Diet and Physical Activity: Executive Summary - Essay Example

Childhood obesity has reached an alarming rate in the past 30 years. It has been reported that the ratio of obesity among children aged between 6 and 11 years has tripled itself from 6.5 percent in 1980-19.6 percent in 2008. On the other hand, the ratio of obesity in adolescents has increased from 0.5 percent to 18.1 percent in the teenagers of age 12 to 19 years (Ebbeling, Pawlak and Ludwig). Both overweight and obesity have their drastic effects on the physical, mental and psychosocial health of the children.

It could leave its long term or the short term adverse effects on obese and overweight children. These children are prone to a high degree of cardiovascular diseases; they can have high cholesterol or high blood pressure. At the same time, obese children and adolescents are at a greater risk of acquiring different health disorders such as they can have bone or joint problems, sleep disorders, poor self esteem and they can even become victimize of different social and psychological problems. The chances are very high that these obese children can grow up to become an overweight or an obese adult as compare to other normal weight children.

They are even at high risk of acquiring different heart related diseases, diabetes, cardiac arrest, strokes, cancer of different types and even worst, osteoarthritis. Due to lack of physical activity and increasing childhood obesity, it has been expected that obesity has emerged as a threat to the future health of the children all over the world and in the United States. Background Information: Obesity, overweight and ideal weight varies from each other to a greater extent. Obesity is a medical condition in which the body gains more than required body fats.

As a result, the accumulated fats may affect the health adversely which further, leads to different health associated problems and diseases. However, the term overweight is slightly different from obesity in meanings. Overweight is the condition in which the body gains fats than it requires in a healthy condition. This condition represents the fact that a person is a foodie with unhealthy lifestyle. Obesity and overweight have become increasingly high all over the world. On the other hand, ideal weight represents the ideal weight in a person which should be according to its height and keeps a person healthy and fit.

An ideal weight is measured according to the height of a person (Pool). Body mass index classifies a person as an obese, overweight or healthy. If a person’s BMI is between 25 or more it is said to be overweight but if a person has a BMI of 30 or more it is said to be an obese. It is measured with respect to a person’s height. Simple weighing is another method to measure a person’s weight. This is the most common method which tells about a person’s weight which is compared with an estimated ideal weight of a person.

Skinfold caliper is also known as pinch test. The human skin is tested from different points on the body to test the thickness of the body and to make results on the thickness of the fold. This measurement gives an idea about the layers of fat under the skin. Later, on the basis of observations obtained, the total amount of fats is calculated. Causes of Obesity and Overweight in Children: Unhealthy food, lack of physical activities and increased indulgence in computers and video games are the basic causes of obesity and overweight in children.

It has been researched that the more time children spend playing video