CHILDHOOD HEALTH AND OBESITY
Childhood Health and Obesity Prevention
The health of America’s children should be a priority throughout society. The number of children and adolescents struggling with significant weight problems and obesity is growing at an alarming rate. Obesity is defined by an accumulation of excess body fat. (Singhal, Schwenk, & Kumar, 2007) Children are classified as being overweight if he or she has at least 25-30 percent body fat. There are many families that choose to dine out in fancy restaurants and fast food joints on a weekly basis. Everywhere we look there is someone who is potentially overweight. (Harper, 2006). Approximately 22 million children under the age of five are at risk for obesity. Over the past few decades, the number of obese children in the United States alone has doubled. As early as 1983, 18% of school aged children in the United States were considered overweight children. By the year 2001, 8% of those children were considered obese. (Decklbaum and Williams p. 239S)
Childhood obesity is not just an illness; it is considered an epidemic in the United States due to the rapid increase in numbers over the past few decades. Bad eating habits are the number one cause of childhood obesity.
CHILDHOOD HEALTH AND OBESITY
We all like a variety of different foods, but the poor nutritional choices that we make as adults affects our children and their weight gain as well. Children struggling with obesity and weight problems frequently come from homes where one or both parents are struggling with significant weight problems. Though it is difficult at times, it is our responsibility as parents to take care of our children and their health.
Research has indicated that “pressuring” the child is particularly ineffective and can initiate overeating, especially in obese girls (Fisher & Birch, 1999a; Fisher & Birch, 1999b; and Johnson & Birch, 1994) and that children...