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The Early Stages Of Childhood Obesity Jamie Ramirez English Comp. 122 Melissa Holmberg March 2, 2011 The topic I originally chose for my paper was “Addressing the issues of childhood obesity. ” However after doing some research and finding different material to study I narrowed it down to “the early stages of childhood obesity. ”I chose this topic because I have a lot of questions right now about childhood obesity that I would like answers for. My son is not obese but he constantly wants to eat and he doesn’t get a whole lot of exercise.

We do worry that he will be overweight some day and we warn him of the consequences but he just can’t seem to stop. He thinks he’s always hungry sometimes I wonder if he is trying to fill some kind of hole. I can’t get him to tell me how he feels or what he is going through and I tend to worry about him a lot. I feel this subject is very important. Parents need to be more aware of the problem we are facing with our children today. Childhood obesity is a rising concern for our children today. In fact my research has shown “that in the past two decades childhood obesity has doubled in the united states. 5% of children from age two to age eighteen meet the standards for being obese. About 20% of these children are in danger of becoming an obese adult. ” T. P. & M. K. [2000] The Overweight Child Buffalo, New York: Firefly books. “Childhood obesity also plays a part in several childhood diseases. Some of which include type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. ” T. P. & M. K. [2000] The Overweight Child Buffalo, New York: Firefly books. There are two topics I plan to argue in this paper. One topic is whether wealth plays a part in childhood obesity.

The other is whether or not this varies by gender. I also plan to answer three questions I have about this issue. At what age does childhood obesity start? How do we prevent childhood obesity? Are there any medical problems which can cause childhood obesity? Let’s start with my first claim. I have always been told that if you are less wealthy your child was most likely to become an obese child. This was because a single less wealthy mother couldn’t afford to buy food which has nutrients in it that children are required to be healthy.

However, while conducting my research I have learned that children from middle class to more wealthy families are more likely to be Obese. In fact “the study, by researchers from the Institute of Child Health at University College London and Great Ormond Street Hospital, followed the lives of more than 13,000 children born in the UK between 2000 and 2002. It showed that by the age of three, 23 per cent of children were overweight. ” Read more: http://www. dailymail. co. uk/health/article-470140/Risk-obesity-soars-family-income. tml#ixzz1FJ0DOY6X “Researchers linked the problem to the rise of highly-paid working mothers – who are often forced to leave a nanny or nursery in charge of their child’s diet and physical exercise. ” Read more: http://www. dailymail. co. uk/health/article-470140/Risk-obesity-soars-family-income. html#ixzz1FJ2BVrsA “High consumption of snack foods and sweetened drinks, long hours spent watching television and low rates of breastfeeding – shown to prevent obesity – were also said to be factors. ” Read more: http://www. dailymail. co. uk/health/article-470140/Risk-obesity-soars-family-income. html#ixzz1FJ2gfTcK

I suggest that mothers pack their children’s lunches and snacks to somewhat cut down on this obstacle. If mothers would pack their children’s lunches and snacks they would have some control on what their child puts in their mouth. The next claim I would like to argue is whether childhood obesity varies by gender. I feel that boys are usually heavier than girls. I feel this way because girls are always worried about their weight and looks. Whereas boys don’t usually care as much. I also feel this way because there are a number of activities for girls where the girl is taught to be small and thin.

Boys’ sports are usually made for bigger boys so they won’t get hurt as easily. “In 2002, the average of ten years, a young girl was 2. 1 percent larger and 13. 4 percent heavier than its 1982 counterpart, with an increase of 13. 3 per cent in IMC. The boys were, on average, 1. 1 percent larger and heavier by 7. 6 percent, with an increase of 5. 1 per cent in IMC. ” (tcmwell. com)Especially Among Girls Significant Rise In Childhood Obesity After looking through all sorts of reading material and doing different searches this is really the only information I could find supporting my argument.

However, this article proved my theory on childhood obesity being more common for boys than girls to be wrong. Now let’s find the answers tom some questions. At what age does child hood obesity start? I believe that childhood obesity can start as young as two years old. In my research I intend to show whether or not this is actually true. I believe this because this is right around the time most children start eating solid foods. When a child is just starting to learn to eat regularly if the parent(s) introduce them to candy, potato chips, soda, etc. Then this is what they are used to and they want it more often.

