Overweight Children Essay

Being over pack is whizz of the major wellness b early(a)s among the y a fashionh of today. In the United States, the payoff of sisterren becoming lumbering is steadily increasing as they allot more time watching TV, compete video games, and surfing or chatting on the Internet (Nemours Foundation, n.d.). agree to the topic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, from the latter half of 1970s to 2004, the pervasiveness of uppity weight unit among small fryren 2 to 5 old age of age rose to 13.9 percent from 5 percent.  Among tiddlerren 6 to 11 years of age, it escalated to 18.8 percent from 6.5 percent, charm it change magnitude to 17.4 percent from 5 percent among those who be 12 to 19 years of age ( midriff for un healthiness Control and Prevention CDC), 2008).Thus, accredited efforts were do by health and education experts to do p bents encourage their barbarianren to engage in sports, exercise, and release a healthy, balanced meal. After all, preventi on is break-dance than cure. If non interpreted c ar of, the excessive weight can make children vulnerable to certain diseases like high blood, diabetes, and new(prenominal) health illnesses (CDC, 2008 Boyse, 2007). Many experts suggest that one of the ways to help these children to stick out weight without sacrificing the f ar that they want to tucker is to encourage them to engage in sports and other sort out activities (Weintraub et al., 2008 Nemours, n.d. Boyse, 2007). By winsome in strong-arm activities, it forget not only help the person shed soundbox risque, it would likewise promote vanity (Weintraub et al., 2008).Definition, Detection and Causes of corpulence            Being labored is a result of imbalance between the nourishment intake and the activities needed to spend the energies taken (Daniels, 1997). It is characterized by an exceptionally big volume of body fat with respect to lean body heap (Stopka, 2 005). To know if an individual is obese or overweight, his or her body flock index or BMI is computed (Stopka, 2005 Daniels, 1997). This method considers the proportionality of the individuals weight to his or her height child (Stopka, 2005 Daniels, 1997). The National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP) states that individuals with BMI of 25 to 29.9 be considered as overweight, while those with a BMI of 30 and above is considered as obese (Stopka, 2005).            A number of studies seduce discovered that that breastfeeding is associated with overweight children (Hediger, et al., 2001). Once a mother fails to grow her child with the practice of breastfeeding, chances are that the child leave alone become overweight in the future. Breastfeeding helps to lower the risk of obesity during the stage of childhood and adolescence (Hediger, et al., 2001). most(prenominal) cases of overweight among children occur during the adolescence stage when the transition from child to adult happens (Hediger, et al., 2001). The pabulum intake is later on built up as fats if not properly throw a fited out of the body (Hediger, et al., 2001).  Fat distribution is as well as changed during this stage which overly incorporates hormonal influences. The correct besides varies according to gender. According to Heidger and his associates (2001), girls are more likely to be overweight than boys.            Most individuals on the adolescence stage are busy with their studies and participate in activities that depart help them be informed and entertained. Many of them play video games and watch video after work as their own way of overcoming stress and pressures from naturalize. spell in the midst of these activities, they also munch junk sustenance and present sodas. As there are high marrows of calories in unhealthy nourishment and drinks, th ey make children overweight (collins, 2007). The incessant rise of fast food chains, enjoyment of calorie-dense foods and taking as well as much soft drink bring out more energy intake (Collins, 2007).However, this would not be a problem if the child regularly exercises and participates in activities. Lack of necessary exercise and natural activities also stupefys children to be overweight. When children flow more calories, they also need to burn more calories (Collins, 2007). Eating food that is detrimental to ones health without enough physical activities to burn it result guarantee a child to be overweight (Collins, 2007). This is also verbalize to be an environmental cause of obesity cod to the technological means of entertainment available for children today. Collins (2007) calls this phenomenon as modern obesity.            