Obesity in Children

Obesity in Children

Introduction

There are a number of diseases that have been known to prevail far and wide at occasions due to lack of awareness, at occasions due to careless approach by the patients and at some occasions purely because of gene transmission from parents to offspring. One of such diseases includes Obesity. One of the most commonly faced medical condition in United States alone, the disease has also affected a huge population of children in the region. The increase in the figures of obese children identified by various national surveys every year has concerned the government's health sectors, various health officials and not to forget the parents of the victim children.

Discussion

According to the NHANES survey conducted between the years 1999-2002, 16% the of children belonging to the age group of 6-19 years were found to be overweight. The survey further informed that Mexican and African adolescent population (12-19 years) in America is known to be obese at 23% and 21% than the white non-Hispanic adolescents with an obesity rate of 14%. Moreover, 22 % of the Mexican American children between 6-11 years were obese, whereas 14 % of non-Hispanic White children and 20 % of the African American children were found to have obesity (www.cdc.gov).

In addition, the survey conducted in 1999-2002, 15% of the teens were found prone to obesity. 39% of the American Indian children belonging to the age group of 5-18 years old, were obese or at risk of being overweight (www.cdc.gov).

Children Opinion on being Obese

The first and most essential fact of children psychology that is to considered is their emphasize on how they are being perceived by their social circle rather than the health hazards Obesity can further cause them. Therefore, it has been observed that motivating the obese children to lose weight with healthy food and exercise rarely works (Jahns, 2001). In fact, researches have shown that this practice tends to make children more averse to their parents and more frustrated generally. Children, no matter what age, wish to be accepted, valued, included and liked by their peers. However, once these children become aware of their overweight problems or fatness, their perception of themselves is chiefly affected. Their self-esteem and self-confidence is greatly damaged. As a consequence, these children either isolate themselves completely or they keep a very low profile (johnmorella.com).

Therefore, obesity stops these children from achieving their powerful and normal social needs. Hence, they are found to be more prone to anxiety and depression. It has also been observed that children from different age groups have different opinion of their obesity. It has been found that majority of the children from 4-8 years are merely aware of their condition. Children from 10-12 years are conscious of their obesity however, at this stage the disease does not trouble them enough. The most effected age group is the teenagers from 14-19 years that have known to be fully aware and most troubled by their overweight ...