Prevention of Obesity in the Children of Latino Parents in California Public Health Issue Obesity is one of the biggest problems in the U.S. that causes significant numbers of morbidity and mortality rates. These rates have been significantly increasing over the past few decades affecting both well developed, and moderately developed countries. The problem is not only present within adult population but is also a considerable issue among children in the US. The cause of obesity, is the difficulty to resist the extremely plentiful variety of foods and fast food restaurants in our world today (Freedman, 2011). Many health issues such as heart diseases, diabetes, cancers, chronic pulmonary diseases, and neurological disease are the direct result of constant and uncontrolled overeating. This issue of obesity can be prevented or treated by the behavioral modification, where children are controlled and taught healthy eating habits. This method is one of the least expensive with positive outcomes. PHNs must acquire a role of educator to teach children and their families the healthy eating habits, and weight management. There are about 25 million children that are overweight in the U.S. or at risk for becoming obese. Luzier and colleagues suggest that there is an increase in cases of obesity among families of low socioeconomic status. Among Mexican Americans, the statistics accounted for 44% of children with obesity and comparing that with Caucasian which were 29%. The
In the past several decades and according to the State of Obesity “38.9 % of children ages 2-19 are obese in the Latino culture.” The rates of severe obesity are higher amongst these children compared to the White American children.
Children and adolescents, their health is of the most upmost importance. The child is impacting through everything they do in their lives and everything that they come face to. One of these factors that come into play into a child’s life is Obesity. Most importantly the racial and ethnic disparities that involve Obesity. Unless this issue of this inclining obesity is addressed, there will be assumptions that the amount of years a person will live will surely decline (Johnson, 2012). Obesity is a killer as it is the secondary killer and could well be our first if the people don’t take action (Johnson, 2012). Obesity increases the risk of cardiovascular disease as well as asthma and diabetes (Johnson, 2012). Seventeen percent of young adults in the USA today are obese (Rossen, 2014). The commonness of obesity has escalated throughout the years in Children and Young adults that were being seen in Adults (Caprio et al., 2008). There are many disparities in which affect children in every way but the one that affects the obesity in childhood is racial and ethnic disparities. The amount of obesity in childhood is increasing in all ethnic and racial groups but it is found that nonwhite population have the most amount of Obesity (Caprio et al., 2008). The Mexican- American and non-Hispanic black children have a heavier load to carry as of racial and ethnic subgroups (Rossen, 2014). As children are expose to different physical and social environments, they are wide-open to different
Childhood obesity has increased dramatically during the past decade (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2011). Although the rise in obesity cuts across all of age groups, both genders, and all cultural and racial groups; statistics have demonstrated that Hispanic children are more likely to become obese than White or Black children in the United States. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (2011), childhood obesity is more prevalent among Hispanic children than in other ethnic groups, and the United States problem has been steadily increasing over the past decade. Lack of physical activity and poor nutritional habits could be the leading causes of the rise in obesity among this vulnerable population. The consequences of obesity are not trivial. Obesity is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension and hypercholesterolemia, serious conditions such as type II diabetes mellitus and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and psychosocial problems such as low self-esteem (Strauss, 2000). Early intervention is imperative to address the implications of childhood obesity in the United States.
