Childhood Obesity
John Heffner
What is Childhood Obesity?
It is a serious medical condition that affects children and adolescents. It occurs when a child is well above the normal weight for his or her age and height.
Some Important Vocabulary
Obese: Very fat or overweight
Epidemic: Rapid spread or increase in the occurrence of something
Nutrition: The process of providing or obtaining the food necessary for health and growth
Why and how has Childhood Obesity become such a worldwide epidemic in the recent decades?
The core answer is we have changed the types and quantities of food we eat, reduced physical activity, and we are engaged in more passive-leisure time pursuits.
A rise in the availability of soft drinks and other sugary beverages to children in places like schools are also a key contributor.
Who is affected by Childhood obesity?
Childhood obesity predominantly affects children and adolescents between the ages of 2 to 19. All ethnicites are affected. Although some ethnicities are affected more than others. African American children have a 19% obesity rate, Hispanic children have an obesity rate of 16%, and Mexican-American and Native American children are believed to have a 35-40% rate of being overweight.
The greatest rate of childhood obesity occurs in children between the ages of 6 and 11. Followed by adolescents aged 12-19, and lastly toddlers aged 2 to 5.
Help and Treatment
There are several types of treatment for childhood obesity. Along with many online and in person support groups, there are several types of surgical procedures including but not limited to gastric bypass, duodenal switch, and laproscopic adjustable gastric binding.
Locally, there are many obesity therapists for children in the Albany area as well as The Albany Internist Doctors For Obesity. These are doctors who specialize in internal medicine and can specialize in obesity.
Work Cited
"Child Obesity Prevention." YouTube.com. YouTube, n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2016. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHNVoHyl_zs>.
"Childhod Obesity Vocab Flashcards." Quizlet.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2016. <https://quizlet.com/728654/childhood-obesity-vocab-flash-cards/>.
"Childhood Obesity." Mayoclinic.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2016. <http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/childhood-obesity/basics/definition/con-20027428>.
"Childhood Overweight." Obesity.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2016. <http://www.obesity.org/obesity/resources/facts-about-obesity/childhood-overweight>.
"Childhood+obesity - Google Search." Google.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2016. <https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1440&bih=805&q=Childhood%2Bobesity&oq=Childhood%2Bobesity&gs_l=img.3...3562.7628.0.7797.17.6.0.11.0.0.132.644.3j3.6.0....0...1ac.1.64.img..0.5.521.qhrQe8w_qR8#imgdii=97Ur_OvkXgtopM%3A%3B97Ur_OvkXgtopM%3A%3BLqea-82foVHZkM%3A&imgrc=97Ur_OvkXgtopM%3A>.
"Childhood+obesity - Google Search." Google.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2016. <https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1440&bih=805&q=Childhood%2Bobesity&oq=Childhood%2Bobesity&gs_l=img.3...3562.7628.0.7797.17.6.0.11.0.0.132.644.3j3.6.0....0...1ac.1.64.img..0.5.521.qhrQe8w_qR8#imgrc=fDCauEvYPFyQDM%3A>.
"Albany NY Internist Doctors." MedicineNet.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2016. <http://www.medicinenet.com/obesity_weight_loss/albany-ny_city.htm>.
"Learn The Facts." Let's Move.gov. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2016. <http://www.letsmove.gov/learn-facts/epidemic-childhood-obesity>.
"The Nation’s Childhood Obesity Epidemic: Health Disparities in the Making." Apa.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2016. <http://www.apa.org/pi/families/resources/newsletter/2012/07/childhood-obesity.aspx>.
"Nutrition Definition." Google.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2016. <https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=nutrition+definition>.
"Types of Weight Loss Surgery." Google.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2016. <https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=types+of+weight+loss+surgery>.