However, if you introduce your child to fruits and vegetables at a young age then they are more likely to eat them as they get older. After doing some research I have learned that childhood obesity can start as early as in the womb. It is very important that a pregnant woman maintains a healthy diet. This is especially true while they are in their first trimester. This is when the baby’s spinal cord and central nervous system take form. “By now, everyone knows the importance of good nutrition. It’s clear that pregnant women who don’t eat well are more likely to give birth to children with low irth weight, physical defects and potential intellectual and behavioral deficits. But what has only recently been discovered is how much a pregnant women’s diet may affect her child’s health into adulthood. Recent research suggests that the stage may be set in the womb for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, and other serious conditions of adulthood. ” S. D. ; R. G. [2009] Healthy Child, Whole Child New York, New York: Clear Light Publishers. However, it is up to you to make sure your child eats healthy and gets plenty of exercise no matter what their age is.

This brings me to my next question. How do we as parents prevent childhood obesity? I think every parent should monitor what their child is eating no matter how old they are. If you cook more meals yourself instead of letting them eat whatever and whenever they want you can help prevent childhood obesity. I or my husband usually cooks dinner at night. I love to cook so when I’m home I tend to make big home cooked meals. Our children know that they are to eat what we put on the table and there are no and, ifs, or buts about It. This is how we keep track of what they are eating. The five factors most often blamed for the epidemic of childhood chubbiness: 1. Inactivity. Toddlers in less- than- ideal day care situations may spend much of the day plunked in front of a TV show or video game rather than doing the important developmental work of crawling, walking, tumbling, and otherwise honing gross motor skills. Older kids don’t seem as interested in good old- fashioned play- running, jumping, climbing trees, or making up active games- as they are in sedentary amusements. ” S. D. ; R. G. [2009] healthy child, Whole Child New York, New York: Clear Light Publishers.

Children today are more interested in sitting in front of a TV playing video games and watching cartoons and parents today have to make their children go outside just to get them to play. 2. Advertising. When was the last time you saw an ad for fruit or vegetables on kids’ programming? There’s a food ad every five minutes during Saturday – morning cartoons. No wonder our kids are always grabbing us by the sleeve in the grocery store and begging for some sugar – and/or fat – filled food product. S. D. ; R. G. [2009] Healthy Child, Whole Child New York, New York: Clear Light Publishers. . Not eating together. Kids get an increasing number of their calories away from home, and when they are at home; there is often no adult with them to make sure they are eating well. S. D. ; R. G. [2009] Healthy Child, Whole Child New York, New York: Clear Light Publishers. 4. Higher- calorie drinks. Kids, especially overweight ones, may get a lot of their daily calories from sugar- filled juice drinks, sodas, and energy drinks. Kids who down two or three of these a day may be getting 20 to 30 teaspoons of sugar and killing their appetite for more nutritional foods.

S. D. ; R. G. [2009] Healthy Child, Whole Child New York, New York: Clear Light publishers. 5. Fewer high- fiber foods. Kids are eating fewer of the low- calorie, high- nutrition carbohydrates like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and more products made from white flour, sugar, and unhealthy fats. There is evidence that fiber plays an important role in weight control. ” S. D. ; R. G. [2009] Healthy Child, Whole Child New York, New York: Clear Light Publishers. In today’s world we have lost touch with the importance of eating as a family. Most mothers ust don’t have time to cook a good home cooked meal any more. I suggest that parents put healthier foods and beverages in the refrigerator and pantry. If we buy more fruits and vegetables and less sugar and potato chips our children will eat them. Also make exercise a family event. On family night instead of watching TV all the time go out and do something active. If you need suggestions try these, go biking, bike riding is a fun activity that the whole family can do. Face it what kid doesn’t like to ride bikes, go for a walk, even if it’s just around the lock it’s something the whole family can do, go on a nature trail, going on nature trails can be something everyone can do and you might enjoy it. Plus, it can also be a learning experience for young children. Another thing you can do in the summer is to go swimming. Most people don’t realize it but swimming is good exercise and it’s something most families do already. Another thing we need to concentrate on is making sure our children get plenty of sleep at night and at nap times. This also helps with obesity. My research shows that not getting enough sleep appears to be related to weight gain. Experts recommend 14 to 15 hours of sleep for infants from 3 to 11 months old, 12 to 14 hours for kids one to two years old, 11 to 13 for kids three to six, 10 to11 for seven to Eleven, and 8 ? to 9 ? for adolescents. ” S. D. ; R. G. [2009] Healthy Child, Whole Child New York, New York: Clear Light Publishers. Now let’s move on to the final question. Are there any medical problems that can lead to childhood obesity? I strongly believe that depression can play a huge factor in obesity of all ages. I have depression sometimes really bad.

