Another Solution...

Another solutions would be taking this into the hands of the parents. It is very significant that the parents have a knowing hand when it comes to this epidemic hitting so close to home or within the household. It is not enough to regulate the activities in school but it is also important that parents take control of what their children eat, how their children make decisions, their children’s eating habits, and how active they are in the household setting. If the government would run educational programs, classes, or even just try to educate the public about the effects of obesity and their concerns, more and more parents would consider changing their lifestyles in order to benefit the health as well as their children’s health. Doctors and nutritionist believe that the only solution to this epidemic is to address the problem at school and at home.



The government takes one of the most significant roles in resolving this issue of childhood obesity. If the government or the Obama administration took this issue at hand and decided these changes would greatly benefit the childhood obesity level in the United States major changes would occur. First the Obama administration needs to regulate the lunches served in schools across the nation so that students are not tempted with fatty, unhealthy foods that could really affect the health of the students. Once the soda and snack machines are removed as well then children are less likely to be tempted with such food choices that might cause future complications such as heart disease and high blood pressure. And if the government decides to take these actions, they could lead to other aspects such as educating children and parents about healthy eating habits and sports activities. Having parents support this movement will really affect the decline in the number of obese children in the United States. Parents also have a tremendous role in the movement to reduce obesity. Parents are the ones that have the ability to change their children’s eating habits or maintain the ones that they have. If the parents and schools reduce the amount of unhealthy food then children are less likely to have easy access to such foods. Basically, the government, schools, and parents are the most influential pieces in these children’s lives and taking these steps would really affect the progress of making a healthier America.

The Obama administration is working hard in making unhealthy food a taboo or having consequences if you do. They are posing to ban all candy and soda in the nation’s schools so that children do not have immediate access to junk food and sugary drinks (that may be causing the childhood obesity levels steadily increase). The Obama administration is making unhealthy foods a sin and everyone buying them will be punished with higher taxes on them. But that is not all, Americans would be rewarded for buying healthier food that do not contain artificial chemicals and processed foods with a cheaper buy and lower taxes. The Obama administration is seeking mothers to buy healthier food for their children in order to address this issue of American childhood obesity.

Resources (ASA):
1. Monaghan, Erin. “Signs and Solutions to Childhood Obesity.” Top Ten Reviews. 2010. April 1, 2010.
(http://online-diet-services-review.toptenreviews.com/signs-and-solutions-to-childhood-obesity.html).
3. “Encouraging Healthier Eating Habits By Taxing Unhealthy Foods.” 2010. Medical News Today. Retrieved March 4, 2010.
(http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/180429.php).

One Solution That Can Be Taken...

According to the American Obesity Association there are two main factors in childhood obesity. The lack of physical activity in children’s lives is a factor. “Children spend more time in front of the television, computer and video console and less time playing sports, riding bikes or chasing butterflies.” An average child spends more than 27 hours a week in front of a television. The second key factor is poor eating habits based on environment. “Children develop poor eating habits by eating high calorie foods while watching TV and eating when they are not hungry.” “Studies show that children’s exposure at home and their lifestyles include over exposure to advertising for fast food, poor parental examples or socioeconomic status. Low-income families are more likely to buy cheap, unhealthy, processed foods as opposed to healthy, natural foods. “



One possible solution to this childhood obesity epidemic is for the government to make suggestions, guidelines, and regulations on improving the life styles on the children in the United States. The government should regulate schools to begin encouraging active and healthy lifestyles. First by removing soda and candy machines from the hallways in the school and “providing USDA approved school lunches” (which consists on meals that contain the five major food groups, is reduced in fat, and are using more and more natural and healthy foods) and making an more active physical program for students throughout the day or during gym sessions. Basically this is a way to promote active lifestyles and healthy eating habits in and out of school, so kids can utilize these qualities anywhere they go and at home as well.

I do believe there will be changes in this epidemic if we start from the beginning and make our way to the top. I think the best solution as of now is to cut off all soda and candy machines in schools and provide schools with government approved school lunches that are low in calories (fat), and made with healthy and natural foods. Children spend 7-8 hours in school, even more if they are involved in after school activities and sports. So for children to be not tempted to eat unhealthy foods during a majority of their time spent awake the government should regulate what is served and sold within the schools. This will help promote healthier eating habits and allow for children to build the skills needed to regulate their own food choices. This may also lead into finding foods at home or in the store that are similar to that of school lunches or parents maybe become active in the government’s goal to reduce the obesity levels in children. I think this will be an easy task to achieve because which parent would deny the government from making the school lunches healthier and allow for junk food to be banned from schools. In all honestly little people would even consider rejecting the idea. This is the most workable solution because it does not require extraneous amounts of resources say creating programs and educational classes would make.

