Childhood Obesity 9079
Man has always attributed scientific advancement to an improvement in life style, better cures for life threatening diseases, improved health and decrease in disease related deaths. However, today it is evident that these advancements are equal parts beneficial and harmful. Health risks instead of decreasing have increased, new diseases have emerged and some have become more widespread. One result of man's improved lifestyle is the increase in obesity especially in children. The paper will highlight some basic information regarding 'childhood obesity' and explain the reason behind the selection of the topic as well as the direction of future research and writing on it.
Introduction
According to WHO 'Obesity' is the gaining or accumulation of "excessive fat" which results in increase in health risks. The organization has also pointed out alarming increase in the number of obese children. Apparently this abnormal fat collection affects the entire metabolism and gives rise to the chances of contracting heart disease, diabetes and different types of cancers (WHO, 2012). A child is considered obese if, for instance they weigh 20% more than the healthy weight range for their age and height. Although obesity is highly curable but very few people are even aware that they...
According to research many factors contribute to this dilemma, such as: consumption of low energy and high calorie foods, increased intake of greasy fast food because both parents are working, decrease in the amount of exercise and exertion due to the introduction of television and video games or because of fear for security. Overall the modern technology filled lifestyle has made children comfort loving rather than adventure seeking. All these changes are held equally responsible for the propagation of 'Obesity Epidemic' (Anderson, M. P & Butcher, K. F, 2006).
Analysis
This topic has been chosen because it is the gravest health challenge faced by families in the 21st century. Up until 2010 the total estimated number of obese children in the world was over 42 million from which 35 million belonged to developing countries (WHO, 2012). In fact it has been noticed that obesity has increased three fold in the last 30 years. In the U.S. alone the number of 6- to 11-year-old children went from 7% in the 80s to 20% in the current century (CDC, 2012). That is not all, the problem has been given the status on an 'epidemic' by the WHO because of the many other health concerns it gives birth to. For instance, obese children are likely to remain obese over their life, and then there…
