Prevalence of Obesity in Childhood - Term Paper Example

? Prevalence of Obesity in Childhood Introduction It is considered a responsibility of the society to ensure that children grow up to healthy and responsible adult of the society. Parents, teachers, principals and leaders of the society are highly influential to the ethical conducts of children. As compared to other threats of diseases among the Americans children, the prevention and control of childhood obesity are suppose to be left as an undertaking of the children themselves and their parent through guidance of nutritionist and the educators. Obesity prevalence is brought by poor nutritional eating habits exposing the parents of the affected children to unavoidable consequences resulting to either social stigmatization or medical related problems (Preedy &Watson, 2012). The prevalence of obesity and related condition is said to have risen rapidly amongst the children aged between 5 and 16. Despite this rate, treatment and prevention have always remained vital steps to curtail this menace (Ferry, 2011). Stake of the community health in controlling prevalence of obesity The main objective of the community health is to explore adequate mechanism of reducing obesity in children and adolescence. A number of considerations have been put in place by the health workers to ensure that the fight against such conditions is put under control. Some of the values that need to be embraced are community involvement and empowerment. All the members of the society should be sensitized about the articulate nature of obesity amongst the children. Therefore, communities should be empowered to have a response to the childhood obesity while emphasizing on the environmental risks, which exploits the health of a child. Ironically, most of the food advertisements are usually directed towards the perspective of the children. Parents and the society as a whole should participate in an active role of educating children about the prospects of positive food advertisements. Besides, culture and diversity should be undertaken by society in provision of adequate messages concerning good eating habits aimed at controlling disorders such obesity. Obesity as a disease is a problem that has affected the society adversely. Therefore, in order to fight this occurrence, both education enterprises and the heath personnel must collaboratively participate in a joint effort to eradicate its existence. For adequate provision of comprehensive effort to curtail the prevalence of obesity, the collaborative effort must involve partisans at all levels of the society, community, organizational, interpersonal and individual. Causes of obesity In America, nearly two out of five children are either of excessive weight or are obese. There are several reasons as to the prevalent increase of obesity even though most of them can actually be controlled through slight adjustments in lifestyle changes. However, among the dominant causes of obesity includes poor nutrition. Insufficient nutrition accustomed by many Americans has been found to contain too much calories and less nutrition responsible for the development of body structures. Moreover, inadequate exercise is also considered as a major contribution of the body towards obesity. Absence of actual balance of the amount of calories that are believed to stagnate in the body after consumption may lead to radical gain in body weight. Therefore, a recommendable exercise of approximately 20 minutes daily is considered adequate to enhance distribution of fatty acids within the body (Smith, 1999). Another contributing factor is health illiteracy. Inadequate education both at the community level and the institutional levels concerning the measures of controlling obesity has never been up to date. For instance, some mothers may not be actually aware that, they are capable of eradicating obesity. In addition, some suffer from inability of translating the nutritional components of food substances. It is, however, considered of no use to consume a definite amount of food if there is no clear information about the required quantity by the body (Smith, 1999). A minimal percentage of childhood obesity can be due to health conditions. Lack of some hormones responsible for metabolic reactions may also facilitate the rate at which somebody gains weight. Absence of thyroid hormone triggers a medical condition forcing the body to produce unnecessary opponent hormone. Such disorders are subjected to some medicine of whose continuous use would trigger extreme weight gains leading to obesity (Smith, 1999). Consequences of childhood obesity Overweight children are highly exposed to serous medical conditions of which some are actually fatal to their living. Most prevalent conditions such cardiac arrests and diabetes makes some of the conditions that are brought as a result of obesity. Among the diseases caused as result of obesity is type 2 diabetes. This is a condition whereby the body is not producing sufficient quantity of insulin. This is in contrast to type 1 diabetes where the body does not make any production of insulin. Initially, type 2 diabetes was known as a disease of the old but of late it affects a good number of children in America and around Asia. With this condition, the body is incapable of using the amount of insulin produced to maintain blood sugar level. However, when detected early, some control measures may be carried out (Smith, 1999). Another condition caused as result of obesity is a liver disease. This is a condition where the liver contains a lot of fat. Livers are actually meant to contain very minimal quantity or no fat at all. Therefore, presences’ of fat in the organ may cause it scarring up or eventually open up avenues to diseases such as heart attack or fibrosis. Moreover, too much fatty acid in the body may give way to early puberty in girls. This is because the fats will stimulate estrogen hormone necessary for production of ova, which initiates the menstrual circle. Besides, it may also lead to asthmatic condition, but this is often experienced in the future life development of the child (Smith, 1999). Pandemic obesity in children can also cause a sleeping disorder called apnea. This is a condition which makes a person to experience some pause interval going for some minutes during sleep interval. This is a chronic disease and even disrupts someone even in the middle of the sleep making him to feel tired during the day (Smith, 1999). Conclusion Childhood obesity has become a pandemic crisis not only in America, but also across the whole world. Childhood obesity can be put under control by offering adequate education to both children and their parents on effective nutrition habits and physical involvement in exercises References: Ferry, R, (2011). Management of Pediatric Obesity and Diabetes. New York: Humana Press. Preedy, V & Watson, R. (2012). Bioactive Food as Dietary Interventions for the Aging Population. An Diego: Elsevier Science. Smith, J. (1999). Understanding Childhood Obesity. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi. Read More