Childhood Obesity - Research Paper Example

?Childhood Obesity Introduction In the 21st century, the problem of obesity is more that can be ignored. Obesity as a health problem is not limited to geographic locations. While it has previously been associated with those on the upper side of the economic ladder, the condition is increasingly becoming a problem to those in the middle and lower brackets of the economic scale (Peiser et al, 2005). As a matter of fact, the number of people, and especially children, becoming obese worldwide is alarming. In fact, the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that over the last three decades, obesity cases among children have almost tripled (CDC, 2011). Many sources note that the chances of living obese in adulthood are higher when one is obese during childhood (Guo and Chumlea, 1999). The main causes of obesity across all ages include overeating and lack of exercise. While these two main causes may work together in making a person obese, this study hypothesizes that the tendency to adopt a sedentary lifestyle contributes majorly to childhood obesity as compared to eating habits. Justification Obese children have excess fat in their bodies; a condition which grossly affects their general wellbeing and health. At the bare worst, the condition makes it very difficult for the child to maintain flexibility. As a result of this, an obese child may find it very difficult to interact actively with other children. Obesity is known to be associated with several life threatening conditions including diabetes, sleep problems, high blood pressure, liver disease, early puberty cancer, bulimia, anorexia and, asthma, skin infections, and heart disease, just to mention but a few. Considering the above facts, it is important to prevent obesity rather that to seek for its cure. It is important at this stage to note that the prevention of the condition mainly relates to dealing with its root causes. Main Objective 1. To establish the level to which lack of exercise and a sedentary lifestyle contributes to childhood obesity. Specific Objectives 1. To establish the prevalence of childhood obesity in the USA 2. To establish the causes of and predisposing factors to obesity 3. To establish how much lack of exercise and a sedentary lifestyle contributes to childhood obesity. Scope and Limit of the Research This study will be limited to the US and will focus on the problem of childhood obesity. In particular, lifestyle will be centered on as a main cause of obesity among children. For the purposes of distinguishing between children and adults, those below the age of 18 will be presumed to be children. Literature Review Medical experts define obesity as a medical condition that is characterized by the existence of excess body fat such that one’s health is negatively affected. The terms “obesity” and being “overweight” in some cases are used interchangeably although medical experts differentiate the two conditions based on the Body Mass Index (BMI) (Guo & Chumlea, 1999). On a strict sense, one is regarded to be overweight when their BMI is between 25 and 30 kilograms per meter squared. On the other hand, obese people have their BMI exceeding 30 units (Guo & Chumlea, 1999). There are several health condition and disorders that are closely linked to obesity. As previously mentioned, some of these conditions include diabetes, sleep problems, high blood pressure, liver disease, early puberty cancer, bulimia, anorexia and, asthma, skin infections, and heart disease. In other words obesity may be a predisposing factor to several other more serious conditions. There are various factors that are presumed to cause obesity, or are predisposing factors to the disease. Some of these factors include genetics, excessive consumption of food energy, certain medications, physical inactivity, endocrine disorders, and psychiatric illnesses. In spite of the many possible causes of the condition, the two most common causes include dieting and physical exercises (Ebbeling, Pawlak & Ludwig, 2002). In reference to the above fact, one can reduce the chances of getting obese by consuming less energy dense foods including those high in sugars and fat, and increasing dietary fiber intake. Other measures that are known to help in solving the problem of obesity include taking of anti-obesity drugs which reduce fat absorption and appetite. In some cases, obesity is treated through surgery or by the use of intragastric balloon. According to statistics, obesity is the number one cause of preventable death across the world. Previously assumed to be a symbol of wealth, today obesity is a real cause for stigmatization for the young and old alike (Ebbeling, Pawlak & Ludwig, 2002). In the US alone, obesity is the cause of over110 deaths per year, the figure rising to in excess of 365,000 in some cases (Hutcheon, 2009). In the European Union, excess weight has been attributed to the occurrence of close to one million deaths which accounts for about 8% of the deaths in the region. It has been noted by previous studies that one loses between six and seven years of their life if they are obese. In the US alone, it is estimated that cases of obesity among children aged between 6 and 11increased to 20% in 2008 from 7% in 1980. Other statistics indicate that 65 percent of obese children in the US are inactive during weekends while 35 percent are inactive during school days compared to their non-obese counterparts (CDC, 2011). Experiments carried out to establish the efficiency of diet control alone as a means of dealing with obesity have shown that this method is quite ineffective. According to (Peiser et al, 2005), there is a rise in the number of pre-schoolers whoa are obese in the United States. The preschoolers according to (Peiser et al (2005) are not active in their learning centers. Hutcheon (2009) notes that the majority of outdoor activities done by children are sedentary in nature. Yet again 89% of their physical activity is sedentary. Methods For this study, both primary and secondary research was conducted. Secondary data was drawn from books, journals and reputable websites. Primary data on the other hand was collected using questionnaires. The sample used for the study was drawn from a primary school in the xxx state of the US. The sample consisted of 100 obese students randomly drawn from the population of three schools, their age between 9 and 13 years. The children’s parents and teachers were asked for consent before the study was conducted. The researchers filled the questionnaires on behalf of the children by the researchers. The data gathered was statistically analyzed in terms to establish which main factors contributed to obesity among the sample. The statistics were analyzed using MS Excel spreadsheet software. Results Fig 1: Participation in organized and free time physical activity The results of the analysis showed that most of the obese children participated less in free time physical activities compared to organized activity. This shows that generally the obese children prefer a sedentary lifestyle and would prefer to relax more during their free time. Discussion From secondary research, it was established that there are a number of causes or factors that predispose individuals to obesity. However, the main factors in this respect related to physical inactivity and eating habits. In line with past studies, this research established that more than any other cause, physical inactivity was probably the main cause for the obesity of the sample. In fact, most of the samples stated that they engaged in active play less during weekends, always preferring to remain indoors or rest. It was established that the appetites of some of the samples was high but this again was not the case for the majority of them. Most of the samples indicated that their attempts to eat less without engaging in physical activities showed no impressive results. References Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2011). Childhood Obesity Facts. Online: http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/obesity/facts.htm. Viewed on 2nd November, 2011. Ebbeling, C. Pawlak, D. and Ludwig, D. (2002). “Childhood obesity: public-health crisis, common sense cure.” Lancet (9331) pp 473–482. Hutcheon, S, (2009). “The Inactivity of Preschoolers Amid Rising Childhood Obesity.” Medical News Today. Online: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/138289.php. Viewed on 2nd November, 2011. Peiser, P. Rudolf, M. Anhalt, H. et al. (2005). “Childhood obesity.” J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. (3) pp 1871–1887. Guo, S. and Chumlea, W. (1999). “Tracking of body mass index in children in relation to overweight in adulthood. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (70) pp 145–148. Read More