6 to 11 years old, and 18 percent of the children with the age brackets of 6 to 9 years old (UniMelb Obesity Consortium). Causes of childhood obesity A myriad of factors often act in combination hence leading to the development of obesity among children. The mixture of elements that can result in the development of obese are termed as obesogenic in medical terms. One of the greatest risks of the child developing obesity is a situation whereby the parents to are suffering from the same condition. This can occur following genetic predisposition or the environmental factors at hand. Other reasons may include the Childs type of body or psychological factors. From Lacar, Soto, and Riley (840) observation, there are increased rates of children consuming the readily available energy-dense, cheap foodstuff while the children utilize minimal energy in their day to day activities. Genetics Most instances, obesity occurs as a result of the interplay between environmental and genetic factors. Various genes that are responsible for controlling appetite and metabolism can predispose children to obesity in the event where there are adequate amounts of calories present. There are numerous genes amounting to affect the bodys weight up to two hundred that by determining the child food prevalence, metabolism, body type and level of activity. Division of Nutrition confirmed the strong relationship between genes and obesity since, there was 80 percent occurrence of obesity in children having obesity from parents who had obesity as compared to ten percent of children from parents with average weight. Family practices In the recent past, there has been tremendous change in the family practices a factor that has significantly affected the weight management of these children. To start with, there is a decreased number of mothers’ breastfeeding of late, the supplements administered instead of breast milk because the increased rate of obesity. Secondly the current technology such as television and computers, has led to increased indoor activities among children thus leading to a low level of activities among this children leading to a high degree of obesity. The physical activity of children is even reduced further by the fact that most parents of late drive their children to school instead of them walking or cycling to school. Moreover, as the families become smaller, parents loose give in to their children demand for buying the high calorie foods, which children prefer, hence increasing further the sugar intake, which ends up affecting the children’s activities (Rock et al., 1812). Social practices and policies Social practices and policies adopted by various communities or nations, act either positively or negatively towards the children health. For instance, there are policies that have been put in place in a number of countries on the quality of lunch the children should get while in school. Advertising of candy and fast food restaurants subsidies for sugar and corn oil by the government will increase the rate at which children take in the two. Lastly, socioeconomic status of the children plays a role in determining the rate of obesity. For instance it is common that the children from racial or ethnic minority to develop obesity for the fact they engage in less healthy behaviors and practice more of the sedentary lifestyle as compared to those children from the high social economic status families. Effects of childhood obesity on health Psychological and emotional problems results are usually the first ones to be experienced by these children. At the same time, children obesity an end up to the development of life-threatening conditions like diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, sleeping problems, cancer among other illnesses. It can further cause liver diseases, early puberty, menarche, eating disorders like anorexia, bulimia nervosa, skin infection, asthma, and a number of respiratory problems. However, the severity of asthma is not affected by obesity of the patient involved. Overweight children have a likelihood of growing into overweight or obese adults (Glaser Pediatric Research Network Obesity Study Group). At the same time, there is increased motility rate during adulthood among obese adolescents. These children are most of the time teased by their peers, some are discriminated against, or harassed by their family thus they sometimes develop low self-esteem and depression in severe cases. Children, who were obese, have prematurely aging carotid arteries for as much as thirty years with abnormal cholesterol as well. Prevention Schools are the most significant places for preventing childhood obesity. They can include a supporting and safe environment with practices and policies that support healthy behaviors among children. At home, the parents have a primary role to play in changing the eating habits and exercising together with the children. This is likely more effective since most children learn by example. Thus, parental guidance and involvement will undoubtedly lead to an increased level of performance among the children. Multi-disciplinary approach will also be essential in provision of a viable solution. All the governmental departments should join hands and come up with campaigns to fight childhood obesity. Diet monitoring With much more consumption of healthy food with less of calories, there are decreed rates of obesity. As International Obesity Taskforce confirms, there is over 34% reduction in obesity among children observing health foods as seen in the study conducted. Therefore, there should be regulation of the unhealthy foods selling by putting in place policies that will guide the industry. There should be an increased availability of healthy foods such as whole milk instead of the sweet soft drinks, which contain large amounts of calories. Sometimes the law can work to modify the behavior of children towards this kind of food. It can include prohibiting selling of soft drink at the schools vending machines. Management The skyrocketing rate of obese cases in the United States is due to the increased number of electronic devices that keep the children busy. There is an increased 17-44percent of the children spending three to four hours on electronics a day developing obesity, in addition, 10 to 61 percent are at a risk of developing overweight(International Obesity Taskforce). Therefore, the major way of managing this is to the parents and schools to keep the children in sedentary lifestyle as much as possible. Mores o mother have to breast exclusively, when winning off the child, parents have to ensure that they give the child health food that is enough at the same time ensure that a sedentary lifestyle is at bay. Some children medication can be used to act on the brain in order to reduce the child appetite (Katz et al., 22). Conclusion Obesity is part of the major concerns in the health industry since it is a precursor to a number of lifetime threatening diseases. Thus, all the stakeholders in the industry should ensure that they keep the children safe from developing this condition. Leaders should work towards developing policies that will guide the retailing of the unhealthy foods. Prevention is key than curing the disease once it sets in. Works cited Anderson, Patricia M, and Kristin E Butcher. “Obesity : Causes.” Obesity 16 (2011): 19–45. Print. Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/obesity/facts.htm Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity. “Healthier Food Retail: Beginning the Assessment Process in Your State or Community.” Obesity (2011): 6. Web. Force, NIH Obesity Research Task. Strategic Plan for NIH Obesity Research. N.p., 2011. Web. Glaser Pediatric Research Network Obesity Study Group. “Intraperitoneal Fat and Insulin Resistance in Obese Adolescents.” Obesity (Silver Spring) 18 (2010): 402–409. Print. International Obesity Taskforce. “The Global Epidemic.” Obesity & Research. N.p., 2013. Web. Katz, David L. et al. “Teaching Healthful Food Choices to Elementary School Students and Their Parents: The Nutrition Detectives??? Program.” Journal of School Health 81 (2011): 21–28. Web. Lacar, Edanili S., Xiomara Soto, and William J. Riley. “Adolescent Obesity in a Low-Income Mexican American District in South Texas.” Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 154 (2000): 837–840. Web. Rock, Cheryl L et al. “Effect of a Free Prepared Meal and Incentivized Weight Loss Program on Weight Loss and Weight Loss Maintenance in Obese and Overweight Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial.” JAMA : the journal of the American Medical Association 304 (2010): 1803–1810. Web. UniMelb Obesity Consortium. “National Preventative Health Taskforce Response.” Response 2009: 1. Web. Read More