A drive down the road in any given American city and one can observe at least one reason that the United States is struggling with obesity. One would be hard pressed to find a community that is not teeming with fast food restaurants. However, it might surprise some that the obesity epidemic in our country has reached the most vulnerable population of all and they aren’t even capable of driving themselves to these bastions of unhealthy food. The childhood obesity level has reached 34% of children in the United States (SHUMEI, 2016).Obesity is caused by consistently consuming more calories than are needed for the level of physical activity one has on a daily basis. Although there are several indicators of obesity, the CDC and The American Academy of Pediatrics use the body mass index (BMI). Childhood obesity is defined as a BMI at or above the 95th percentile for children of the same age and sex (Perpich, 2011). Childhood obesity has been linked to an increase in Type 2 diabetes mellitus, asthma, hypertension, increased risk for cardiovascular disease and even affects children in psychosocial terms with low self-esteem and fewer friends than their non-obese contemporaries (Hispanic Health Care International, 2011). There are a variety of causes that work together for contributing to childhood obesity from the income level of the home to gender to even the location of the child’s home. Although there are many factors that can cause childhood obesity, we
Obesity levels disproportionately affect minority groups, with Mexican American, or Latino, populations bearing the largest burden. When compared to Non-Hispanic Whites (19%) and Non-Hispanic African American (19%) populations, Latino children show the highest rates of obesity (25%).6 In addition, Latino children have a higher incidence rate of type 2 diabetes and lower levels of physical activity in comparison to the national average in conjunction with higher levels of dietary fat intake and lower levels of fruit and vegetable consumption.7,8 Furthermore, the Latino population is the fastest growing minority
All the journals reviewed confirmed that obesity is a serious problem within the Hispanic Communities and one such Journals reviewed is the Hispanic Obesity: An American crises. The Journal discussed how obesity is a serious problem within the ages 2-19 male brackets, and also underscore the ways to manage or outright eradicate the problem. Obese Children are more likely to suffer from high blood pressure, bad cholesterol and other morbidities associated with obesity such as hypertension and diabetes. The journal also pointed to economic constrains which has forced many Hispanic parents to live in low income areas saturated with fast food restaurants. Also, lack of physical education and poor diets are some of the reasons why Hispanic male in the 2-19 age brackets become obese. The Journal also presented intervention
As stated in the Encyclopedia of Science’s article, obesity is affecting any child from any ethnicity or race, age, economic backing, or region. Hispanic children, African American children, native American children, and any other children with bad quality eating habits, especially in the south, are at an exceptionally higher risk. The southern part of America is known for their ‘comfort’ food, which is extremely fattening, and is the reason why children living in the south have an exceptionally higher chance of becoming obese. In the African American communities, as well as the Hispanic communities, nearly 40% of the children are overweight or obese. Children who are at a lower economic standing may have a higher chance of developing obesity, but that doesn’t mean wealthier children are immune. The site, Let’s Move states that without solving this issue, 1/3 of all children born after 2000 will suffer from diabetes at one point in their lives. Statistics from the Encyclopedia of Life Science show that this number is still growing and is being compared to the 7% of obese children and 5% obese teens in the 1980 's, to show the changes needed to be done in society. More action, now more than ever, needs to be taken against obesity.
Diabetes is a disease that occurs when your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high. Currently the number of obese children is increasing in our country and it is a problem that should be concerned. Doctors often use a formula based on height and weight, called body mass index (BMI), to determine obesity. Children with a BMI over 21 is considered obese and over 18 is overweight (Arnett, J.J.2016). Adults with a BMI of 30 or more are considered obese. Severe obesity, also known as severe obesity or morbid obesity, occurs when a BMI of 40 or more is present. With morbid obesity, there may be serious health problems. If children do not have enough activities, they will
Obesity basically means having too much body fat. Not being overweight for your height, having too much muscle, or water in your body. What exactly is obesity? “Obesity is a condition that is associated with having an excess of body fat, defined by genetic and environmental factors that are difficult to control when dieting. Obesity is classified as having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or greater. BMI is a tool used to measure obesity. Obesity increases your risk of developing related conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and sleep apnea, to name a few. Many individuals are affected by obesity and are not aware of it” (O.A.C, 2016). Causes of obesity vary from person to person, but most are from the same reasons. Taking in more calories than your body can burn leads to obesity because your body stores the unused calories as fat. Typical causes are eating too much food than your body can use, drinking too much alcohol, and not getting enough exercise. Many obese people who lose large amounts of weight and gain it back think it is their fault. They blame themselves for not having the willpower to keep the weight off. Many people regain more weight than they lost. Today, we know that biology is a big reason why some people cannot keep the weight off. Some people who live in the same place and eat the same foods become obese, while others do not. Our bodies have a complex system to help keep our
Obesity in America is a developing problem, and not just in adults. Today, one in three American children and teens are either overweight or obese; almost triple the rate previously in 1963. Child obesity has expeditiously become one of the most genuine health challenges of the 21st century (“10 Surprising Facts About Childhood Obesity”). Physical inactivity, race, junk food in schools, the mass media, and the child’s parents flaws are all factors that have resulted in the prevalence of childhood obesity today.
