Causes and Effects of Childhood Obesity
Childhood obesity is a growing problem in our society. The number of obese children has more than doubled over the past 20 years, and is currently the most common nutritional disease among children in the US. (1,2) Children today are not as active as children 20 or so years ago. The number one cause is watching television.
One main thing that has changed from then to now is the use and abuse of television. 20 years ago, television was seen as special. Most families limited the shows, and with this, the times spend in front of the TV. Television viewing has become one of the most important activities for children. For example, if my kids could have their way, they would watch TV as soon as they walk into the door. During the school week, we limit the amount of television our children are allowed to watch. On the weekends however, they turn on the TV as soon as they wake up and watch all day. (I did a little study on my own kids over the past 2 weekends.) Watching TV includes not only viewing what is on the different channels, but it includes playing video games and playing on the computer. If my kids could have their way, they would look into a TV or computer screen 24/7. Talking to my kids, I ask them what they do when they go over to a friend's house and more times than not the answer is watch TV or play video games. My older son is battling with obesity and has been for some time. He much rather sits at home and watches TV than go outside and play. My younger child is different. He is a lot more active and spends almost equal times watching TV and running around.
Another big problem with childhood obesity is the poor food choices most of the kids and their parents make. Our society is preoccupied with food. Each year thousands of new food products are introduced to the market and we, the consumers, want more foods that are new. 5500 new food products were introduced in 1985 and in 1995, 17 000 new food products flooded the market. (3) Starting as early as age two, the messages children receive about food change drastically. Children become targets of advertisements for many unhealthy foods. It is estimated that children are exposed to 10 000 advertisements per year, 95% of which are for fast foods, candy, sugary cereal and sodas. (4) The manufacturers do not necessarily care about the nutritional value of the foods they are advertising. Food advertising geared towards children is mostly high in fat and calories. To advertise their products they use the kids' favorite television characters to sell their product. Patents want to please their children and often times they end up buying the foods the kids ask for. Many times when we are in the supermarket, my kids ask me for a certain type of cereal or candy because it has one of their favorite characters on it. Unfortunately for them, they usually do not get it, just for that reason.
Many times, the kids will eat so called ‘snack foods' uncontrollably. They munch while they watch TV and pay no attention to the amount of food they take in. The formula is simple: food intake + inactivity = obesity. Now more then ever do parents have to get involved in their children's nutritional eating habits.
Childhood Obesity Running Out of Control
Childhood Obesity Running Out of Control
The effects of childhood obesity reach far into adulthood. Many children develop eating disorders early on. A lot of them will go on and off diets for the rest of their lives. Some develop life-threatening eating disorders like anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa. Either one of these two diseases can be fatal. Peer pressure is often times the trigger for these unhealthy ways to loose weight. ‘A classic study conducted in the early 1960s, instructed children to rank six pictures of children varying in physical characteristics and disabilities in order to of who they would like most for a friend. The picture of the obese child was ranked last among pictures of children with crutches, in a wheelchair, with an amputated hand and with a facial disfigurement.' (6) This has not changed in the last 40 years. Obese children are still the last ones picked for teams and they are made fun of. I myself have been obese my whole life and I had to endure many cruelties over the years and it seems that people, including children, are even more intolerant toward the obese.
The fact that obese children are made fun of and looked down on by their peers and adults, leads to depression and a low self-esteem. It is very hard to overcome those things. Other effects of not just childhood obesity but obesity in general are numerous health issues. ‘More than 60% of overweight children have at least one additional risk factor for cardiovascular disease, such as elevated blood pressure, hyperlipidemia, or hyperinsulinemia.' (7) Diabetes is also on the rise in obese children.
Parents need to take responsibility and educate their children about the dangers of childhood obesity. Parents should limit the amount of television their children watch and make sure their kids are being more active.
Sources:
1. Ogden Cl, Flegal KM, Carroll MD, Johnson CL. Prevalence and trends in overweight among US children and adolescents, 1999-2000. JAMA. 2002;288:1728-1732.
2. Troiano RP, Flegal KM. Overweight children and adolescents: description, epidemiology, and demographics. Pediatrics.1998;101:497-504.
3. Gallo AE. (1996). The Food Marketing System in 1995. US Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, Food and Consumer Economics Division. Agriculture Information Bulleting no. 731 [WWW document.] URL http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/AIB731.pdf.
4. Horgen KB, Choate M, Brownell KD. Television food advertising: Targeting children in a toxic environment. In: Singer DG, Singer JL (eds). Handbook of Children and the Media. Sage: Thousand Oaks, CA, 2001, pp 447-461.
5. Collins A. The Best Value Weight Loss Diet Program on the Internet. 2002-2004. URL http://www.annecollins.com/obesity/statistics-obesity.htm.
6. Richardson SA, Goodman N, Hastorf AH, Dornbusch SM. Cultural uniformity in reaction to physical disabilities. Am Social Rev 1961; 26: 241-47.
7. Freedman DS, Dietz WH, Scrinivasan SR, Berenson GS. The relation of overweight to cardiovascular risk factors among children and adolescents: the Bogalusa Heart Study. Pediatrics.1990; 103: 1175-1182.
