Essay - Childhood Obesity Introduction One of the Most Significant Health Problems...

Childhood Obesity

Introduction

One of the most significant health problems seen in the United States is obesity. With***** th***** dynamic there are particular issues of special concern for the health c***** industry and society in general, most notably the exponential increase in obesity found among children. (Strauss, Pollack, 2001, pgs. 2845-2848) and (Troiano, Flegel, 1998, *****. 497-504) "Childhood obesity has more than doubled over the past 20 years, ***** it represents the most prevalent nutritional disease among youth in ***** United States." (Lowry, Wechsler, Galuska, Fulton, & Kann, 2002, pg. 1)

Though there are many other ***** faced by the ***** of America today ***** press on violence and relatively r***** though increasing incidences of it far outweighs the ***** on the issue of childhood obes*****y, a much more widespread and deadly problem. ***** is discussed through ***** overzealous and unrealistic body images of adults and young adults, as represented by the racially biased television and ***** media or through crazed and frenetic diet options ********** as if doctrine to countless seekers of unrealistic goals. What children ***** ***** alike learn from *****se views is decreased self-esteem and possibly after enough tries at ***** dieting, learned helplessness. (Davison & Birch, 2001, pg. 159)

Though his*****rically defining obesity among children has been a challenge, using growth charts and mean ***** fat density ratios has been a tool. For this work the definition will be governed by a ***** percentage rule. "A weight that exceeds ideal body weight by 20% defines childhood obesity. More than one fourth of children in ***** United ***** are considered clinically obese." (Sothern, Hunter, Suskind, Brown, Udall, Blecker, 1999, pg. 577) Factors associated with risk for obesity ***** many, ***** them, dietary intake, level ***** sedentary behavior vs. high physical activity, self-esteem, socioeconomic status, gender, insurance status and last but certainly not least race and ethnicity.

This study will focus on the problems ***** solutions as they associate to issue of obesity in children with spec*****ic emphasis on the growing Hispanic ethnic minority population. With increased ***** based solely on the isolated issue ***** ethnicity and the growth rate of this ethnic *****, (mostly Latinos of Mexican decent) especially in California race must be considered as one of ***** most important of all factors ***** with risk for obesity and ***** its health consequences. One cultural aspect, being the overall acceptance or the perception by certain cultures of overweight as *****y. (Maynard, Galuska, Blanck, Serdula, *****03, pgs 1-17)

Though race can certainly not be altered, factors especially ***** to racial minorities ***** be addressed carefully and ***** must include interventions that are navigable for those at greatest *****. Be it physical or environmental ***** challenges faced ***** Latino Ameri***** youth are ***** but ***** is clearly more *****, dangerous and ***** than gang *****. "O*****sity is the most widespread and severe nutritional problem of children in the United States, with prevalence rates that vary greatly by ethnic group. Rates are generally *****est for *****...*****." (Crawd*****d, S*****ry, Wang,