Introduction
Though a rare occurrence in the past decades, obesity has become a major health problem among children in the United States. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) obesity has become common in American society due to increased intake of energy giving food and reduced activity. For the purpose of this paper, the concentration will be obesity among the children in the age between six and twelve years in United States. The proportion of children in this bracket who are overweight in the US is said to have been gradually been increasing for the past thirty years. In the years between late 1970s and 2008, the percentage in this age bracket has grown from 6.5% to 17%.this is almost double. This is according to the research done by NHANES. In the year 2000, 19% of the children in this age bracket were obese (Institute of Medicine (U.S.), 2005).
A research conducted on school going children showed that children of African-American and Mexican-American origin are more likely to be obese than white children with more than 50%. Similarly, the findings showed that children from poor families are more likely to be obese than those from rich families. This justified by the fact that the African-Americans who are likely to live in poorer lives have the highest percentage of obese children. School lunches have also contributed to increased chances of obesity. School children who attend federal schools and are under Nation School Lunch Program have higher chances of becoming obese.
Causes
The main cause of obesity among children in the age group is improper diets. Many feed on food an drinks with high percentages of sugars and fats. In a research conducted in a 19 month period on 548 children, has showed that chances of being obese increase with 1.6 with increased daily consumption of soft drinks. In school setting snack vending machine increase consumption of snacks thus increasing chances of being obese. Fast food consumption is also a common phenomenon among children and the young people with a percentage of as high as 75% attending these restaurants. A study has shown that there exists a relationship between increased consumption of fast foods and increased chances of obesity (Bascetta, 2006).
Physical inactiveness among children that lie between this age bracket has also contributed to increased cases of obesity. A study conducted on a sample of 133 in a period of one week indicates that these children are less active in school as well as at home with 35% and 65% respectively. Its contribution to inactiveness is based on the argument that excess energy in the body is converted in fats and stored in the body tissues. This results to increased weight. Inactivity among children among these children is contributed by the lifestyles in their homes as well as other factors. Computer and other indoor games have had a great influence on cause of obesity in these children. Technological advancement which has continuously invented more indoor activities has also been a main contributing factor. A research conducted on this area has shown that 21% of children who watch TV for 4 hours or more in a day are likely to be obese and those who play indoor games like computer games have 4.%% higher to be overweight (Institute of Medicine, 2005).
Parents and the kind of lifestyle they subject their children to have a greater influence on obesity of children, a study on eating patterns in home led to this conclusion. This is as result of parents giving their children the freedom to choose their meals. Four out of five parents of children involved in this research (18,177 were involved) did not restrict their children on what to eat. The other cause are of obesity are genetic factors where children are born with certain conditions that predispose them to obesity. For example prader-willi syndrome which occurs at frequency of 1 out of 12000 children born is contributing factor in that it possesses hyperphagia and eating conditions that lead to obesity. 80% of children with obesity have their both parents obesity while only a 10% of those whose parents are not are obese (Institute of Medicine, 2005). Growth factors are also of great influence. Research has shown that a good percentage of a child’s weight is determined at infancy. Children who are fat at their infancy increase their weight as they grow more than babies who are not. A medical condition can also lead to obesity as well as medication. Some medications have an influence on the body metabolisms that influence increase of body weight.
Corrective Measures
In the fight against obesity, diet is the first to consider. United States federal regulations have taken a major step in this fight in restricting minimum nutrition valued foods and drinks from being given in school restaurants. A majority of schools have also played role in that they have banned vending machines as well soft drinks. Parents play major role in preventing obesity in their children by being role models in what they eat, as well as exercising culture. They ought to take disciplinary actions which include ensuring that they are aware of children’s diets and restricting them on what they feed on. This measure can be effective if parents are educated on this subject. In the year 2005, many committees concerned in this area used the media as well as websites in educating the general public on need for reducing obesity in the society (Dietz et al, 2009).
Conclusion
Though obesity has become a major problem among the children in the 6-12 years age bracket (according statistics) it is not beyond control. These measures are collective social responsibility from the most basic setting, the family, to schools, businesses, corporations and the government. Due to its diver stating effects on the child’s health, physical, emotional and psychological, it this problem ought to address with the seriousness it deserves. Additionally, the fight is necessary for a healthy society in the present and in the future.
References
Bascetta ,C. (2006).Childhood Obesity. Chicago: DIANE Publishing.
Dietz W., Ian C., Kopelman P. (2009).Clinical Obesity in Adults and Children. California: John Wiley and Sons.
Institute of Medicine (U.S.). (2005). Committee on Prevention of Obesity in Children and Youth. New York: National Academies Press.
