Obesity: Obesity and et Al. Essay

Submitted By Gilgermesh
Words: 2099
Pages: 9
Open Document
The Enduring Effects of Childhood Obesity in Western Societies.
Psyc 213 Lifespan Development Psychology

Obesity is the major threat to children’s health and development in industrialised countries Abstract

Childhood obesity has become an epidemic in the industrialised world. This has resulted in an increased risk of a number of chronic diseases such as heart disease, insulin resistant and type 2 diabetes and some cancers. In addition there are respiratory and skin disorders and musculoskeletal issues which adversely affect those suffering from the complications of obesity. Further compounding these physiological issues are the negative sociocultural attitudes in western society towards overweight people. Obese children are subjected to bullying, teasing, discrimination and social exclusion. The psychological impact of these harmful experiences can include body dissatisfaction, low self-esteem, depression, anxiety and eating disorders. On a basic level weight gain occurs when more calories are consumed than are expended. In the industrialised world, there are many environmental factors that corrode healthy lifestyle choices; with less opportunities for physical activity for children and an increase in availability of high fat, nutrient deficient food.

The prevalence of obesity is increasing worldwide. In the last two decades the number of obese people worldwide has surged to 1.4 billion, and has been described as a global epidemic, (World Health Organisation, [WHO] 2013). According to a new report from the Washington DC based research organization, the Worldwatch Institute, the number of overweight people has surpassed the number of underweight people for the first time in the history of the world (Gardner & Halwell, 2000). Additionally, the prevalence of childhood obesity has increased considerably in the past 20yrs; fast developing into an alarming global pandemic (Gardner et al, 2000). The World Health Organisation reported more than 40 million children under the age of five to be overweight in 2013 (WHO, 2013). Weight gain and obesity pose a growing threat to health in industrialised countries, and are increasingly becoming a concern in developing countries. It is a persistent disease, affecting children as well as adults and has began to replace infectious disease, among other health concerns, as one of the most significant contributors to poor health (Deckelbaum & Williams, 2001). Obesity is associated with many chronic diseases, such as heart disease, hypertension, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes and some forms of cancer.
Alarmingly, obesity in childhood is a key predictor for obesity in adulthood (Deckelbaum, et al., 2001); because of this, an increase in childhood obesity is clearly a major contributor to the adult obesity epidemic. Moreover, according to Deckelbaum, et al (2001), “morbidity and mortality in the adult population is increased in individuals who were overweight in adolescence” (para. 2, p. 239S), even if the excess weight is lost during adulthood. The perseverance of childhood obesity into adulthood increase in accordance to the age obesity is reached (Goran, 1999). Data from the NSW government (2012) states that 25-50 percent of obese children progress into adult obesity, rising sharply to as high as 78 percent in older obese adolescents.
There are additional social and psychological consequences for overweight and obese children and adolescents. A number of studies have shown that obese children are often stigmatised, subjected to negative stereotyping, teasing, exclusion, bullying and discrimination by their peers; experiences which are associated with low self-esteem, body dissatisfaction, eating disorders, anxiety and depression, in addition to behavioural issues (Braet, Mervielde and Vandereycken, 1997). The psychological stress associated with the stigmatism of obesity may be as damaging as the physical morbidities (Braet, et al., 1997). In terms of social
Show More

Related Documents: Obesity: Obesity and et Al. Essay

HSCI 211 ESSAY

of picking and choosing certain aspects and essentially risk factors to our health and improving those. The relative lack of focus on health and shift to unhealthy behaviors has contributed to the increasing worldwide prevalence of both obesity and diabetes. Obesity is of great public health importance, as it has become a worldwide epidemic and is a major cause of comorbidities, including type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease and various other health problems that can cause further mortality and…

Words 2303 - Pages 10

panera swot Essay

studies regarding its relation to obesity and depression (Leventhal et al., 2010). It discussed the relationships between tobacco use, obesity and depression by carrying out a population based survey of 41,654 adults (Leventhal et al., 2010). The data illustrated that tobacco use is very common in women with major depression and victims of obesity, in comparison with women who are non-smokers, but are still victims of major depression and obesity (Leventhal et al., 2010). The study will explain the…

Words 514 - Pages 3

Obesity: Obesity and Children Essay

Childhood Obesity: Role of Parents A. Literature Review 1. Parent’s Responsibilities: Parents are decision makers for their children’s nutrition and activity. Parents make eating choices, keep an eye on their sedentary behaviors, and connect children in physical and social activities. Parents are responsible for the behavior and health of their children. They have a strong influence over children’s habits, behaviors, physical activity and essentially over what they eat mainly in early age…

Words 740 - Pages 3

Government Influence On Childhood Obesity

three decades, the prevalence of obesity among children in Michigan has more than doubled and quadrupled among adolescents (The National Institute for Health Care Management, 2016). Obesity cuts across income, ethnic, religion, and racial strata. As a result, it is a serious issue that requires immediate and heightened attention, especially due to its debilitating consequences on children and society at large. Childhood obesity has been linked with adulthood obesity and chronic diseases including hypertension…

Words 1171 - Pages 5

Community Paper2010

Services, obesity has dramatically increased in the US over the past twenty years (http:// www.cdc.gov). Each year over 300,000 US adults die from obesity related causes (http:// www.cdc.gov). A leading health indicator for Healthy People 2020 is overweight and obesity (http://www.healthypeople.gov/HP2020). As of 2008, 33.8% of the US health population is considered obese by a BMI of thirty or greater. 32.2% of those obese people are men and 35.5% are women (http:// www.cdc.gov). Obesity is a widespread…

Words 3529 - Pages 15

Essay on AutoRecovery Save Of Childhood Diabetes Type 2

NR 506 Policy In my experience there have been an increasing amount of younger patients experiencing largely environmentally influenced conditions such as hypertension, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus type 2 or T2DM, obesity, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease (Hernandez, Marcus, Hirst, Faith, Goldberg, & Treviño, 2014). Although all of these disorders demand attention my policy priority issue will focus on the primary introduction of lifestyle modifications to combat…

Words 1153 - Pages 5

Obesity: Genetic Precise Genes

Obesity is a deteriorating condition that leads to many chronic diseases such diabetes, heart failure, and high blood pressure. Consequently, scientists are in desperate need to understand and develop an effective treatment that will decrease the heightened numbers of obesity. While no specific gene therapy currently exists for the treatment of obesity, it is however considered to be the next “cure” for obesity. So could gene therapy be the solution of this epidemic or are we simply safer to adhere…

Words 745 - Pages 3

Childhood Obesity Research Paper

Childhood obesity has been a major public health crisis in the United States in recent years as the prevalence of childhood obesity has increased tremendously in modern times. Many factors played a role in the rise of childhood obesity in the United States in modern times, and there are many factors which cause childhood obesity including genetic, behavioral, and environmental factors (Karnik & Kanekar, 1). Many health care professionals, policy experts, children's advocates, and parents have "grave…

Words 1498 - Pages 6

Leptin Synthesis

part in the regulation of body weight. (Coll et al. 2007) The topics that will be discussed pertaining to leptin and the mutations of the gene include the experiments conducted to discover leptin and its role in obesity, as well as the comparison between the leptin receptor mutation and its effects on…

Words 628 - Pages 3

Childhood Obesity Essay

Running head: CHILDHOOD OBESITY Childhood Obesity The rising prevalence of childhood obesity in most developed countries is well recognized, as are the many short- and long-term complications that can occur as a result. Children who carry excess weight have difficulties with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, sleep apnea, mobility, joint deterioration, poor physical fitness, difficulties with breathing…

Words 3036 - Pages 13