Childhood Obesity Essay Example for Free

Childhood Obesity Essay What is making the next generation fat? Just a decade or so ago the debate of childhood obesity was not even a matter to be discussed. Our grandparents never even questioned the weight of their children. Their children, our parents, ate healthy foods at the family dining table and played outside all day long, but the subject of childhood obesity has gained quite a bit of interest since those days. With the ever so growing popularity of fast foods, the introduction of Play station and Xbox games and the more demanding careers of todays parents, the overdevelopment of both urban and suburban areas our kids are living sedentary lives and are becoming very overweight. The epidemic of childhood obesity is rapidly rising in America. The number of children who are now overweight has tripled since 1980 and the prevalence of obesity in younger children has more than doubled. Overall, approximately 17% or 12.5 million of the children in the United States between the ages of 2 and 19 are already obese (_C_ _enters for Disease Control and Prevention_ _, 2012_). This finding is very disturbing to many Americans and has caused many debates on who is responsible for this rising epidemic and how can we control it. Childhood obesity is measured by the body mass index (BMI). The BMI is calculated using a childs height and weight. BMI does not measure body fat directly, but it is a reasonable indicator of body fatness for most children. A childs weight status is determined using an age and sex specific percentile for BMI rather than the normal BMI categories which are used to determine an adult BMI. These are used because a childs body composition varies as they age and also varies between boys and girls. Overweight in a child is defined as a BMI at or above the 85th percentile and lower than the 95th percentile for children of the same age and sex.  Obesity in a child is defined as a BMI at or above the 95th percentile for children of the same age and sex. The causes of childhood obesity are multi-factorial. Obesity in children is caused by a lack of physical activity, unhealthy eating habits, media and marketing campaigns, adverse family conditions, stress and the availability of technology. Most Americans agree that childhood obesity is more prevalent today than ever before. If you look into the bedroom of an average American child you find video games, a computer, usually a television and possibly some other electronic gadgets. Today American children have access to just about anything they could ever want. They just ask and most parents will buy them whatever they want. If you looked into the same childs room thirty or forty years ago you would have probably found baby dolls, toy trucks and probably even some books. You would have found the neighborhood children outside playing in the kickball or hide and seek in the yard. Children played outside from sun up to sun down. The playing of these physical activities outside has unfortunately been replaced by the inactive high tech toys of today. The kick ball and hide and seek games of thirty years ago have now been replaced with games being played on the Play Station, Xbox or Wii. It is estimated that children in the United States are spending at least twenty five percent of their waking hours watching television and statistically children who watch the most hours of television have the highest incidence of obesity. If you take another look inside the house of 30 years ago you would find a dad who went to work every day and a mom who stayed home to tend to the household duties and the children. With the rising cost of our day to day living expenses in America, most homes now must have both dad and mom working full time to make ends meet. Over the last two decades there has been an increase in the number of dual income families as more women have entered the workforce and more women become the sole supporter for their single parent family. This new way of living has caused American children to eat whatever is convenient for mom or dad to fix or for some children to eat whatever is easiest for them to fix for themselves. Constraints on time has made working parents rely more heavily on prepared, processed, and fast  foods, which are generally high calorie, high fat, and low in nutritional content. Usually these easy meals come in greasy bags from fast food establishments or in plastic wrappers within a frozen cardboard box and have to be cooked in the microwave before eating. In some homes the stove never even gets warm from preparing a meal more than once a week. These easy meals are contributing to the growing epidemic of childhood obesity. Todays youth are considered the most inactive generation in history and the marketers of fast food have taken full advantage of it. American children are exposed to some 40,000 or more food advertisements per year. (_U.S. D_ _ept. of Health Human Services_ _, 2011_). Most of these advertisements promote fast food. Therefore, the expanding fast-food industry is another cause for the rising childhood obesity epidemic. Fast food companies like McDonalds or Burger King are not only selling their food, but also have a way of marketing which is not fair to consumers. Most fast food restaurants offer a toy together with a childrens meal. Usually the toy is from a popular new movie or television show so it is very appealing to children. Children are stimulated to eat junk food because they know they will be rewarded with a toy. Psychological issues and stress are said to cause obesity in adults, but they both can cause obesity in children as well. Some children have a difficult time dealing with stress, so they use food to comfort them when they feel unsure of things. Like adults, they too use food as a comfort when they feel, bored, anxious or angry. Children