The current state of obesity in the United States is a greater than that of other countries who live healthier lifestyles. Living healthy lifestyles is a great goal for a country to look towards achieving, and encouraging these lifestyles can benefit the country as well as the people. There are a lot of benefits for living healthy lifestyles, while there are also many negatives to living an unhealthy lifestyle. Taxing fatty foods would help to encourage buying healthy foods, and it could reduce obesity rates in America. There are a couple of problems within this way of thinking like: profits declining, people having to spend more, and the government going against the people. But the overall benefits of having more and more people move towards a healthier lifestyle would greatly overrule the downsides of it. Being able to lower the risk of disease by encouraging healthy lifestyles is something to stride for. Taxing fatty foods would be a great way to help encourage people to buy healthier foods and to lead healthier, fitter lives.
Obesity refers to the condition of having an extra amount of body fat. Obesity is caused by eating too much and moving too little. When an individual’s amount of body fat becomes too high, they are at a greater risk of being affected with life changing diseases such as heart failure, hypertension, type II diabetes, cancer, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, and others. This shows that people should become more physically active and attempt to make healthier choices because their life depends on the decisions, they make.
The everyday routines of life can and will be more difficult if encumbered with obesity.
Obesity is a condition in which the over accumulation of adipose fat tissue causes the weight of a person to increase abnormally. Their weight exceeds by 20%, as a factor of their ideal body weight. According to recent analysis, statistics show that more than one third of the world’s population is targeted by obesity. Research shows that overweight and obesity kills more people than underweight. Obesity occurs greatly amongst adults who are 18 years or older. An estimated 600 million adults were obese out of the 1.9 billion that were overweight, around the world in 2014. One in three adults in Mexico, New Zealand and United States are obese, and one in four adults in Australia, Canada, Chile and Hungary are obese. In contrast, rates of obesity are much lower in Asian countries, where approximately 2-4% of adults have obesity. In countries such as Mexico and the United States, Latino and Africans have the highest rates of obesity amongst all the individuals. However, along with adults, statistics show that the rates for obesity are also high among children within and below the age of 5. As calculated in 2013, the number of children across the world that were either overweight or obese was 42 million. Since then, the rates have increased by 30% more in in low- and middle-income countries than in developed countries. Due to the fact that this condition continues at higher rates across the world, several organizations, such as the World Health Organization, are working with and
Obesity is classified as one of the extremely common and serious public health problems in the world. Overweight and obesity are the fifth leading global risks of mortality in the world (World Health Organization, 2009). Furthermore, they are one of the major factors of for a number of chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer (World Health Organization, 2005). According to NHS UK, obesity is defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more for adults, and the UK 1990 growth reference curves are used to define obesity for Children (Cole TJ, Freeman JV, Preece MA, 1995). The growing challenge of obesity of Europe countries is remarkable among Asian countries .In 2008, 1.4 billion adults (35%) aged 20 and over were overweight and 500 million were obese (11%). More than 40 million children under the age of 5 were overweight or obese in 2012(World Health Organization, 2014). That is the global obesity situation. Furthermore, the obesity problem in the UK is not optimistic, the UK has the highest obesity rates among Europe countries, and this trend has strikingly increased over the recent years to the point where more than 20% of the population are now obese. (University of Birmingham, 2014) However, the obesity situation in Singapore is more worrisome. In 2010, 40% adults aged 18 to 69 were overweight and 10% were obese which is more than double the level seen in 1992. (Ministry of Health Singapore, 2010) This essay will