Across the nation childhood obesity has been slowly increasing over the past few decades and is now considered an epidemic. Georgia just so happens to hold the 2nd highest rate of childhood obesity in the nation. With more and more obese children being treated for health problems normally seen in adults and some of the top professionals at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta decided the problem needed to be addressed. With an effort to reverse the ever growing epidemic of childhood obesity, they launched the Strong4life program in 2011. With the Strong4life program in place they decided to reach out and bring awareness to the public by using signs, posters, and billboards in and around the Atlanta area and by eventually using television to spread …show more content…
We know that stigmatization leads to lower self-esteem, potential depression. We know that kids will engage in physical activity less because they feel like they’re going to be embarrassed. So there are all these other negative effects,” (Lohr.) Maybe he doesn’t realize that some people need a little tough love and knowledge to help make a change. Some need a little kick in the rump or a wake-up call as some would say. And maybe he doesn’t realize that many problems don’t get solved by “going with the flow”, no they are not solved until they have been addressed and sometimes that means showing the ugly side of the problem. Another article I found titled “Why is Georgia shaming Fat Children?” implies that the program “denounces the problem without solution.” I guess maybe they didn’t look into the actual Strong4life program and what all it has to offer. With all those opposing the ads, a statement I would like share is best stated by Linda Matzigkeit, vice president of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, “This is a medical crisis, and I can say if you don’t believe me, come visit our hospital and see the kids we are now taking care of – that more and more have Type 2 diabetes, have hypertension, need knee replacements – and it’s breaking our heart to see these adult-type disease in the …show more content…
They were simply created to get people thinking and talking and that is just what people did. The ads were made to catch people’s attention. They were stark and in your face and said wake up Georgia, you have a problem so do something about it. With childhood obesity on the rise and health problems increasing, this is what Georgia needed to see. Some kids need tough love and so do some parents to realize they need to make a move and do what’s best for their children. We are to lead our children by example and do what is best for them so that they can move forward in the stages of life and take on the world. They are our future and continuation of life, so why would we let them harm their
One Health and Social Care Policy which I am going to critically review is the childhood obesity policy. The 2010-2015 government policy: Obesity and Healthy Eating was updated in May 2015 and states many ways for improvements to be made. The purpose of this policy is to try to reduce the amount of unhealthy foods children eat in the UK.
Obesity has become an increasing issue in the United States and all around the world. The study that I read about analyzed data from 68.5 million persons to assess the trends in the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adults between 1980 and 2015 (The GBD 2015 Obesity Collaborators. 2017.). Children learn lifestyle choices from the adults that are around them. We, as adults, influence children on a variety of things, such as; eating or sleep patterns, exercise, or how we act towards situations or people. It is important to set a good example for the younger generations so that we can thrive in the future.
A drive down the road in any given American city and one can observe at least one reason that the United States is struggling with obesity. One would be hard pressed to find a community that is not teeming with fast food restaurants. However, it might surprise some that the obesity epidemic in our country has reached the most vulnerable population of all and they aren’t even capable of driving themselves to these bastions of unhealthy food. The childhood obesity level has reached 34% of children in the United States (SHUMEI, 2016).Obesity is caused by consistently consuming more calories than are needed for the level of physical activity one has on a daily basis. Although there are several indicators of obesity, the CDC and The American Academy of Pediatrics use the body mass index (BMI). Childhood obesity is defined as a BMI at or above the 95th percentile for children of the same age and sex (Perpich, 2011). Childhood obesity has been linked to an increase in Type 2 diabetes mellitus, asthma, hypertension, increased risk for cardiovascular disease and even affects children in psychosocial terms with low self-esteem and fewer friends than their non-obese contemporaries (Hispanic Health Care International, 2011). There are a variety of causes that work together for contributing to childhood obesity from the income level of the home to gender to even the location of the child’s home. Although there are many factors that can cause childhood obesity, we
What does childhood obesity means? Obesity can be defined as a condition in which the body carries abnormal or unhealthy amounts of fat tissue, leading the individual to weigh in excess or 20 percent more than his or her ideal weight (Health & Illness).Obesity in America is an ever-growing problem and has boosted America to the number one spot in terms of obese population. It also stands as the most prevalent medical issue in American Children. In the past thirty years, obesity has affected many different age groups of kids. Preschool group, two to five years in age, and the youths between the ages of twelve and nineteen the obesity rate has more than doubled (Childhood Obesity Statistics and Facts 2v007). Childhood obesity has more than tripled in kid’s ages six to eleven years old. Children can become obese due to many different things like parents or schools. Although obesity may linger for a lifetime, there are many ways to overcome childhood obesity and not have to deal with the weight issue. Childhood obesity causes many problems and concerns in many American families, but families need to work together to overcome obesity. One out of three children in the United States falls into the overweight or obese category (Ding). Children face many different problems and issues at a young age because of obesity. Children obesity causes type 2 diabetes, fatty liver because of excessive weight issues, social problems, depression, anxiety, and eating disorders (Ludwig). Childhood
Obesity has become an epidemic in the United States with wide-reaching effects. In “America’s War on the Overweight” by Kate Dailey and Abby Ellin, they discuss the prejudice encountered by people in America, and how it’s difficult for most people to fight against obesity and not the obese. Then in “The Cooking Animal” by Michael Pollan, he describes the rapid decline of home-cooked meals. Furthermore, he writes how the more time a nation devotes to food preparation at home, the lower the rate of obesity. Finally, “The Problem of Childhood Obesity” by Ginger Beebe and Joe Thompson, explains the strides that Arkansas has taken to fight the epidemic of obesity by coordinating school health and cooperative education. All three articles target
The Obesity epidemic in America has continued due to ignorance. People are aware that eating and excessive amount of food causes obesity and obesity leads to serious health risks. According to,the Obesity Society,“Obesity puts individuals at risk for more than 30 chronic health conditions. They include: type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension, gallstones, heart disease, fatty liver disease, sleep apnea GERD...and numerous cancers.”(“What is Obesity”).People have unlimited access to this information, however,millions of Americans are obese. However, if one chooses to acknowledge the issue future issues can be prevented. First lady, Michelle Obama enforced obesity prevention programs in school,such as “Myplate” .(“Team Nutrition”).By enforcing this program she is helping to prevent childhood obesity.
