CHILDHOOD OBESITY

Childhood Obesity

The Effects of Childhood obesity on self-esteem

Introduction

Obesity is increasing in United States with a growing rate. Between 5 to 25 children per hundred are obese in USA. It comprises 15% of the children population. Obesity is an increase in excess body fats which leads to the growth of the body weight. Childhood obesity is a weight-for-height in excess of 120 percent. It is a chronic disorder which has multiple causes (Strauss, 1999).

Factors

First key factor contributing to obesity is poor diet. Unhealthy, oily, and fast foods are reasons for the poor diet. Menu at schools and restaurants often comprise of food items that are mostly fried or fattening. Nowadays, each food item contains preservatives which are unhealthy too. There is too little option to switch and the food items offered are almost the same everywhere. This could be helped when the schools and the restaurant revise their menu and add healthy food such as salads, vegetables, fruits, etc (Paxton, 2005).

Second factor contributing towards is watching television. It is making children obese because studies show that children tend to consume more food and especially fat food while watching television. Apart from the consumption, watching television means no exercise. It is a substitute for children instead of outdoor games or exercises which would help increase their metabolism and physical activity.

Physical activity comes third in the contribution factor. The lifestyle in US is such that it includes very little of exercise. Children do not burn fat as they should do. They exercise little. They play little. Children have switched their tastes to video games, laptops, etc. School gyms are not enough for kids to keep them in a healthy physical state (Huston, 2009).

Another factor is obesity while being a child. It makes a child stay obese even when ...