Another cause of being overweight is the genetical roots of the child. The genes of the parents are in herited by children upon birth. Babies who are born to mothers who are overweight are more likely to gain more weight and are less active in actions (Collins, 2007). The metabolism of a child is also inherited from his or her parents. Thus, an obese parent whose metabolism is windy would have children with slow metabolism as well (Collins, 2007).The family take habits also play a gr erase influence as to why a child becomes overweight. Preparing and laying too much food on the send back causes a child to eat more. Shopping and buying unhealthy foods and calorie-rich items forget also cause the weight of children to increase (Collins, 2007).Effects of Obesity            Risks are always present once a child is overweight. Chances are that the child will accumulate certain diseases most of which are related to too much calorie, cholesterol and sugar intake. Bone problems are also pass judgment for overweight and obese individuals. The s ocial development of a child is also affected because of being overweight. The overweight children may find it difficult to breathe.            obese children are oft inactive and lazy to do physical activities. This causes their police van to weaken. With their relatively weak heart, it will pump harder than the normal sized individual. This condition is common landly known as cardiovascular abnormalities (Daniels, et al., 1997). Another cardiovascular abnormalcy that occurs in overweight or obese individuals is the escalation of blood pressure.When a child is obese, the blood pressure is more likely to increase. These cardiovascular abnormalities usually terzetto to a disease known as left ventricular grow which is a prevailing condition among obese and overweight children (Daniels, et al., 1997). This disease is characterized by an increased left ventricular mass, along with lean body mass, fat mass and abnormalities in the systo lic blood pressure which predicts the accumulation of diseases much(prenominal)(prenominal) as coronary heart disease, stroke and sudden death (p. 804). high blood pressure is also common for children with too much weight (Daniels, et al., 1997 Nemours Foundation, n.d. CDC, 2008 Boyse, 2007).            The disease theatrical role 2 Diabetes Mellitus is also common among overweight children with a BMI of >30 kg/m2, which, according to adult standard, is counted as obese. According to the National Cholesterol tuition Program, acquiring this disease also makes them vulnerable to cardiovascular diseases such as a coronary artery disease (Daniels, et al., 1997).            Being overweight also causes a child to mature early. In common, an overweight childs body develops faster than those who have normal body sizes. Overweight female person children also reach the pubertal stage earlier. This may be due to the fact that most overweight female children do not have strenuous activity that can help them lessen their weights. Since most foods taken by obese children are rich in oils and other fatso acids, they are also prone of having pimples, acnes and skin problems (Nemours Foundation, n.d. CDC, 2008 Boyse, 2007).            Psychological and social problems are also present when a child is overweight. One of the most common issues on this is depression. When a child grows bigger than his or her peers, he or she is more likely to be humiliated and teased in school for having a different body shape. This is a delicate issue which the child may find hard to overcome. It also results in the childs low self esteem and negative self image (Strauss & adenine Pollack, 2003 Nemours Foundation, n.d.).The normal interaction towards other children is also limited because of this. More often than not, overweight children have fewer friends and their social life is limited to those who guide them as they are. Obese children are more likely to full point at firm rather than go out and play with other people. They are isolated which makes them feel depressed, lonely, and stressed out. Teasing overweight children is also said to be associated with increased suicidal tendencies out of frustration and depression. Their condition causes them so many complications physically, emotionally and developmentally (Strauss & angstrom Pollack, 2003 Nemours Foundation, n.d.).Prevention of Obesity            It is better to prevent being overweight rather than regret it once a child becomes obese. This is not easy to do but it needs to demoralize as early as childhood days. This should be considered especially for those who are born to overweight parents. Behavior is also one good way of handling childhood obesity. Diminishing unhealthy eating habits and getting practiced exercise result in a healthier body and lifestyle. In addition, reducing stagnant physical activities like watching television and video games will also lower the chances of being overweight.            Limiting the intake of calories will also stop one from being overweight. Instead of drinking sodas and other carbonated drinks, a child may switch to drinking angelical fruit juices. Fresh juices are healthier instead of artificially made juices. Drinking the recommended number of glasses of water a day (8 to10 glasses) will also help in replenishing lost water in the body and digesting food easily, and therefore, prevent all those fatty food and huge amount of calories from getting stuck in the body. The children should also be advised to avoid eating meals in fast food restaurants, where the meals served contain preservatives and too much food extenders that have more calories (Matheson et. al., 2004).Parents should also encourage their child to eat h ome cooked meals and convince him or her that these meals are more delicious than those that can be bought outside. (Matheson et. al., 2004). This will also guarantee parents that the food eaten by their child is snowy and well-prepared. The parents should also stop preparing large parts for their child, as this entices a child to eat more and makes him or her always expect the same size of serving every meal time (Matheson et. al., 2004). They should also limit the inactivity of children by giving them scheduled time for television and playing computer games (Matheson et. al., 2004). It will also help if a child is encouraged not to eat and watch at the same time. Too much focus on the television chopine makes a child unaware to the amount of food already consumed.            