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Noe Vasquez; Christina Meza; Sandra Zamora RNSG 1210.

2001 March 9, 2013 Project Research Paper; Rough Draft


Obliging Childhood Obesity Childhood obesity is a remarkable disputable topic that has slowly progressed into becoming a nationwide pandemic. Across the United States, controversies related to this epidemic are occurring, as countless professionals are eager to share their input and opinions into what has undoubtedly taken the population by storm. Since we began to research this thought provoking topic, daily assessment has become almost a habit, as we have found ourselves evaluating and analyzing the general public as we go about our daily lives. With just over a few weeks of visual observance, we have concluded that there are definitely a large percentage of children that appear to be overweight within the communities that surround us. As the project continued, methods of further assessment, interventions, and ideas of prevention began to flood our notes and our minds as we agreed to dedicate genuine interest and care in our topic of childhood obesity. Obesity is classified as being at or above the ninety fifth percentile in relation to the Body Mass Index (BMI), which is a method used for calculating percentage of body fat. Children across this great nation are experiencing an increase in risk, for various reasons, to obesity. The fact that children are young people places them at an especially vulnerable level within any society, as children are primarily predisposed for a number of vulnerabilities as related to incomplete immunity, indirect control of nutrition intake, and inability to fully care for self. Children rely greatly on parents, guardians, and adults for much of what is needed on a regular day to day basis for daily living necessities. Children are mostly dependant for many of the activities of daily living, which further increases and potentiates overall vulnerability. They eat what is easily and readily available to them, and almost all the time without consideration for nutrition. The increased poverty rate and inability to obtain nutritious food by parents or guardians is yet another contributing factor to the viscous nutritious cycle. An interesting fact that is

allowing children to become vulnerable to obesity is the health status of the family, in particular the parents. Recent statistics shows that obesity has dramatically exploded in the last decade across America. Data from the most recent National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which is routinely conducted by the Centers for Disease Control, indicates that over thirty five percent of adults in the United States are classified as obese. The collateral damage of having over one third of the population in this state can be alarming. Parental obesity has been suspected as being a leading risk factor for childhood obesity. The risk factor is related to genetic, social, cultural, socioeconomic, and environmental factors as passed down to offspring. Numerous research projects have shown a strong correlation between obese parents and subsequent obese children. The end result is the ensuing obese child deriving with some disposition from the overweight parents. While examining such fascinating records, it becomes clearer to understand how easily the vulnerability of children for becoming obese is increased. The prevalence of childhood obesity across the United States is astounding. The most recent data available from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey indicates that a whopping seventeen percent of children fall within the category of obese. This places the actual figure of obese children to well over twelve million and counting. Of these numbers, boys had an increase occurrence of eighteen percent. Furthermore, over thirty seven percent of the remaining child population falls within the category of at risk for becoming overweight and obese. These statistics alone left our group speechless. Recently, the National Conference for State Legislators reported an incidence of over thirty two percent of children being obese within Texas. The Childrens Hospital of Texas depicts this as roughly one in three children. The Childhood Obesity in Texas Report goes on to describe how over half of these affected children are Hispanic, and how this number is expected to triple within the next thirty years. These statistics highlight the urgency of the occurrence of obesity in our great state. As our group reviewed these perplexing statistics, the importance of childhood obesity as our main idea became ever so clear as we continued to learn about some of the burdens associated with this ongoing virulent disease.

In more ways than one, childhood obesity continues to be an ever expanding assemblage. There is an equal number of increasing research being attributed to the phenomenon which has yielded the generation of a vast amount of data. The literature composed from this information is just as varied, but some areas seem to be of upmost importance. The overall cost of childrens health is skyrocketing, and many believe it is due to the associated illnesses secondary to obesity. One key finding includes the increased risk of metabolic syndrome associated with obesity. Metabolic syndrome, which includes issues with insulin resistance, increased cholesterol along with hypertension, is thought to be a precursor to chronic diseases in later adult life, which will undoubtedly increase health costs within this age group as well. It has been estimated that as obese children progress to becoming obese adults, overall medical costs are over forty percent higher when compared to non obese individuals. This ballooning trend will continue to affect the already fragile financial healthcare state as the growing numbers will pile on the stress to an evidently weak system. Adolescent and young adult depression and psychological issues and disorders have long been thought to be a direct result of childhood obesity. Social discrimination in early childhood is common for obese and overweight children, which can have subsequent negative impacts in the construction of self identity and self concept. These children are prone to developing an overall negative sense of self esteem and disparaging self worth directly derived from their body status and judgments passed by peers and professionals, such as teachers and coaches, alike. The social isolation that ensues is thought to lead to depression, which is reportedly on the rise in children and adolescence throughout the nation as well. All these issues combine to a heightened state of emotional distress that pilots to behavioral problems and ultimately, learning inconsistencies. Psychological illness and poor adaptations are now understood to have an equal or greater impact than the physiological issues of obesity of children and adolescence alike. ****This part of the paper will include information if we interview someone in relation to childhood obesity*** The challenges that children and their families face in overcoming obesity are ubiquitous. As we discussed some of these challenge to be confronted by this truly vulnerable population, we selected what