Resources (ASA):
1. Monaghan, Erin. “Signs and Solutions to Childhood Obesity.” Top Ten Reviews. 2010. April 1, 2010. (http://online-diet-services-review.toptenreviews.com/signs-and-solutions-to-childhood-obesity.html).

Starts early in life...

The path to obesity starts early in life, possible even at the age of 2. Although we may consider a little chubby baby to be cute and sweet having a bit plump infants may lead to seriously high risks of health problems such as diabetes, high cholesterol, and blood pressure. The article claims that if parents don’t take a hold on their child’s obesity early in life that may lead to serious health issues later in life. Specialist say that doctors need to address obesity issues with parents of infants that are overweight or obese because this may prevent serious issues later on as well. This article really highlights how child obesity is a social problem and how parents should really consider prevention from unhealthy habits and begin to consider these issues before there are medical complications and treatment involved.


An article foundered upon a 21-year prospective study of 100,000 American children and understanding the role of environmental factors on the development of obesity was written. In the study done obesity in an individual is caused by and imbalance between energy intake and expenditure and the understanding of how to control the factors in the environment and chemical exposures that may have the ability to disrupt the link between energy intake and expenditure. The study also shows that behavioral change is critical in the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity, but the study states that just understanding how to modify behavior to increase energy expenditure and/or reduce caloric intake in individual children have had limited success in sustaining weight loss and/or prevention of obesity. This study shows that not only understanding the cause and longing factor of obesity can change the ability for children to change their habits, only with the intervention from parents will obese children be able to have some hopes in finding themselves not obese.



Resources:
1. Trasande, Leonardo. “Environment and Obesity in the National Children’s Study.” Environmental; Health Perspectives, Vol. 117, No. 2 (Feb. 2009), pp. 159-166. Retrieved March 4, 2010.
(http://www.jstor.org/pss/25434919).
2. “Path to obesity may begin before age 2: Doctors may need to address weight problems in infants.” 2010. MSNBC. Retrieved March 4, 2010.
(http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35352934/ns/health-kids_and_parenting/).
3. http://www.scientificamerican.com/media/inline/obesity-insulin-resistance-organic-pollutants-fat-diet_1.jpg
4. http://imway2fat.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/fat-baby-2.jpg

Who needs to know...

The studies shows that parents that are full-time workers tend to favor prepared, commercial, processed food items are quick and easy to make which tend to be high in fat and sodium which could lead to high blood pressure, high cholesterol level as well as heart disease. It was also shown that parents that are concerned about their children’s nutritional needs and had specific attitudes toward mealtimes made a significant difference in their children’s weight. Parental control of their children’s eating showed a definite positive association and caused less risk of child being overweight. This study allows for an understanding and hope for the future generation of children if parents are made vital aspects in a child’s diet and consumption which may lead to a progress in the stride to make a healthier America.


The target audiences I will be addressing are the parents of children (overweight, obese, children, etc). Demographically speaking this issue of obesity and weight (leading into female body image) should affect our local communities and concerned persons that would like there to be a move to raising a healthier generation of children (The White House). An example of a well-known figure who is supporting this move is First Lady Michelle Obama and her stride to work alongside the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to “help Americans lead healthier lives through better nutrition, regular physical activity, and by encouraging communities to support healthy choices” (Rural Assistance Center). Along with the First Lady and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, parents are a key audience to address here because they hold the resources and attention to implement and make better choices for the children (that may affect there take on diet, food, body image, health, etc). According to the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, “about 37 percent of American children are overweight, and about 16 percent of children ages 2 to 19 are obese” (msnbc). Researchers say that the “tipping point” in obesity occurs before a child reaches the age of 2 and as early as three months (msnbc). So, parents are the key in implementing a healthy eating style early on in life. With much support behind her the first lady has kicked off a national campaign to fight the problem that could possibly affect numerous aspects of our society - school food (ie. vending machines), parents, children, food industries, etc.