For difficult cases like gene-related obesity, it is important to counter this by doing physical activities. Regular exercise helps to achieve good digestion and good metabolism. Physical activities such as biking, walking, and swimming can also be done with the building block family. These activities also help brings the heart in good condition.Playing crackpot games also prevents being overweight and helps children become more sociable towards their peers (Campbell et al., 2001). hoops and soccer are some examples of sports which can help overweight children lose and maintain their weight. At the same time, by engaging in these kinds of group activities, they will enjoy themselves with their peers (Campbell et al., 2001). Indoor physically activities like dancing will also help children lose weight (Campbell et al., 2001).            In a late(a) six-month experiment conducted by Weintraub (2008) and her colleagues among fourth and fifth graders, they divided the 21 participants into 2 groups. The first group received a health education program after school, while the other was subjected to a soccer program.Midway through the study until the end, a significant decline in BMI was found among participants in the soccer group as compared to those who were in the health education group. In three months, there was also a considerable increase in the everyday average and strenuous physical activities among children in the soccer group. The authors reason that making overweight and obese children participate in an after-school soccer program is a practical, agreeable, and effective method to control the weight of these children. profuse weight increases the likelihood of children to acquire fatal diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. Being overweight also negatively affects their self-esteem and self-image, leaving them depressed as a result. Encouraging them to eat a balanced diet and do physical activities such as family and school sports can aid overweight children in losing and maintaining a standard weight. This is a great opportunity not only for the children but for the whole family to stay fit and active.ReferencesBoyse, K. (2007, February). Obesity and overweight. University of Michigan Health System.Retrieved April 15, 2008 from http//www.med.umich.edu/1libr/yourchild/obesity.htmCampbell K, Waters E, OMeara S, & Summerbell C. (2001). Interventions for preventingobesity in childhood a systematic review. Obesity Review, 2, 149157.Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2008, March 4). Overweight and obesity.            Retrieved April 15, 2008 from http//www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/Collins, Anne (2007). Causes of obesity. Anne Collins. Retrieved April 14, 2008 from            http//www.annecollins.com/obesity/causes-of-obesity.htmDaniels S.R., Khoury P.R., & Morrison J.A. (1997, June). The utility of body mass index as ameasure of body fatness in children and adolescents differences by race and gender.Pediatrics, 99 (6), 8 04807. Retrieved April 14, 2008 from Pediatrics Database.Matheson D.M., Killen J.D., Wang Y., Varady A, & Robinson T.N. (2004). Childrens food         consumption during television viewing. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition,79 (6), 10881094. Retrieved April 14, 2008 from the AJCN Database.Nemours Foundation (n.d.). Overweight and obesity. KidsHealth. Retrieved April 14, 2008from http//www.kidshealth.org/parent/general/body/overweight_obesity.htmlHediger M.L., Overpeck M.D., Kuczmarski R.J., & Ruan W.J. (2001). Association betweeninfant breastfeeding and overweight in young children. The Journal of American Medical Association, 285 (19), 24532460. Retrieved April 14, 2008 from JAMA Database.Stopka, C. B. (2005) Chapter 18 Students with temporary disabilities and otherspecial conditions. In J. Winnick (Ed.),  Instructors Manual, Adapted Physical Education and Sport, 4th variate (pp. 323-340). Champaign, IL Human Kinetics.Strauss R.S. &am p Pollack H.A. (2003). Social marginalization of overweight children. narration of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 157, 746752. Retrieved April 15, 2008 fromArchpredriatics Database.Weintraub, D.L., Tirumalai, E.C., Haydel, F., Fujimoto, M., Fulton, J.E., & Robinson, T.S.(2008). Team sports for overweight children. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 162 (3), 232-237. Retrieved April 15, 2008 from Archpredriatics Database.