Running Head: Childhood Obesity

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Running Head: CHILDHOOD OBESITY Childhood obesity has risen 85 percent in the past 30 years. That is a huge increase which makes for a huge increase in adult obesity. The percent in type 2 diabetes and heart disease has also increased in children and adults. . At present, nearly 8% of children 4 to 5 years of age in the United States are overweight. Whereas, in general, the increases in prevalence cross the entire pediatric population, girls have been more affected than boys (Williams, C. L. 2001). Childhood is a critical period for shaping a healthy lifestyle. More kids are obese due to the lack of activity and the increase of calories. The average American parent(s) work a full- time job and that leaves less time to cook dinner; making…show more content…
It has also been studied that when women smoke while pregnant can also cause there child to grow up to be obese. In addition, it seems as though if the parents are big people more than likely the child will be to. The health dept. has shown that over half of teenagers drink 27 oz. or more of soda a day.(Erica Roth, 2012 para.5) Soda has many calories and they are not working if off. Teenagers are more into playing video games, or being on the computer than exercising. Children ages 5-17 are more likely to have high cholesterol, diastolic blood pressure and systolic blood pressure. Parents do not seem to realize that their children are going to have all these health problems. Maybe if the doctors checked children’s blood pressure at an earlier age could prevent some of the health issues. Problems that can occur in children who are overweight are type 2 diabetes; diabetes can lead to eye disease, nerve damage, and kidney dysfunction. Girls are more likely to have type 2 diabetes than boys are. Girls carry 26% more SC fat than boys, which may contribute to relative insulin resistance in the female population. Girls are less insulin sensitive than boys are as early as 5 years of age (Pediatrics 113:82–86). Heart disease is also a problem that can occur, by high blood pressure by eating foods high in salt and fat. Asthma can also occur in obese children, Excessive weight can keep a child’s lungs
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