Childhood and Adolescent Obesity: Life spans are decreasing

Childhood obesity is an epidemic that is causing many health problems for children and
adolescents. Obesity in ages 6-12 year olds has risen from 7% in 1980 to 18% in 2012 and in
12-19 year olds has risen from 5% in 1980 to 21% in 2012 (CDC, 2014). Care providers,
teachers, and parents need to make a priority out of educating our patients on healthy living for a
longer lifespan. Most of the health problems associated with being overweight and obese will
follow children and adolescents into adulthood (CDC, 2014). If this issue is not addressed,
detrimental health problems will occur in the lifetime of the children and adolescents affected by
obesity. Educating authority figures like health care providers, teachers, and parents on healthy
food choices and physical exercise is recommended along with government mandated food
labels.
Childhood and adolescent obesity is an epidemic that is causing this generations lifespan
to decrease. Poor diet and lack of exercise due to overconsumption of food and not enough
physical activity that creates excess weight, lack of motivation to exercise, lack of education of
appropriate food groups or lack of adherence to follow the guidelines is a large cause of
childhood and adolescent obesity. People who have the resources to purchase fresh produce for
healthy eating do not have the time due to work, school functions, and other extracurricular
activities. People who lack financial resources are often unable to eat healthy because fast food
is cheaper. Genetics and psychological issues due to family genes that predispose people to
become overweight, using food as a coping mechanism for stress, and using food as something
to occupy time are other factors that are leading the youth of America to life threatening health
problems. The ease of buying processed foods verses fresh produce because of minimal funds
and lack of resources to obtain fresh food due to living environment and resources to travel is
another cause of the childhood and adolescent obesity epidemic.
If childhood obesity is not addressed with the interventions discussed in controlling
unhealthy food consumption, the obesity rate will continue to climb and health problems
including type two diabetes, metabolic syndrome (a disease the consists of high blood pressure,
high cholesterol, high blood sugar, and excess abdominal fat), asthma, sleep disorders, non-
alcoholic fatty liver disease, early puberty, depression, anti-social behavior, and anxiety.
Childhood and adolescent obesity will increase health care costs effecting people at the
community and governmental level if action is not taken and will continue to cause early death
for many if no interventions are taken.
Educating health care providers and authority figures on ways to prevent the epidemic of
childhood and adolescent obesity is needed to eliminate the problem and intervening at the state
level to mandate food labels on unhealthy items for purchase. Caregivers such as physicians and
nurses can give nutritional guidelines at well-child appointments or health physicals that will
provide meal planning opportunities that incorporate healthy foods. Following the guidelines of
the food pyramid offered by the United States Department of Agriculture is a credible source for
appropriate food groups and portion sizes (Food and Nutrition Information Center, 2014). This
intervention addresses assisting people make the healthy choices that matter in their diets.
Healthy Food choices include fresh fruits and vegetables. Shopping suggestions such as farmers
markets and the fresh produce department of grocery stores should be included in the instructions
and advice of purchasing fresh produce on sale should be encouraged if on a budget.
The recommendation of physical activity could include information on gym
memberships, playing outside, running, walking, and aerobic exercise. Families, communities,
schools, and child care settings can offer healthy food options for the children they are caring for.
Limiting television time and encouraging outdoor activity will improve this problem as well.
Government regulation includes all calorie counts be present on food packages and restaurant
menus. Healthy food promotion by restricting advertisement of the unhealthy food is already in
place (Karnik & Kanekar, 2012). Mandating labels that address the health factor of foods need
to be in place and can only be done by governmental regulation. An example of labeling
unhealthy foods is illustrated here: (Branswell, 2012). (B
Educating people can assist people in making the right diet and exercise choices. People
have their own free will to consume whichever foods they prefer and how much exercise they
will participate in each day, so data needs to be presented in a convincing way that shows people
how serious this epidemic is. Mandating the health labels on foods will assist people in making
better decisions. The downfall of this is that merchants may lose profits and this can cause a
downward trend in the economy (Branswell, 2012).
In conclusion, the only way to control and eliminate the childhood and adolescent obesity
epidemic is through education and governmental regulation of unhealthy foods. Educating
authority figures on the interventions of making healthy choices will ultimately affect the lives of
these children by extending them and creating a higher quality. Visually aiding the public
consumer on healthy food choices by putting health labels on foods will combat this epidemic
and create a healthy population (Branswell, 2012). If action is not taken, again, lives will be lost
and health care costs will continue to increase (Branswell, 2012).












References
Branswell, H. (2012). Obesity Canada: Junk Food Warning Labels Urged by Ontario Doctors.
The Canadian Press. Retrieved from: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/10obesity
Center for Disease Control (CDC). (2014). Childhood Obesity Facts. Retrieved from:
http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/obesity/facts.htm
Karnik, S., & Kanekar, A. (2012). Childhood Obesity: A Global Public Health Crisis.
International Journal of Preventive Medicine. 3(1). 1-7. Retrieved from:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3278864/
Mayo Clinic. (2014). Diseases and Conditions Childhood Obesity. Retrieved from:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/childhood-obesity/basics/complicati
Pulgaron, E. (2013). Childhood Obesity: A Review of Increased Risk for Physical and
Psychological Comorbidities. Clinical Therapeutics. 35(1). 18-32.
Walley, A., I.F. Blakemore, A., Froguel, P. (2006). Genetics of obesity and the prediction of risk
for health. Human Molecular Genetics. 15(2). 124-130. doi:10.1093/hmg/ddl215
United States Department of Agriculture. (2014). Food and Nutrition Information Center.
Retrieved from: http://fnic.nal.usda.gov/