in the past did not have to worry so much about parents being divorced and remarried, mothers that worked long hours or fathers that traveled for most of the week. Todays economy has put financial strain on parents and children cannot help but to hear and feel the results of these tough economic times. The children of this generation are all too familiar with all of these situations. Each child has to contend with different factors in their lives and they too turn to food as a solution. Our environment too has an effect on the growing number of obese children. Experts are now looking to at our environment as a cause of the rapid  increase of obesity in children in the United States. In urban and suburban areas the overdeveloped environment can create obstacles for children to stay physically active. In urban areas the space for outdoor recreation can be scarce, which prevents kids from having a protected place to play. Neighborhood crime, lack of street lighting and busy traffic can impede children from being able to run and play or ride bicycles as a means of daily exercise. In the suburban areas, the evolution of sprawl can prevent children from walking or biking and contributes to the great amount of dependence on using motor vehicles to get around. Suburban neighborhoods too lack resources for physical recreation and many suburban neighborhoods do not include sidewalks. Genetics and DNA are also contributing factors in the causes of childhood obesity. A group of British researchers checked the DNA of 300 children who were overweight. They looked for extra copies or deletions of DNA segments. They found evidence that a deletion of DNA may promote obesity. The deletion of chromosome 16 is thought to cause obesity in children because it removes a gene that the brain needs to respond to the appetite controlling hormone leptin. Children with a chromosome 16 deletion appear to have a very strong drive to eat. These children are very, very hungry and always want to eat. (_British Medical Association, 2005_) This very slim chance may be the only cause that we cannot change. Unfortunately, some children are destined to obesity. These children are born with the genes that cause them to put on weight more easily and quicker than other children. These children end up storing the fat more easily than other children. There is not anything these children can do about their genes. Despite the strong influence that genetics can have on the epidemic of childhood obesity, studies show that our genetic makeup has not changed dramatically over the last couple of generations. Therefore the increases and prevalence of childhood obesity has to be mostly from other behavioral and environmental factors, not genetics. There are a number of root causes of obesity in the children of the United States. Selecting one or two main causes is next to impossible because the potential influences are multiple and intertwined. With the contributing factors of technology, family structure, advertising, stress and our  physical environment we are making the next generation fat. We can make small changes that will have a significant impact on the issue of childhood obesity. Parents and caregivers can encourage children to adopt healthy eating habits and be more physically active. We need to focus on overall good health, not necessarily a certain goal weight. We should teach and model healthy and positive attitudes toward food and physical activity. We should establish daily meal and snack times, and eat together as families as much as possible. When we shop for groceries we should purchase foods that will give children a wide variety of healthful foods to choose from. We should try to plan meals and serve them in sensible portions. Allowing children to scoop their own food can promote them eating in unhealthy amounts. These are just a few ideas of small change that can make a huge difference. We also need to promote exercise as much as possible. Having children walk to school when distance and safety allows is great exercise. Children should be encouraged to play outdoor games rather than just be allowed to sit in front of the television. There are plenty of activities that our children can do to get exercise. Remember even household chores like raking leaves or running the vacuum cleaner constitute as exercise. Washing the car on a hot summer day can be fun while they are getting exercise. Some children will jump at the chance to earn a few bucks. Children can be rewarded with a few dollars and they will never know they are being bribed into getting some exercise. Eating out is another place to be mindful of our decisions. When eating out is it important to be conscious of our food choices and try to keep healthy eating in mind. Lots of fast food places now offer healthy alternatives. The obesity issue is prevalent in the next generation, but it is not too late for us to work together to reverse this epidemic. REFERENCES British Medical Association, June 2005. _Preventing Childhood Obesity._ London: British Library Catalog. Centers for Disease Control, July 16, 2012, _Overweight and Obesity_. Retrieved from: http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/childhood.html Ford-Martin, Paula. _(2005) The Everything Parents Guide to the Overweight Child._ Massachusetts: Adams Media Hassink, Sandra G, MD, FAAP. (2006) A _Parents Guide to Childhood Obesity._ United States: American Academy of Pediatrics. Herscher, Elaine, Woolston, Chris and Tartamella, Lisa. (2004) _Generation Extra Large._ New York, New York: Basic Books. Ludwig, David, MD, Ph.D. (2007) _Ending the Food Fight._ New York: Houghton Mifflin Co. Neumark-Sztainer, Dianne, Ph.D. (2005) Im Like, So Fat! New York: The Guilford Press U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, April 19, 2011, _Childhood Obesity._ Retrieved from: http://www.hhs.gov