One main thing that has changed from then to now is the use and abuse of television. 20 years ago, television was seen as special. Most families limited the shows, and with this, the times spend in front of the TV. Television viewing has become one of the most important activities for children. For example, if my kids could have their way, they would watch TV as soon as they walk into the door. During the school week, we limit the amount of television our children are allowed to watch. On the weekends however, they turn on the TV as soon as they wake up and watch all day. (I did a little study on my own kids over the past 2 weekends.) Watching TV includes not only viewing what is on the different channels, but it includes playing video games and playing on the computer. If my kids could have their way, they would look into a TV or computer screen 24/7. Talking to my kids, I ask them what they do when they go over to a friend's house and more times than not the answer is watch TV or play video games. My older son is battling with obesity and has been for some time. He much rather sits at home and watches TV than go outside and play. My younger child is different. He is a lot more active and spends almost equal times watching TV and running around.
Another big problem with childhood obesity is the poor food choices most of the kids and their parents make. Our society is preoccupied with food. Each year thousands of new food products are introduced to the market and we, the consumers, want more foods that are new. 5500 new food products were introduced in 1985 and in 1995, 17 000 new food products flooded the market. (3) Starting as early as age two, the messages children receive about food change drastically. Children become targets of advertisements for many unhealthy foods. It is estimated that children are exposed to 10 000 advertisements per year, 95% of which are for fast foods, candy, sugary cereal and sodas. (4) The manufacturers do not necessarily care about the nutritional value of the foods they are advertising. Food advertising geared towards children is mostly high in fat and calories. To advertise their products they use the kids' favorite television characters to sell their product. Patents want to please their children and often times they end up buying the foods the kids ask for. Many times when we are in the supermarket, my kids ask me for a certain type of cereal or candy because it has one of their favorite characters on it. Unfortunately for them, they usually do not get it, just for that reason.
Many times, the kids will eat so called ‘snack foods' uncontrollably. They munch while they watch TV and pay no attention to the amount of food they take in. The formula is simple: food intake + inactivity = obesity. Now more then ever do parents have to get involved in their children's nutritional eating habits.
Childhood Obesity Running Out of Control
- 4% overweight 1982 | 16% overweight 1994
- 25% of all white children overweight 2001
- 33% African American and Hispanic children overweight 2001
- Hospital costs associated with childhood obesity rising from $35 Million (1979) to $127 Million (1999)
Childhood Obesity Running Out of Control
- New study suggests one in four overweight children is already showing early signs of type II diabetes (impaired glucose intolerance)
- 60% already have one risk factor for heart disease (5)
The effects of childhood obesity reach far into adulthood. Many children develop eating disorders early on. A lot of them will go on and off diets for the rest of their lives. Some develop life-threatening eating disorders like anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa. Either one of these two diseases can be fatal. Peer pressure is often times the trigger for these unhealthy ways to loose weight. ‘A classic study conducted in the early 1960s, instructed children to rank six pictures of children varying in physical characteristics and disabilities in order to of who they would like most for a friend. The picture of the obese child was ranked last among pictures of children with crutches, in a wheelchair, with an amputated hand and with a facial disfigurement.' (6) This has not changed in the last 40 years. Obese children are still the last ones picked for teams and they are made fun of. I myself have been obese my whole life and I had to endure many cruelties over the years and it seems that people, including children, are even more intolerant toward the obese.
The fact that obese children are made fun of and looked down on by their peers and adults, leads to depression and a low self-esteem. It is very hard to overcome those things. Other effects of not just childhood obesity but obesity in general are numerous health issues. ‘More than 60% of overweight children have at least one additional risk factor for cardiovascular disease, such as elevated blood pressure, hyperlipidemia, or hyperinsulinemia.' (7) Diabetes is also on the rise in obese children.
Parents need to take responsibility and educate their children about the dangers of childhood obesity. Parents should limit the amount of television their children watch and make sure their kids are being more active.
Sources:
1. Ogden Cl, Flegal KM, Carroll MD, Johnson CL. Prevalence and trends in overweight among US children and adolescents, 1999-2000. JAMA. 2002;288:1728-1732.
2. Troiano RP, Flegal KM. Overweight children and adolescents: description, epidemiology, and demographics. Pediatrics.1998;101:497-504.
3. Gallo AE. (1996). The Food Marketing System in 1995. US Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, Food and Consumer Economics Division. Agriculture Information Bulleting no. 731 [WWW document.] URL http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/AIB731.pdf.
4. Horgen KB, Choate M, Brownell KD. Television food advertising: Targeting children in a toxic environment. In: Singer DG, Singer JL (eds). Handbook of Children and the Media. Sage: Thousand Oaks, CA, 2001, pp 447-461.
5. Collins A. The Best Value Weight Loss Diet Program on the Internet. 2002-2004. URL http://www.annecollins.com/obesity/statistics-obesity.htm.
6. Richardson SA, Goodman N, Hastorf AH, Dornbusch SM. Cultural uniformity in reaction to physical disabilities. Am Social Rev 1961; 26: 241-47.
7. Freedman DS, Dietz WH, Scrinivasan SR, Berenson GS. The relation of overweight to cardiovascular risk factors among children and adolescents: the Bogalusa Heart Study. Pediatrics.1990; 103: 1175-1182.
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