Determinants of Health Behaviors and Obesity - Essay Example

"Determinants of Health Behaviors and Obesity" is an interesting example of a paper on social and family issues.
Obesity has a high relation with body fat, if a human body has more ratio of fat stored in the body, then the condition of obesity applies. The main reasons for obesity are eating more than the required food, drinking more alcohol, and giving the body more rest. Some other reasons like sex of the person, region, genetics, and family income may also influence the obesity level. When someone exercises, he utilizes energy, and when someone eats, he stores the excess energy in the form of fats and proteins. As most of the food products have a high ratio of fats, it becomes impossible for an inactive person to utilize all the fats and thus the person becomes obese.  

It teachers and educators should encourage the students to participate in physical activities like sports and should include physical education as the compulsory subject so that the students make physical activity as a part of life (Committee on Health and Behavior 2001). Parents do have the responsibility to control child obesity. Currently, the ratio of obesity levels in children rose to 20%. The major reason for this rapid growth is the use of television and computer. Children spent almost six hours watching television and using the computer. Parents should take steps towards their children to minimize the habit of watching television and using computers and encourage the children to spend more hours doing some physical activity. Tobacco use at a younger age in highly dangerous and can infect the habits of the child (Committee on Health and Behavior 2001), so it is the responsibility of the adults to try to quit smoking or even try not to smoke in front of children. Results show that the persons who have a habit of smoking and quit this habit at the age of forty-five years or less live more than those persons who quit it late. 

There are many issues and challenges faced by teachers and parents in controlling obesity in children. The main issue is that the diet that a child wants to have contains much of the content of fat (Committee on Health and Behavior 2001). The advertisements for fast foods look tempting to the children but fast food contributes much to spoiling the eating habits of a child. The food served in the schools contains much fat and it is difficult to change the eating habits of a child. An obese child wants to spend much of the time doing no physical activity and to force him to participate in some physical activity. Among many other issues faced by teachers, social and psychological issues have also linked with child obesity. It produces issues like poor self-esteem and discrimination (Committee on Health and Behavior 2001). Results show that the obese persons, who try to lose some weight, regain the weight, and return to the previous unhealthy lifestyle. A difficulty in the situation is that the obese child considers him healthy and it is disturbing for the child if someone considers him unhealthy. However, as children like to play and enjoy spending their time doing physical activities, it is easier to control child obesity. Teachers should employ various methods to encourage the child’s physical activity and at home, parents have the responsibility to limit the hours a child spends on watching television or using the computer.