My Vacation to China Essays -- Summer Vacation Essays

While vacationing in China last summer I had the opportunity to visit "The Great Wall". Combined with its technological feat and awesome presence the "Great Wall" could easy be one of mans' most remarkable accomplishments. With its design and texture that stretch for miles it can be an overwhelming experience. Construction of the Great Wall started in the seventh century B.C, it joined the walls to hold off the invaders from the Xiongnu tribes in the north and extended them to more than 5,000 kilometers. Even many miles away from the Great Wall, one could already see the outline of the wall stretching out forever. Standing near the Great Wall I notice the cold stale air. It was hard to breathe and I had to constantly cough to keep my throat clear. Visiting this huge wall of block in the morning can be an unforgettable experience. The ground was muddy because it rained non-stop the previous day. Climbing up the stairways that leads up the "Great Wall", I could hear all different languages spoken by the people who were in attendance. On top looking down sideways the wall seems t...

El Filibusterismo Summary Essay

It began with a trip to the craft between Manila and Laguna. Among the passengers to Simuon jeweler, was Isagani, and Basilio. Thirteen years have passed since the death of Elijah and Sisa. Basilio reached San Diego and a historic meeting he saw Simuon to visit the grave of his mother inside the tomb of Ibarra. He met Simuon was Ibarra to Incognito: To hide this secret, Simoun attempted to kill Basilio. Without it naituloy has recruited young men to join him in his goal to avenge Spanish Government. Basilio was refused because she wanted to finish her studies. While the Captain General is sightseers in Los Baà ±os, the Philippines students filed a request to him to establish an Academy of the Spanish Language. This request is not approved for the findings of this academic govern the friars. Therefore, they have no right to rule on any other conduct of such academics. Meanwhile, Simuon met with Basilio and again encouraged the young man to join his rebellion and intend to preside ove r a lot to be forced open in the convent of Sta. Clara to kidnap Maria Clara. But not naibunsod this task because Clara’y Mary died in that afternoon. The students also, to makapaglubag their displeasure about the failure gains, held a party in Panciteria Macanista de Buen want. In the speech uttered while they were eating they explicitly denounced the friars. This objection is known as the Friar so this is what happened: Future is found only on the doors of universities PASKIN the content prognosis, persecution, and rebellion. The affixing of pasking is blamed on members of the congregation of students. Because of this they were arrested and naparamay Basilio, something that has deeply ipinagdamdam Juli’s his girlfriend. These students have relatives who walk them to be acquitted them, Basilio was detained because he had left tagapagmagitan. On the one hand also begged by Juli Pari Camorra to help him to release but instead they help the priest he became another cause of death Juli, made its pagkalundag windows of the convent. To perform its intended Simoun’s revenge, he is nakipagsama business with Don Timothy Pelaez, Juanito’s father. In this way he was able to reconcile the marriage by Paulita Gomez and Juanito. The wedding will sponsor the Captain General. She also invited to attend the banquet to be held, the Government offices fluent and outstanding people in the city. After two months of confinement were released as Basilio with the help of Simoun. Immediately he came to Simoun to join the rebellion. Simoun took advantage of this opportunity to show the young man that he made the bomb. This is a lamp with a shape Granada and kasinalaki human head. This elegant lamp it is his gift to the groom who were Juanito and Paulita. Simoun’s Ipalalagay the lamp in the middle of a kiyoskong kakanan that he ipasasadya texture. The lamp will provide a bright light and after twenty minutes manlalabo. When hinagad to raise the wick to shine, will burst a capsule fulminato de mercurio, the Granada is exploding at the same time is the destruction and pagkatugnaw of kiyoskong kakanan — and no one can be saved to the present. On the one hand, are powerful explosion of dynamite lamp will become the cue to start the rebellion headed by Simoun. Iikapito to just the night of the wedding day, and Basilio was strutting in front of the house pinagdarausan the feast. Non-kawasa’y Simuon descend to leave her home to those in malulutawan an explosion. The nanlulumong Basilio was observed sisinod but he would dumatng was Isagani, became the lover and dear by Paulita. He told it fled but he never ignored so Basilio was forced to confess with Isagani secret schemes but also not napatinag this young man. â€Å"Nanlalamlam the lamp,† is engaged in tumultuous Captain General. â€Å"C’mon, you ipakitaas, Irene Priest, the wick.