From studies done by the University Medical Centre Groningen almost half of the mothers with obese 4 or 5 year-olds considered their children as having a normal weight for their age, with a comparable 39 percent according to fathers. The study shows that parents are more likely to put their children in a lower weight group then in actuality. This article works to illuminate my topic because it gives a clear concept that parents are choosing not to consider their child’s obesity as not a problem and in grand scale a social problem that more and more children are being considered obese/overweight. Although 97% of the parents studied stated that they could influence their children’s’ eating habits, little considered changing their food choices. Most parents that were studied were either indifferent about the child’s weight or chose not to think of their child’s weight as a problem.

Resources:
1. Gable, Sara and Lutz, Susan. “Household, Parent, and Child Contributions to Childhood Obesity.” Family Relations, Vol. 49, No. 3 (July 2000), pp. 293-300. Retrieved March 4, 2010.
(http://www.jstor.org/stable/585894?&Search=yes&term=child&term=obesity&list=hide&searchUri=%2Faction%2FdoBasicSearch%3FQuery%3Dchild%2Bobesity%26gw%3Djtx%26prq%3Dpressures%2Bto%2Bbe%2Bthin%26Search%3DSearch%26hp%3D25%26wc%3Don&item=1&ttl=6062&returnArticleService=showArticle).
2. “HHS Secretary and Surgeon General Join First Lady to Announce Plans to Combat Overweight and Obesity and Support Healthy Choices”. 2010. Rural Assistance Center. Retrieved February 17, 2010.
(http://www.raconline.org/news/news_details.php?news_id=12987).
3. “Path to obesity may begin before age 2: Doctors may need to address weight problems in infants.” 2010. msnbc. Retrieved February 17, 2010.
(http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35352934/ns/health-kids_and_parenting/)
4. “First Lady Michelle Obama Launches Let's Move: America's Move to Raise a Healthier Generation of Kids”. 2010. The White House. Retrieved February 17, 2010.
(http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/first-lady-michelle-obama-launches-lets-move-americas-move-raise-a-healthier-genera)
5. “Majority of Parents Don’t Realize Their 4 or 5 Year-Olds Are Overweight or Obese.” 2010. Medical News Today. Retrieved March 4, 2010.
(http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/177472.php).
6. http://fitzees.com/images/obese_teens.jpg
7. http://repairstemcell.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/heartnice.jpg

Child Obesity a Social Problem.

The social problem being discussed is how child obesity (overweight) has become a social problem in the United States and how we need to take matters into our own hands and stride to “help Americans lead healthier lives through better nutrition, regular physical activity, and by encouraging communities to support healthy choices” as First Lady Obama would say (Rural Assistance Center). There was a shocking statistic according to the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention that stated, “about 37 percent of American children are overweight, and about 16 percent of children ages 2 to 19 are obese” (msnbc). Which shows that there is an incredible amount of improvement and life changes that needs to be made for the American people and their children. We need to strive for a healthier generation for children in the US.

Childhood obesity is considered a serious problem. Childhood obesity may raise risks of future heart disease and stroke, even in the absence of other cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure. From a new study done by The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM). The study states that there are unhealthy consequences of excess body fat which starts very early in a child’s life. The study also showed that obesity in children are linked to certain abnormalities in the blood that can possibly predispose individuals to develop cardiovascular diseases early in their adulthood. This study also shows that early childhood obesity may alone lead to even greater concerns that may affect adulthood and put children at a higher risk of cardiovascular disease.


U.S. children eat on average three snacks a day and this is on top of three full regular meals. The childhood obesity rate is rising to more than 16 percent and researchers are saying that snacking is a very vital aspect in these rates. Researchers have found that children are constantly snacking on high calorie filled snacks and that they rack up about 27% of calories from this. This is one of the reasons First Lady Obama is concerned about the fate of the children in America. Healthcare is rising and more illnesses are related to obesity, she wants this “epidemic” to stop on its tracks. First lady Obama feels that if there is less access to such foods and snacks that are unhealthy then there are higher hopes that children will decide on healthier alternatives.

Resources (ASA style):

1. “Childhood Obesity Alone May Increase Risk Of Later Cardiovascular Disease.” 2010. Medical News Today. Retrieved March 4, 2010.
(http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/177166.php).
2. “Snacks turn kids into ‘constant’ eaters”. 2010. MSNBC. Retrieved March 4, 2010.
(http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35660330/ns/health-diet_and_nutrition/).
3. http://www.weight-loss-trust.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/causes-of-childhood-obesity.jpg
4. http://www.eurweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/MichelleObama-HulaHoop2.jpg

Childhood obesity ends.... now!