Childhood Obesity in Australia

Prevalence of Childhood Obesity

Introduction

In today's developed world, Obesity has materialized as the major nutritional problem. This problem has over emerged over a short span of time and in United States itself, it began late twentieth century. The outbreak in children came around soon after. Data from surveys has shown that in United States the percentage of adults who are overweight is two thirds of their total population and the percentage of obese are one-third (Flegal et.al, 2002).

For those children who are still growing the definition of obesity is a bit more complicated as they are still growing in weight and height at a varying rate. BMI has been adopted for measuring adiposity in children as well as adults though there is no universal standard agreed upon for assessing those who are either obese or overweight (Barlow & Dietz, 1998).

Childhood Obesity

The standard used for measuring individuals who are overweight and obese is the reversed growth reference known as CDC. Obesity is a health problem of significance with implications concerning health, economy and social life. According to research, it has been, estimated that on average one third of adults and one fifth of adolescents and children will be obese in the next 3 years unless extreme measures are taken (Barness, et.al 2007). Cigarette smoking was the main preventable reason for mortality and obesity is fast replacing that. Adjustable physical activities and diet patterns are in association with mortality and morbidity, making it to national priority in regards with health of to improve the eating behavior within all population including adults, adolescents and children. For the youngsters experts have suggested 60 minutes of physical activity whether moderate or vigorous every day, while only 30 percent of the young are actually meeting this target. Television watching, video games and computers are the main sedentary behavior within children and adolescents and have lead to the disappearance of physical exertion from the lives of those who are a part of the developing nation (Power C, 2006).

Regardless of proof and sufficient evidence the relationship between physical activities and adiposity during the teenage years have entered a critical part where the risk for becoming obese has become larger while at the same time the amount of activity an individual does on a habitual basis has dropped. There is an association between body fat and physical activity and there is evidence to that there the connection is stronger with men and the young ones making children vulnerable to becoming obese (Peter, 2005).

There are immediate as well as long-term consequences to an obese child's health. These range from cardiovascular risks of high blood pressure, defected glucose tolerance and varying blood lipid levels. Abnormalities during the menstrual are also due to obesity. Sleeping disorders, diabetes and various psychological effects are risks of obesity. A child may face isolation, depression, stigmatization, low self-esteem and motivation levels (Vandewater, 2004).

The occurrence of obesity in children who have development disorders needs to be understood, as factors ...