Research Paper

Melisa Yeager

ENGL-100

April 14, 2013

Professor Ford

Factors That Contribute To Obesity In Children

Is it just food or are there other factors?

Obesity is quickly becoming an epidemic that can be 100 percent preventable. According to the National Institute Of Health “Obesity and overweight together are the second leading cause of preventable death in the United States close behind tabacco use.” (Obesity:Factors, Figures, Guidelines) Many like to point the blame solely on our diet and the type of foods we choose to consume. But if we stop and really think about this you can easily see that there are many other contributing factors to this epidemic that are equally as important as the foods we may be feeding our children. “Since the 1970’s the percentage of children aged six to eleven years who are obese has tripled”. (Henderson) With this being said we can see the importance and seriousness of this issue and we need to take the time to understand how it comes to be and how it can be prevented.

“Obesity is defined as an excessive accumulation of body fat”. (Gregory Green

Et. al) Looking at this, one could assume that obesity is a direct result of what we eat but according to the article Childhood Obesity:Factors Affecting Physical Activity it says “obesity results from an imbalance between the amount of energy consumed and the amount of energy expended”. In addition to obesity children could face other health issues like “abnormal blood lipid levels and chronic inflammation shown to contribute to heart disease later in life.” (Doyeon Et. al.) Psychological effects are just as important as the health risks and just as detrimental. Among these psychological effects you can find self-esteem and self-image problems, eating disorders and depression to name a few. Figure 1(Dyer Nicole)

We live in a society where food is a big part of our social recreation. We use food as the center of many events. Most of the time healthy choices are overlooked because unhealthy foods tend to be cheaper and more convenient. Another reason is that our lives have become so busy that there is really little to no time at all for anyone to cook healthy meals. Often times people turn to Fast Food or previously prepared meals which leave parents little control on what their children consume. There was a time where portions were part of the issue with fast food restaurants. In Figure 1 (Dyer Nicole)

above you can see the difference in portion sizes compared from 1955-2000. You can see how fries went from 2.3 oz to 6.9 oz, soda went from 6.5 oz to 20 oz and a candy bar from 1.1 oz to 3.7 oz. Because of the increase in obesity some places have tried to cut back on their portions or make it healthier foods that they offer but in reality it is still not much different from what we saw here back in 2000.

Even though food is a big contributor I feel there are other factors that need to be considered. There is the issue of technology, genetics and lack of physical activity. The amount of time children spend watching television instead of participating in more physical activities is much higher than it was 20 years ago. “Children and Adolescents spend an average of five and a half hours a day using media that includes TV, video games, computer activities and the internet.” (Child health alert, 2008) We have come to a point in our society that it is almost impossible to function without technology. The problem isn’t that technology is bad, the problem is that many of us do not know how to use it in moderation. Everywhere we look there is some way for a child to access some sort of screen time. Many vehicles are even set up with TV already installed in them making it all to easy for children to watch tv on the go. A study done by TRU (teenage research unlimited inc.) showed “that the average teen in the study listened to CD’s, tapes, MP3 and other musical devices about ten hours a week, watched TV for nine and half hours, used the internet for eight hours, listened to the radio for seven hours, talked on a cell phone for five hours, played sports four hours each week and worked out three hours a week.” The amount of physical activity is heavily outweighed by the time spent on media. If you combine this with the high intake of calories children may take in on a daily basis you can see how there is just not enough time spent to burn off those extra calories that are being taken in.

Obesity is something that someone could inherit. Not necessarily that you automatically are obese but more so that you can be predisposed to the condition. “Genetic factors as well as early childhood factors make it more or less likely that a child will become overweight or obese.”(Our Kids Aug 26,2006) It has been shown that there is a gene that can make your chances of being overweight higher than some. Obesity researcher Dr. David Cummings and his team discovered a gene called “ghrelin” which “plays a starring role in appetite control.” This gene is what helps us “feel hungry.” It is a hormone that “rises sharply before meals and plummets afterwards” so if there happens to be an imbalance in some people their body will produce more and in turn make them feel hungry all the time. (Dyer Nicole)

Physical activity among children has definitely decreased over the years. We can blame part of it on technology and how children have found other activities to entertain themselves that may not be as physically active as they once were. Technology is not the only one to blame for this lack in physical activity, in fact schools don’t have enough time allotted to physical activity. “ More and more schools in America have either cut out PE entirely or are no longer providing as many hours of physical activities as they did in the past. (Doyeon Et. al)

There are many things we can do to prevent childhood obesity, but it all starts with the parents. Children depend solely on their parents to take care of them. This being said it should be the parents job to make sure that children are exposed to healthy eating habits. Limiting time spent on watching TV, playing video games or using mobile devices and encouraging children to go and engage in more physical activities could be beneficial in the prevention of childhood obesity. Dr. Carolyn Ross M.D. mentions some things a family can do to avoid obesity: “eating more fruits and vegetables, avoid processed foods, cook together as a family, provide your child with a wide variety of food options, use sweets as infrequent treats and other sweets like fruit for everyday rewards and educating yourself and your children about healthy eating.” (Our kids, Aug 26 2010) It is not only the parents job, as children get older they shift towards spending  more time at school than at home. At this point it is important that the schools and parents be on the same page as to the proper diet and exercise a child should receive. As they become teenagers you must hope that you have equipped them with enough knowledge and good eating habits to make the right decision concerning what they eat and how much time they dedicate to exercise. If all of these steps are followed there is a good chance that obesity can be avoided and eliminated among children. The key is for parents and the community to work together and create an environment that are conducive for a child to succeed without struggling with weight issues.

Works Cited

Childhood Obesity: Factors Affecting Physical Activity Stonehenge International, 2007 General Accounting Office Reports & Testimony

Cochran, William. Pediatric Obesity Faqs. Hamilton, ON, CAN: B C Decker, 2007. Print.

Doyeon, Kim, and Len Kravitz. "Childhood Obesity: Prevalence, Treatment and Prevention." Childhood Obesity: Prevalence, Treatment and Prevention. N.p., Jan. 2007. Web. 30 Mar. 2013.

Green, Gregory, Brenda Hargrove, and Clarence Riley. "Physical Activity and Childhood Obesity: Strategies and Solutions for Schools and Parents." N.p., 2012. Web.

Henderson, Karla A. "Teens and Physical Health Issues." Teens and Physical Health Issues Sept. 2008: n. pag. Web.

"Obesity: Facts, Figures, Guidelines." Obesity: Facts, Figures, Guidelines. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Apr. 2013.

"Our Kids: Obesity Practicing What We Preach." Basalandspice.com. N.p., 26 Aug. 2010. Web. 30 Mar. 2013.

Dyer, Nicole. "Fighting Fat: America's New Health War." Science World, 18 Oct. 2002. Web. 14 Apr. 2013.