Childhood Obesity Research Paper
Running Head: CHILDHOOD OBESITY
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Childhood Obesity, a Growing Concern Marjorie Student ENG122 Tiffany Professor January 17, 2011
CHILDHOOD OBESITY Childhood Obesity, a Growing Concern There are many differences between children today and children 20 years ago. One area that is concerning, not only to researchers and politicians, but parents as well, is the increase in childhood obesity, which is reaching epidemic proportions. According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted in 2008, the prevalence of obese children in the 6-11 year age range, alone, increased from 6.5% in 1980 to 19.6% in 2008 (Center for Disease Control and Prevention). Another study conducted by Datamonitor states that 2 out …show more content…
The obvious cause would be changes that have occurred behaviorally and environmentally. At its simplest form, children eat more and have a more sedentary lifestyle. This seems very obvious on the surface. It is a well known fact that lack of exercise and unhealthy eating habits lead to obesity. What is important to reversing this trend is understanding why children eat less healthy foods and are less active. What aspects of life have drawn children into these unhealthy habits? Why are children less active and drawn to foods that are high in fat and sugars causing childhood obesity to be at its highest point ever? Research on this topic is important, as it is imperative that this trend be reversed. Without a plan, and understanding of the cause of the increase in childhood obesity, the future health and wellbeing of these children is …show more content…
The more time children spend watching television, the more their body fat percentage increases. This is contributing to the increase in childhood obesity. (Jordan) In addition to the messages children are receiving from advertisements, evidence shows that while children are engaged in television or gaming activities they are more likely to snack more frequently, contributing to the increase in childhood obesity. Although the amount of time spent on watching television and playing videogames is disturbing, what really is at question is why. Why are children less active? Changes in the family have occurred over the last 20 years. There are more 2 income families and more single parent households. These changes can lead to more children being left without supervision and little planned activities. Safety also plays a role in the amount physical activity that children are involved in. Children in urban environments may not have areas that are free of traffic or an area of protected space in which to play on. In addition neighborhoods in urban areas may be riddled with crime. (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services). Not only does crime and traffic impede the ability for children to enjoy outside physical activity as they had in the past, it also impacts them from obtaining low impact exercise such as that which could be gained from walking to school or to a friend’s
1
Childhood Obesity, a Growing Concern Marjorie Student ENG122 Tiffany Professor January 17, 2011
CHILDHOOD OBESITY Childhood Obesity, a Growing Concern There are many differences between children today and children 20 years ago. One area that is concerning, not only to researchers and politicians, but parents as well, is the increase in childhood obesity, which is reaching epidemic proportions. According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted in 2008, the prevalence of obese children in the 6-11 year age range, alone, increased from 6.5% in 1980 to 19.6% in 2008 (Center for Disease Control and Prevention). Another study conducted by Datamonitor states that 2 out …show more content…
The obvious cause would be changes that have occurred behaviorally and environmentally. At its simplest form, children eat more and have a more sedentary lifestyle. This seems very obvious on the surface. It is a well known fact that lack of exercise and unhealthy eating habits lead to obesity. What is important to reversing this trend is understanding why children eat less healthy foods and are less active. What aspects of life have drawn children into these unhealthy habits? Why are children less active and drawn to foods that are high in fat and sugars causing childhood obesity to be at its highest point ever? Research on this topic is important, as it is imperative that this trend be reversed. Without a plan, and understanding of the cause of the increase in childhood obesity, the future health and wellbeing of these children is …show more content…
The more time children spend watching television, the more their body fat percentage increases. This is contributing to the increase in childhood obesity. (Jordan) In addition to the messages children are receiving from advertisements, evidence shows that while children are engaged in television or gaming activities they are more likely to snack more frequently, contributing to the increase in childhood obesity. Although the amount of time spent on watching television and playing videogames is disturbing, what really is at question is why. Why are children less active? Changes in the family have occurred over the last 20 years. There are more 2 income families and more single parent households. These changes can lead to more children being left without supervision and little planned activities. Safety also plays a role in the amount physical activity that children are involved in. Children in urban environments may not have areas that are free of traffic or an area of protected space in which to play on. In addition neighborhoods in urban areas may be riddled with crime. (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services). Not only does crime and traffic impede the ability for children to enjoy outside physical activity as they had in the past, it also impacts them from obtaining low impact exercise such as that which could be gained from walking to school or to a friend’s