Attacking Childhood Obesity in Children and Subpopulation 1
Attacking the Challenge of the Epidemic of Childhood Obesity Issue and Subpopulation
Children
student
Liberty University/Health 507 section
Word Count: XXXX
Dr.Sharlee Burch
Date
Background
· Childhood/adolescent obesity affects millions with rates continuing to rise
· 43 million are affected by this debilitating problem.
· Individuals at greater risk are non-white subpopulation females with income below 130% poverty level.
· Higher educated individuals are at lessened risk than those with little or no education.
· Fast paced lifestyles contribute to growing number of obese children/adolescents
· Busy schedules encourage families to consume convenient fast food that is readily available with little nutritional value.
· Lifestyles require more than one household income which limits family meal times together.
· Instant and poor nutritional content of meals are prepared for the sake of time and convenience.
· Limited health education regarding food choices and physical activity add contributory factors to childhood obesity
· Physical activity time is limited due to busy testing schedules and school curriculum/demands for high testing performance among students.
· School vending typically has poor nutritional value, high sugar and fat content. Resistance to change in vending snacks from students and school staff may be added barriers for change.
· Funding is limited and lowers nutritional content that match up to what is recommended. Value enhanced food costs more than instant fast foods which require minimal or no preparation.
· Subpopulation Hispanic children/adolescents are at greatest risk for developing obesity
· Males represent 25.3% and females represent 21.8% of obesity.
· Cultural and economic factors contribute to high rates of consumption of high fat/starch/carbohydrate food content. These factors also lead to increased heart disease, hypertension and diabetes in this subpopulation.
Issues
· Type II Diabetes Mellitus and other chronic illness are increasing in youth
· Insulin Resistance, a precursor to Type II Diabetes, is increasing among youth, along with other chronic illnesses, such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, heart disease.
· Increased preventative medical visits among youth, especially subpopulations, are risk factors that may lead to early death/morbidity in the new generations to come.
· Lack of health education, physical activity, and poor nutritional availability or poor choices aid in the epidemic of obesity in youth and subpopulations.
· Food is expensive, good nutritionally valued food is MORE expensive. Hard economic times place hardship on food choices made by families.
· Transportation is expensive and difficult for some to travel to farmer’s markets beyond walking distance. Perishable foods/or fresh fruits and vegetables require frequent visits to the grocery store or farmer’s market.
· Health education and rationale for knowledge is limited within schools and competes with core curriculum requirements mandated by pass rates for funding. Physical activity available is limited to bare minimum allotted time by legislative mandate.
· Fast food is convenient, available and tempting to consume on a regular basis.
· High fat and sugar content, preservatives and sodium contribute to the prevalence of childhood obesity as it contains flavor that entices large portions to be consumed.
· Current efforts in progress are being developed and implemented to decrease childhood obesity rates
· Nutritional content and healthier options are available in many fast food restaurants.
· Physical activity is encouraged and offered in many after school programs via grant incentives.
· Local organizations, such as Turning Point and other coalitions, have developed farmer’s market availability and health prevention education within schools and communities.
· Some state Nutrition and Fitness organizations (via grant) offer youth BMI evaluation for schools. Reports within public health organizations are available.
· Many schools are conforming to lower sugar/fat content and better food options within school lunch rooms and vending.
· Many schools have chosen to adopt tobacco free policies which benefit youth and all citizens. Smoking exacerbates chronic illness, which, if accompanied by obesity-could lead to early death.
· Obesity currently costs the U.S. $254 billion in productivity and $60 billion in treatment/medical expenditures.
Biblical Applications
· Say to him: ‘Long life to you! Good health to you and your household! And good health to all that is yours! 1 Samuel 25:6
· Health has been desired among biblical beings since the beginning of time.
· Good health is a measure of contentment and happiness.
· This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. Proverbs 3:8.
· Health and nourishment of our bodies is an ultimate goal which enables holistic balance and tranquility.
· Lord, by such things people live; and my spirit finds life in them too. You restored me to health and let me live. Isaiah 38:1
· The Lord provides spirit in all that he delivers us to restore our health for life.
· On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. Matthew 9:12.
· Healthy individuals will be free of illness while those who are unhealthy may
undergo illness that requires medical attention.
· Medical needs are greater for those that are sick rather than the healthy one who takes advantage of healthful lifestyle.
· Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. 3 John 1:2
· Health is a well wish by many to those who are loved and cherished
· Spiritual and bodily holistic health is of utmost value to those who desire good health and balance of both.
· Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.
· God wants us to be healthy by taking care of our physical body as well as our spiritual body.
· He paid the price for our eternal lives; therefore, honoring Him with spirituality and goodness to our bodies is essential in honoring Him. He provides all we need to sustain health.
References
1. World Health Organization. Health Effects among Obesity in Children. WHO Website. 2012. Available at: http://www.who.int/childhoodobesity/research/youth/healtheffects/en/ . Last accessed on October 4, 2014.
1. Center for Disease Control. Childhood Obesity Facts. CDC Website. 2012. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/childhood.html . Last accessed October 4, 2014.
1. Oklahoma State Department of Health. Obesity and Prevention. OSDH website. 2010. Available at: http://www.ok.gov/health/Organization/BoardofHealth/Oklahoma_Health_Improvement_Planning_Team_(OHIP)_/index.html . Last accessed October 4, 2014.
1. National Institute of Health. Obesity in Children. NIH website. 2013. Available at: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007508.htm . Last accessed October 4, 2014.
1. Niles NJ. Basics of the U.S. Health Care System. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers; 2012.
1. The Holy Bible. New International Version. Available at www.biblegateway.com .
Last accessed October 4, 2014.
1. American Diabetes Association. Number of Youth with Type II Diabetes Expected to Rise Substantially by 2050. American Diabetes Association website. 2013. Available at: http://www.diabetes.org/newsroom/press-releases/2012/number-of-youth-with-diabetes-projected-to-rise-by-2050.html . Last accessed October 4, 2014.