When you think of the word “epidemic,” you often associate it with disease such as the flu, or much more serious ones like the plague. What most people often do not think is the much more common, relatable epidemic of childhood obesity. While we may not be the generation that is being affected the most, chances are the children we see today and children of future generations will be affected if we do not take action now. A fast-food frenzy has swept the nation, technological advances both in and out of the classroom seem to be taking over children’s lives- leaving less time for being physical active, and obese kids are posing a higher risk for an already damaged healthcare system. Childhood
Improving the health of children today is an important area of concern for health professionals. One of the largest epidemics facing children is the increase in childhood obesity. Childhood obesity has reached epidemic levels in developed countries; this includes twenty five percent of children in the United States who are overweight and 11% who are obese (Dehghan, Akhtar-Danesh & Merchant, 2005, p. 1). Not only have these numbers increased in past decades they are plaguing all aspects of our country. In order to impact this epidemic many changes are needed to meet the needs of these children, especially the children who live in large cities. In Virginia the childhood obesity rate
For years cartoons have depicted obese kids rolling down streets, however, this may become an unfortunate truth. The issue of the obesity epidemic in America has become an enormous issue. Obesity, which is the accurate term to describe being above overweight on the body mass index (bmi), is an epidemic with many causes that can have staggering effects. Industries have found ways to market their food products in order to gain money, uncaring of the trouble and harm they may be causing to others. The obesity epidemic has become a very controversial political topic being discussed nationwide. Despite how bad things have gotten there are ways to fix this broken country.
Obesity in America is literally a growing problem, affecting every age group. Children are the most venerable group because they have no control over where they have dinner or how often they have fast food. Parents and guardians make decisions about food and are responsible for the health of children. Childhood obesity has more than doubled in the last twenty years. This is concerning because Type Two diabetes is a horrible, crippling disease that is affecting children and teens dramatically whereas the disease was primarily seen in adults. Children are said to have a shorter life span than their parents for the first time ever. In the United States sixty-six percent of adults are overweight and one in
The rate of childhood obesity has grown an enormous amount over the years with more than 40 million children being overweight! That number is astonishingly high and it is very obvious that something needs to be done about this. Studies had shown in 2008 that more than 40 million children were said to be overweight and the sad truth is that they are still increasing rapidly to this day; also every 1 in 4 teenagers is said to not reach the fitness guidelines (Tanner) according to an article by Lindsey Tanner. For this problem to be resolved not only do the parents of children need to make sure their kids are staying active but also, the schools they attend need to make sure they are getting a well-balanced meal and have some type of physical activity during their school day. Each state in America is given a percentage rate on the number of obese people in that particular state. The highest ranking state is Mississippi with a percentage of 34.9 and the state ranking the least is Connecticut with 24.5 percent. Different researches have shown that each day 850 lives are taken due to obesity and each year there are more than 300,000 people that die from obesity related illnesses. These are deaths that most likely could have been avoided if these individuals would have had the proper exercise and diet in their lives.
I agree that the topic of childhood obesity should be addressed more in our society. Spreading awareness can allow us as a society to reduce childhood obesity. I also agree with your ideas of ways to reduce childhood obesity by implementing P.E. classes into all schools. I believe that P.E. classes can help reduce childhood obesity by giving all children the ability to be physically
The rising rates of obesity and overweight among kids and teens in the U.S. have become a concern for parents and society. Some educators and schools have even begun sending home information to raise family awareness about children’s weight status and the risks of obesity.
One study shows 10% of children age four and five are overweight (www.health.state.ny.us). “For most children, obesity is the result of an unhealthy eating pattern and too little physical activity” (www.health.state.ny.us). At such a young age, parents are and should be in control of what their children eat. Obesity increases even more as children grow older. For this reason, SOC will also concentrate its efforts on educating parents as well. “Children and adolescents who are obese are at greater risk for bone and joint problems, sleep apnea, and social and psychological problems such as stigmatization and poor self-esteem” (www.cdc.com). At SOC, our vision is to provide a way for the children of our future to learn how to save themselves through lifestyle changes. The service that we offer will also add in the strain that will be put on the health care system if and when obese children grow up to be obese adults.
In 2006, about 15% of all children and teens, ages 6-19, were obese (Eberstadt 45). How do you maintain a healthy weight? A healthy weight is reached by balancing the number of calories you eat with the number of calories you use. Weight gain occurs when the number of calories you eat is greater than the number of calories you use (Beliefnet 1). The National Childhood Obesity Foundation (NCOF), is working to eliminate childhood obesity by promoting physical activity and proper nutrition through mascots, holding events such as walks for education, and research, and teaching with a program called THINK.