I always know when I’m slipping into my depression stage because I never feel Well, I’m always gloomy, and I don’t want to eat. On the other hand though I also know people who eat all the time when they are depressed, usually they eat candy or ice cream, some people feel that this will make all their problems go away. Sadly all it does is cause more problems. “I have learned that a few medical problems can very well play a part in childhood obesity. Some of which include Cushing’s syndrome and hypothyroidism. Cushing’s syndrome is a condition in which the body contains excess amounts of cortisol.

Hypothyroidism is a disorder in which the thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone. In both circumstances I suggest paying extra close attention to your child’s eating habits and exercise. This goes back to the beginning where you have to make it something the whole family does together to get the best results. ” “Child obesity and depression are not alien with each other. In fact the two, more often than not, always go to together. When there is child obesity there is a possible presence of depression. When depression is prevalent, most likely obesity is expected to be present too.

Child obesity and depression are two of the most debilitating health problems that have affected more children than before. ” “The number of children suffering from the ill effects of obesity is increasing which is conversely proportional to the rising number of children suffering from depression. Though it has not been established that the main cause of depression is obesity likewise the sole contributing factor of obesity is depression is yet to be proven, but the link between child obesity and depression is so clear that its needs immediate attention.

Depression regardless of its cause can also be a cause of obesity. Children suffering from depression stay at home more often. Since they have difficulty relating with other children they prefer to stay at home and watch television instead. They become couch potato. They have the tendency to eat more than what is being required of them. If this continues these children will gain weight above the ideal weight for their age. Overtime, these children become obese. They have less time engaging in physical activities too, which could aggravate their weight problem. pesic,[ 2006]. In this paper I have found that, childhood obesity is more common with wealthy and middle class children over less wealthy children,childhood obesity is more common in girls than boys, and there are some medical problems that can cause childhood obesity. I have also answered a couple of questions most parents have. The results of my research turned ou to different than what I have aldso been told or just suspected would be the answers. References Read more: http://www. dailymail. co. uk/health/article-470140/Risk-obesity-soars-family-income. tml#ixzz1FJ0DOY6X Read more: http://www. dailymail. co. uk/health/article-470140/Risk-obesity-soars-family-income. html#ixzz1FJ2BVrsA Read more: http://www. dailymail. co. uk/health/article-470140/Risk-obesity-soars-family-income. html#ixzz1FJ2BVrsA Pesic, [2006]. S. D. ; R. G. [2009] Healthy Child, Whole Child New York, New York: Clear Light Publishers. S. D. ; R. G. [2009] Healthy Child, Whole Child New York, New York: Clear Light Publishers. S. D. ; R. G. [2009] Healthy Child, Whole Child New York, New York: Clear Light Publishers. S. D. ; R. G. 2009] Healthy Child, Whole Child New York, New York: Clear Light Publishers. S. D. ; R. G. [2009] Healthy Child, Whole Child New York, New York: Clear Light Publishers. S. D. ; R. G. [2009] Healthy Child, Whole Child New York, New York: Clear Light Publishers. S. D. ; R. G. [2009] Healthy Child, Whole Child New York, New York: Clear Light Publishers. T. P. ; M. K. [2000] The Overweight Child Buffalo, New York: firefly books. T. P. ; M. K. [2000] The Overweight Child Buffalo, New York: firefly books. (tcmwell. com)Especially Among Girls Significant Rise In Childhood Obesity