Childhood Obesity

Obesity:  One of the Most Disastrous Dilemmas Facing Children on the World Stage

It’s happening all around us, and some of us may not even realize the full extent to which it’s occurring. Children are losing enjoyable years of their lives, experiencing extreme disadvantages due to conditions outside their control. In extreme case children are dying each day due to deadly diseases that the Western world has seemingly forgotten about.

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Habits developed during childhood are often maintained throughout one’s entire life. With that said, in 1980 only 7% of Americanchildren were obese; in 2010 that number had risen to 20%. Obesity itself is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, social and psychological problems, bone and joint problems, several types of cancers, and many other non-communicable diseases. This is of especially high concern, as the global burden of disease is making an epidemiological shift to the side of non-communicable diseases in recent years.

With all of the conditions and diseases that obesity can cause there is a huge strain put on health care systems economically. Many health care systems are already strapped for cash, and obesity is making a huge impact on these systems. According to Reuters, obesity is now adding $190 billion to the annual cost of health care in the U.S. alone! This is money that cannot be spent on other treatments, government programs, or research and development.

Instilling healthy eating and active lifestyle habits during childhood can prevent obesity. The answer is simple, but in practice it’s not as easy as it seems.  Children's health behaviors are heavily influenced by their families, communities, school systems, childcare settings, and the media, as well as the food and beverage industries. The old adage goes that one should “lead by example,” but many families and communities are leading with a poor example that is being transposed onto today’s children.

According to the CDC, education can play a huge role in the prevention of obesity globally. Teaching parents and kids how to maintain healthy lifestyles from nutrition to physical activity can make a huge difference. Unfortunately, across the world not everyone is capable of acquiring a reasonable education, which is another persistent problem facing the world's children.

Check out this clip by the CDC that talks about the health risks that comes with obesity.

Awkward Silence Fall 2013

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