OBESITY IN CHILDREN Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

OBESITY IN CHILDREN - Research Paper Example This indicates how the situation has become alarming over the years and hence, has drawn the attention of many researchers and scholars who feel that it can be the reason for an alarming situation in the years to come. They fear that a very high number of the population in the next generation would be victims of obesity-induced diseases such as coronary heart problems, cholesterol, diabetes and high blood pressure. Furthermore, the obese children find difficulty in leading a normal childhood because their weight and body structure make it difficult for them to carry out normal activities done by the children. This study explores the subject of obesity in children in the United States in detail. Through a review of literature as well as a review of empirical research studies, it would aim to understand the prevalence, incidence, relative risk, causes and preventive measures about obesity in children. Review of Literature Obesity in very terms is defined as the excess amount of fat in the body. While there is no standard definition for both obesity in children as well as in adults, medical practitioners use two main yardsticks to qualify a child as obese. The first and the most popular yardstick is known as the body mass index or BMI (the weight of an individual in kilograms divided by the height in meters). Obesity is determined based on this BMI. The second yardstick is to compare with a standard of weight measurements. If the weight of the child is 20% higher when compared to the average weight, or body fat percentage is higher than 25% from the standard percentage, then the children are classified as obese (Filozof et al, 2002). Most doctors evaluate a child for obesity only after they are around 3-4 years and do not consider fat children below 1-2 as obese. Nowadays, with the high rate of increase, obesity is considered as a medical condition that requires timely medical intervention. Traditionally, obesity is linked to the rate of metabolism, because it dep ends on the rate of the energy expenditure of the body. Therefore, the body slowly moves into the condition of obesity. One of the major issues with obesity in children is that it is very difficult to keep it in control and the process of getting the body to normal is gradual (Ogden, Carroll and Flegal). The primary negative effect of the condition of obesity is serious health threat that it brings along. Childhood is an period of life where the body grows and develops. The way in which this development happens determines the health in the future. However, in obese children many diseases that normally do not occur in children begin to surface. Conditions such as high blood pressure, palpitations, diabetes, which are chronic ailments start affecting children and limit the body’s capacity to grow and develop in a proper manner. It also has a high impact on the way in which both physiological and psychological development takes place in children (Berkowitz et al, 2003). Thus, th e body is not able to perform to its optimal level because of the high weight, causing an effect on the physical development of the body. Most people think that obesity can cause only physical problems for the child. While it is true that obese children are more likely to turn into obese adults who have an increased risk of heart diseases and strokes, it is also needs to be