Childhood Obesity
Obesity is the accumulation and storage of excessive fat in the body. According to Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Obesity is any weight that is bigger than what is typically considered healthy for a given height. (CDC, 2009). The imbalance between caloric consumption and expenditure is what causes obesity in children and adults. There are factors that affect obesity. Such factors are biological, behavioral, and environmental in nature. When more calories than the body is required is taken, the body stores the excess calorie in form of fat resulting in obesity. There are daily media reporting on obesity in Los Angeles county and nationwide. Health experts utilize mass media to provide information, training and encouragement to the need to live healthy lifestyle in other to eradicate obesity. Undoubtedly, the greater concern is on the vulnerable school age children. In one annual report from by Los Angeles County (LAC) Department of Public Health (2007), the researchers found that childhood obesity is both a national and local crises. According to the report, “Nationally, obesity rates among children have tripled since the late 1970’s, and in Los Angeles County, more than 1 in 5 students in the fifth, seventh, and ninth grades are now obese, and this continuing epidemic of childhood obesity is jeopardizing the future health and well being of our children.”
Obesity poses serious health concern for the children. The physiological and mental impact on children is enormous. For example, children are among the most vulnerable population to suffer the effect of obesity such as low self-esteem, depression, to develop diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and other chronic conditions such as asthma, orthopedic problems, liver problems, and breathing problems during sleep due obesity. (LAC Department of Public Health, 2007). In addition, another source also remarked that childhood obesity is for the most part troubling because the extra calories often
Obesity poses serious health concern for the children. The physiological and mental impact on children is enormous. For example, children are among the most vulnerable population to suffer the effect of obesity such as low self-esteem, depression, to develop diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and other chronic conditions such as asthma, orthopedic problems, liver problems, and breathing problems during sleep due obesity. (LAC Department of Public Health, 2007). In addition, another source also remarked that childhood obesity is for the most part troubling because the extra calories often
References: Association of Schools of Public Health (2010). Model and Definition. Retrieved September 29, 2010 from http://www.asph.org/document.cfm?page Los Angeles County Department of Public Health-Office of Health Assessment and Epidemiology (2007) Retrieved September 27, 2010 from http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/wwwfiles/ph/hae/epi/chr2-childhood_obesity.pdf Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (2008). Tipping the balance toward healthy, active children http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/wwwfiles/ph/hae/ha/childhood_obesity_final.pdf Mayo Clinic.Com (2010) U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2010). Promoting healthy eating and physical activity for healthy nation