Big Idea: Childhood Obesity & Prevention Methods

By: Maeghan PennKaplan University

What is Childhood Obesity?

Childhood obesity is seen as the prevelance and occurrence of kids or adolescents with BMI's that are greater than 95 percent (OAC,2013).

It is a widely known issue in the United States at this time. Today, more than 30 percent of children are affected (OAC, 2013).

The number of obese children has since tripled since 1980, making this an unwanted epedemic.

Childhood Obesity, is considered to be a medical condition.

When a child or adolescents body stores too much body fat, they can sometimes be labeled as Obese.

What Children Are At Risk?

The vast majority of cases of childhood obesity come from kids that are not very physically active, but intake too many calories along with it (Childhood Obesity Foundation, n.d)

Children who live in an environment where healthy eating and physical activity isn't encouraged, tend to be more at risk.

Along with kids who eat to help with stress or problems (Childhood Obesity Foundation, n.d)

And kids that consume foods that are high in sugar and fat on a regular basis such as fast food, candy, baked goods and soda.

Risks Associated With Childhood Obesity

Heart Disease

High Cholestrol

High Blood Pressure

Diabetes

Sleep Apnea

Cancer

Along with these risks children also have to go through social humiliation from their peers, making this a lot worse for them. Kids tend be mean, rude, and blatantly honest to their peers

(OAC, 2014)

Preventative Measures

Childhood Obesity can be prevented, some measures include

Enouraging healthy eating habits (providing more health options, and less sugary & fried options)

Make favorite dishes healthier (instead of making french fries, try baked sweet potatoes).

Help kids understand the benefits of exercising (teach kids that physical activity has positive effects on bones, self esteem, and overall well-being).

Help Kids stay active (instead of letting your child watch tv for 30 minutes, make them go outside and play) (American Heart Association, 2014).

More Preventative Measure

Along with the measures previously stated, school systems can help with keeping kids healthy by

Allowing kids to have access to more physically demanding and active P.E. Programs

Allowing children to have nothing but healthy options at lunch, do away with the vending machines, sweets, and fried foods.

Implementing more engaging, healthy objectives for students to reach during the day.

Engaging children in more reactive and proactive ways in staying healthy, such as making games out of eating good foods and knowing about healthy food options.

Conclusion

Childhood Obesity can be an easy task to tackle, for the simple fact that children are more likey to do what they see their parents and other role model adults doing. If parents and school systems can come together to implement these preventative measure, we're sure to see a drastic drop in childhood obestity. Keeping our kids healthy isn't that hard of a task, its just a task that takes the whole village to keep in control.

Resources (Healthy Kid Healhty Future, 2014)

http://www.prairiepublic.org/education/parents-page/healthy-kid-healthy-future

(American Heart Association, 2014)http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/HealthierKids/ChildhoodObesity/Preventing-Childhood-Obesity-Tips-for-Parents-and-Caretakers_UCM_456118_Article.jsp

(Childhood Obesity Foundation, n.d.) http://www.childhoodobesityfoundation.ca/whatIsChildhoodObesity

(OAC, 2014)

http://www.obesityaction.org/understanding-obesity-in-children/what-is-childhood-obesity