CONSEQUENCES OF CHILDHOOD OBESITY

Consequences of Childhood obesity and proposed preventive measures to be taken

Consequences of Childhood obesity and proposed preventive measures to be taken

Introduction

Childhood obesity is a serious problem in the United States because of its association with detrimental social and physical outcomes and its rising prevalence in recent years. Although several proposed methods for determining childhood obesity exist, the most widely used is to define childhood obesity as equal to or above the 95th percentile on the body mass index (BMI). Epidemiological studies employing the BMI method suggest that approximately 11% to 15% of children in the United States are obese. Estimates suggest that the prevalence of childhood obesity has risen by 4% over the previous decade (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2004). Although obesity rates have increased for both sexes and all racial-ethnic groups studied, it appears that rates of obesity may be higher among minority groups, including African Americans and Mexican Americans, when compared to whites.

Childhood obesity has multiple possible causes, which can be best understood by considering the combined effect of societal, genetic, and behavioral factors. Two important trends in society may increase the risk for childhood obesity. The first issue deals with consumption. The Food Guide Pyramid, created by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and supported by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), outlines the recommended intakes for five food groups, with foods listed from bottom to top in order of portion size. According to the pyramid, carbohydrates from grains should be eaten in the greatest quantity, followed by fruits and vegetables, protein and dairy, and fats. Only 1% of children are meeting the nutritional intake recommendations from the Food Guide Pyramid, suggesting deficits in proper nutrition. This may be related to the availability and ingestion of convenient, inexpensive, flavorful, and high-fat foods.

Discussion

Childhood obesity is associated with significant risk for health and psychological problems. A review of relevant literature reveals that obese children are more likely to develop hypertension, diabetes, and sleep apnea (Dietz, 1998). Twenty percent of over-weight children have two or more of these problems. Further, being obese as a child greatly increases one's likelihood of being obese as an adult; the probability increases with the severity of the childhood over-weight condition, and leads to future health threats including possible increased risk for coronary heart disease, colon caner, and diabetes, as well as an associated increased risk of mortality (Dietz, 2002).

In comparison with the general population, homeless adult family members, primarily females, experience a higher incidence of asthma, anemia, ulcers, upper respiratory infections, skin diseases, and trauma-related problems and injuries. Homeless mothers are at significantly higher risk for HIV than are low-income housed mothers. Alcohol and drug abuse and dependency, tobacco use, and obesity are also significant health risk factors for homeless mothers.

Asthma, ear and respiratory infections, diarrhea, infectious and communicable diseases frequent to shared living conditions, skin ailments, lice and scabies, lead exposure, delayed immunizations, and poor nutrition and hunger are significant health risks for homeless children, sheltered ...