seems to be the most prevailing, which include the components and influences of nutritional intake, social stigmatization resulting from obesity, and the need for physical activity and exercise. In the following paragraphs, we will briefly discuss these topics as they relate to childhood obesity. A nutritious intake is vital in the attempt to control obesity throughout the lifespan, but it is significant within the early child and adolescent population. Children are currently faced with endless advertisements for food and snacks through television and marketing that is aimed directly to this particular population. Fast food giants have been known to push their televised commercials on to children by broadcasting at specific times when childrens network shows are on air. These commercials are many times customized and tweaked to grab the attention of children while providing some type of bonus of prize, usually consisting of games or toys included with the meal. The audience is captivated by these perks, which leads to the ultimate patronage to these companies by the families of the children. Inadvertently, these children become the victims of advertisement targeting by companies serving a mass of unhealthy food. Data shows that children are exposed to well over ten thousand fast food, candy, and sweet treat advertisements in any given year, and the numbers of this type of advertisement are climbing. It is of little surprise that a multitude of children at the pre-school level have brand preferences to fast foods, candies, and snacks. The advertising is obviously working all too well, leaving the child focused on unhealthy foods and snacks that lack nutritional value, which increases the overall risk for obesity. Researchers have determined that the overall societal stigmatization for obese children and adolescents is extremely prevalent. The societal significance for obesity seems to be very clear; it is bad to be obese or fat. Children seem to be much more prone to the thought that obesity is a reflection of character. Society has a tendency to stereotype obese children as being lazy, spoiled, lacking in parental and self discipline, and self indulgent. Negative attitudes that accompany these stereotypes have proved to initiate discrimination of some type against these children. There have been some noteworthy studies performed to evaluate the general view on obese children. One project found that obese children were viewed as less desirable overall as a companion or playmate when compared to a child of average height and weight as rated by children of the same age group. Information from another study involved

otherwise normal overweight children and other children who suffered some type of visually observable physical disability, such as an amputated limb or facial deformity. This venture found that when children were allowed to pick desirable friends and playmates from a variety of pictures of a variety of these children, the obese individuals were chosen last over other children who had the physical disabilities. Other data shows that pre-school children tend to view obese children of the same age as mean, ugly, and as having less value as a friend. The stigmatization does not stop at the peer level. Data gathered from recent projects has concluded that adult teachers in the junior high and high school level tend to view the obese adolescent as untidy, over emotional, and less likely to succeed. According to information available from a significant number of studies, the reality of peer and societal rejection of these children appears to be a common wide spread consequence of being obese, forming a truly unique challenge. As the burdens pile up on obese children, interventions are gravely needed to reduce the occurrence and improve the end result. As we have already seen, being an obese child will increase the incidence of a variety of challenges faced daily. The greatest of these challenges will be a constructive approach to proactively intervene. Routine, effective activity and exercise will prove to be the most rewarding challenge an obese child can face. Across this great land, plans are being formulated to help obese children overcome their detrimental health status. Recently, the First Lady Michelle Obama initiated a nationwide fight against childhood obesity. The project has been receiving a great deal of positive reviews, and is known as Lets Move. The plan can be found at http://www.letsmove.gov/getactive. Here, a database of health for obese children, their families, their school and community, is available as it provides in depth information, activity planners, exercise guides, and need to know essentials. The state of Texas provides well rounded education and interventions in exercise and activity for obese children with its program, The Nutrition, Physical Activity & Obesity Prevention Program (NPAOP). This curriculum provides science base activity and exercise interventions, among other effects, to the vulnerable group. Information for this exceptional program is provided free by the state, and can be found at http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/obesity/NPAOPprogrampage.shtm. There are a growing number of resources available to aid obese children and their families overcome this afflicting challenge.

By increasing physical activity and performing substantial exercise, good health can ultimately be returned to the children, which will increase the overall health of America. As a group, we identified a vast amount of different types of information regarding obese children. We have come to the poignant conclusion that there is a severe outbreak of childhood obesity. Interventions are a critical and essential component at this point. We have discussed some of the most alarming topics and shared some truly unbelievable statistics, but the facts remain rampant. The number of obese children in this nation is increasing drastically, and our local communities are in no way exempt. We must unite to continue to press and inform the general public as well as the leaders of our state so that interventions can increase and funding can be allocated to help rectify this epidemic of unhealthiness. This battle cannot be undertaken alone but by all who can become involved, as the future of our existence, our children, is at stake.

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