CHILDHOOD OBESITY - Research Paper Example

Furthermore, these children have an increased risk of having impaired glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, and may also have diabetes. Obese children are also prone to having breathing problems, and they may further develop asthma. Socially and psychologically, these obese children are likely to have problems such as being discriminated against and having low self-esteem, and these problems are likely to continue way into their adulthood. Obese children have a high likelihood of becoming obese adults, and this is associated with several serious health conditions which include heart disease and some types of cancers.

Childhood obesity is a serious medical condition in children who have considerably more weight than is normal for their age and height. It is a very troubling problem because the extra weight often puts the children affected on a path that leads to health problems that one would expect to see only in adults, such as high blood pressure among others. . w whether their child is obese or not, and it is always best to have a doctor measure the child’s weight in comparison with his or her height to determine whether he or she is in a healthy weight range.

Childhood obesity, being a global problem, is increasingly affecting both the developing and the developed countries alike, although at different rates, depending on the economic conditions prevailing in such countries. The problem seems to be aggravated by the transitions in nutritional and physical activity that are currently taking place and are leading to an increase in the use of energy-saving devices, the availability of cheap high-calorie foods, and the limited participation of these children in physical activities both at home and at school.

In some cultures in Africa and Asia, for example, the situation is further complicated due to the social and cultural beliefs that consider obesity and excess weight to be signs of wealth and prestige. One of the main reasons why more and more children are becoming obese is the fact that many of them spend more time in front of televisions, computers, or video games and, therefore, have less time for physical activity. The busy schedules and lifestyles which the families of today have result in their not having enough time to prepare home-cooked meals full of nutrients, and instead they have the tendency of ordering extremely unhealthy fast food.

Bagchi (2010, p.233) states that childhood obesity may lead to some children being miserable about their weight, and these are more prone than those of regular weight to develop unhealthy eating habits and disorders such as anorexia. They are also more prone to depression and are at a great risk of getting involved in the abuse of addictive substances. There are many ways through