Many of the habits formed during this timeframe will last well into adulthood (Schwarz & Peterson, 2010). One out of every six adolescent is overweight and one out of every three is at risk. Since the 1980’s, the rate of overweight youth has steadily increased. Obesity rates vary by race/gender. For adolescents ages 12 to 19, non-Hispanic black girls and Mexican-American boys have the highest rates of obesity, 29.2 percent and 26.7 percent respectively.
The problem of childhood obesity in the United States has grown considerably in recent years. Between 16 and 33 percent of children and adolescents are obese. If one parent is obese, there is a 50 percent chance that their children will also be obese. However, when both parents are obese, their children have an 80 percent chance of being obese (Obesity In Children and Teens par. 1).
Yatin Patel Noel English 101-132 December 2, 2010 The Future of America is Fat Childhood obesity is quickly becoming a major crisis for children across the nation and around the world. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, “Approximately 300,000 deaths a year in this country are currently associated with overweight and obesity” (“Satcher”). Also, statistics from the article show that, “Obesity incidences among American children have dangerously climbed from 5% in the 1980s to 15.3% in 2000” (“Fighting”). Schools are partly to blame for childhood obesity because of the high-fat, high-calorie, and sugary food they serve. We have a crisis on our hands with childhood obesity on the rise.
Advertising and Its Effects on Childhood Obesity It has been said many times before that children are our future. One of the most alarming statistics about our future is the ever-alarming rate of obesity and overweight children in the United States. “Childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past 30 years. The prevalence of obesity among children aged 6 to 11 years increased from 6.5% in 1980 to 19.6% in 2008. The prevalence of obesity among adolescents aged 12 to 19 years increased from 5.0% to 18.1%” (Childhood Obesity).
Since the mid-1950s, suicide rates around the world have risen by 60%. Rates among young people have risen even faster, to the point where they are now the age group at highest risk in 35% of the world’s countries. The specific demographics, however, vary from country to country. China’s pattern, for example, is very different from that of most other countries. China has a suicide mortality rate of 23:100,000, with a total of 287,000 deaths by suicide each year.
Although in Indiana the birth rate for teens decreased from 49.1 in 2000 to 43.2 in 2005, the rates are again on the rise at 45.2, close to the same rates from the 2001 levels (Pregnant and Parenting Adolescents Support Services (PPASS) Program Needs Assessment, 2011). Teen pregnancy must be addressed because of the increased risk of health, and social and emotional problems these pregnancies have on the partner, and families involved. According to the March of Dimes, a baby born to a teenage Mother has a higher risk for premature birth along with low birth weight. In 2006, teens between the age of 15 and 19 had 10% low-birth weight to their infants compared to all women of 8.3 % (March of Dimes, 2009). A teenager mother is also at risk for anemia and high blood pressure and the risks are even higher for teens under 15.
The economic cost of supporting and increasingly overweight population with more diseases is another concern (U.S. obesity). Childhood obesity has not only prominent immediate effects but dangerous long-terms effects on children’s health and wellbeing. The effected children can more likely to have risk factor, cardiovascular disease, such a high cholesterol and high blood pressure. In a population based sample of 5 to 17 years old, 70% of obese youth had one risk factor for cardiovascular disease. (Journal of Pediatrics,
The United States have the highest rate of teenage pregnancy among 46 developed countries ("U.S. Teenage Pregnancy Statistics National and State Trends and Trends by Race", 2006). Teenage pregnancy and child bearing are societal concerns because of economic and social costs. Childbearing, on average, costs taxpayers in the United States $4,080 per teenager. Moreover, it also affects education, only a third of teen mother earn their high school diploma and only 1.5% have a college degree by
America’s Issue Childhood Obesity America’s Issue Childhood Obesity Childhood obesity is becoming more and more of an issue that greatly effects the overall health of America’s youth. In almost every case the obesity follows the youth well into adulthood resulting in terrifying health conditions and even death. It is an ever growing issue amongst America’s youth and adult health. America is suffering from a heart disease epidemic that ranged in the medical cost of 273 billion dollars in 2010. The cost is expected to sky rocket well into the 800 billion dollar range by 2020.
2.01 Reflections Assessment 1. • “41 million Americans are estimated to have pre-diabetes. Most people with pre-diabetes develop type 2 diabetes within 10 years, unless they make changes to their diet and physical activity that results in a loss of about 5-7 percent of their body weight.” – That is a very large number of Americans to have pre- diabetes, it’s scary to think that so many people are overweight and not working out. I’m concerned about this because like in the other facts, obesity and diabetes can cause you to die at a young age and that is a lot of people to have such a high risk. • “Only 28 percent of students in grades 9 through 12 participated in daily school physical education in 2003, down from 42 percent in 1991.” – This is sad but I can also agree that this is 100% true.