† Isagani took the lamp, run terraces and threw it into the river. Thus expired the scheme of Simoun for a rebellion army. She fled to the house of Florentino Priest, on the coast of the Pacific Ocean. As soon mapagabot of law enforcement jeweler, He drank poison should not surrender alive. He confessed his true personality priest and told him it’s sad history of his life. Since he returned to the Philippines from Europe, thirteen years ago, the love affair with Maria Clara and their hypocrisy he jeweler to target makipaghiganti maiguho the government and by a rebellion. After Simuon confessors died. To want to push back the huge treasure left behind by the jeweler, treasure its instrumental planting bukto’t Task Pari is discarded at sea Florentino steel box incalculable hid Simoun’s wealth. †¢ Simoun – the rich jeweler, who nakasalaming with color, the alleged advisor but he was Captain General Juan Crisostomo Ibarra returns to avenge his enemies. †¢ Isagani – the poet’s girlfriend Paulita, nephew of Padre Florentino. †¢ Basilio – a student of medicine and Juli’s girlfriend. †¢ Cabesang Tales – the right to seek ownership of the land till claimed by the friars. †¢ Tandang Selo – tales Cabesang father shot his own boss. †¢ Senior Pasta – The counselor intervened in the legal problems. †¢ Ben Zayb – newspaper journalists. †¢ Placido penitent – the students have lost appetite to attend school cause problems. †¢ Padre Camorra – the looks artilyerong priest. †¢ Padre Fernandez – the priest may Dominikong independent stance. †¢ Padre Salvi – the former parish priest Franciscanong of downtown San Diego. †¢ Father Florentino – Isagani’s uncle †¢ Don Custodio – known as the Buena Ink †¢ Padre Irene – the members of the youth organization of the Academy of the Spanish Language †¢ Juanito Pelaez – The students liked the professor; belong to well-known Hispanic ancestry with blood †¢ Macaraig – the wealth of enthusiastic students fighting for the establishment of Academy of the Spanish Language but suddenly lost in an emergency. †¢ Sandoval – the Spanish staff agree or side to fight for students †¢ Doà ±a Victorina – the self-styled a Europea but yet another Filipina; Paulita’s aunt. †¢ Paulita Gomez – girlfriend of Isagani but marry Juanito Pelaez. †¢ Quiroga – A Chinese traders would have a consulate in the Philippines. †¢ Juli – Tales Cabesang son and lover Basilio. †¢ Hermana Bali – have driven with Juli to get help with Padre Camorra. †¢ Hermana Penchang – the rich and prayerful women served by Juli. †¢ Mr. Leeds – the mysterious American presents to the circus. †¢ Imuthis – head to show the mysterious Mr. Leeds †¢ Pepay – the dancer who claims intimate Don Custodio said. †¢ Camaroncocido – a Spanish ashamed of his race because of his outward appearance. †¢ Uncle Kiko – Camaroncocido best friends. †¢ Gertrude – singer in the show. †¢ Paciano Gomez – sister Paulita. †¢ Don Tiburcio – wife Doà ±a Victorina.

Cognitive Development Of A Child Essay - 1997 Words

Babies Babies fall under the sensorimotor stage which is 0 -2 years of age, according to Piaget. This is the first set of years of life where everything begins; their cognitive, physical, and emotional development. Taking the child psychology class was a great idea because the things that I have learned about children it’s amazing. It will change the way you view things about infants, early childhood, and adolescents. I will only be telling you about infants which is the very most important stage of life because this is where the brain can take in everything and later in life decides what it’s going to keep. Let’s start talking about the how our babies are been develop. Cognitive Development Cognitive development is the starting point for the understanding development of a child as Piaget stated. Measuring a child body weight and size is easy but not what goes on in their brain. 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