Child Obesity by Alma Argumedo

Introduction

When it comes to child obesity, not many people focus on a child’s perspective. Overweight children appear self-conscious because they are unpleased with their images. Parents do not realize that allowing their adolescents to regularly consume unhealthy foods will cause them to bloat and harm their bodies. According to an estimate by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than a third of U.S. children ages 2–19 are overweight or obese. Those conditions can lead to serious and life-threatening long-term health problems, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma and heart disease (“Childhood Obesity”). Children who are overweight or are headed towards obesity are in danger of various health conditions and can develop a lack of self-esteem.

History

            Child obesity has not always been an epidemic. “In the 1960s only 7% of children in the United Sates were obese” (Johnson). “The prevalence of obesity declined significantly among pre-school children ages 2–5 years from 14% in 2003–2004 to 8% in 2011–2012…In 2011–2012, obesity was 17% among children ages 6–11, and 20% among those ages 12–19 years” (Davidson, Culvert). Today a wide range of children are faced with this dreadful health issue. “About 12.7 million children (17%) and adolescents from ages 2 through 19 years are obese” (1). Inactive bodies and over consumption of high-calorie foods have induced an immense escalation in overweight children. “Most overweight children are too heavy simply because they eat more calories than they burn with exercise” (1). Critics also argue that the increasing rate for child obesity could be a result of lousy parental care. “The types of food available in the house and the food preferences of family members can influence the foods that children eat” (Sahoo). Children must be taught healthy eating habits and maintain regular exercise activities because of the high child obesity rate leading to an economic threat. In the words of former First Lady Michelle Obama, “If we continue on our current path, in ten years, nearly 50 percent of all Americans will be obese—not just overweight, but obese” (“First Lady Michelle Obama Speaks about Health and Obesity”).

Social Effects

            Childhood obesity affects children emotionally and physiologically. Obesity is the second leading cause of death in the United States. Children who are obese are less likely to feel confident about themselves due to their lack of self-esteem. Many cases have found that overweight children have considered the thought of suicide. Children who are overweight lack self-confidence, simply because they are unpleased with their physical appearance. "Overweight children are at an increased risk of teasing and bullying, low self-esteem, and poor body image" (“Childhood Obesity”). These factors can lead a child towards depression or expose them to various health consequences for example, “non-communicable diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases at a younger age” (1). Children who are overweight are also more likely to become obese as they develop because of the insignificant amount of activity they perform. “Obese children and adolescents may experience immediate health consequences and may be at risk for weight-related health problems in adulthood” (“Obesity in Children Is a Serious Problem”).

Childhood obesity has spread nationwide. Numerous children are gaining massive amounts of weight due to inactive bodies, poor eating habits, and lack of parental care. In America, child obesity has become the highest factor of mortality. According to General Surgeon Richard Carmona, “obesity is the fastest-growing cause of illness and death in the United States” (Obesity Epidemic). It has exposed Americans to a nation wide diseases and numerous deaths. “This epidemic has triggered approximately 300,000 deaths each year and $117 billion in health-care expenses ” (1).

Examples

Studies have showed how adults regret their obese adolecence, because it discarded them from a normal childhood. Obese children are plump and inactive. They are usually shy and timid because they feel self-conscious about their bodies. An example of how childhood obesity is a consequential matter is demonstrated by Rebecca Stevenage, who shares her story in regards to her obese childhood, " I was an overweight child, teenager and adult, often bullied, with exceptionally low self-esteem and depression for many years" ("Childhood Obesity: 10 of Your Stories"). Rebecca attempted to regulate her eating, but her excessive eating portions made it harder for her to cut back. "I spent several months working through my emotional associations with food - an exceptionally difficult and painful journey which opened up a lot of discomfort in many areas of my life" (1).  "As a child and teen, for me, food equalled love and comfort. A painful journey later, food equals fuel and my relationships and self-esteem are so much better for having done the hard work"(1). Rebecca mentions how her healthier eating choices now have impacted her life significantly. She has gained more confidence in herself and is now eating regularly. Rebecca was unaware of all the crtical issues obesity comes with as a child. She then decided to change her eating habits during her early twenties. Children must be taught about the dangers of becoming overweight becuase it may lead them to an obese lifestyle, and pushes them away from having a normal childhood. Like Rebecca, many children are faced with the dreadful health concern and are criticized by society.

Solutions

            The epidemic of child obesity is exponentially increasing. This unintentional dispute must be resolved. The only way a resolution can occur is if all United States citizens take action in helping the youth. In agreement with article, “Childhood Obesity” parents must “model good eating habits and an active lifestyle for children to adopt, and serve a variety of healthy foods at mealtimes and keep healthy snacks on hand” (Davidson, Culvert). This is the only way to get a grasp on overeating and childhood obesity. Avoiding high-fat and high-calorie foods in a household allows children to maintain a balanced appetite. For children who are currently obese and are in need of support to gain their self-confidence and a figure they are content with, treatment programs are encouraged. Obese children must take on the challenge of replacing their poor eating choices to healthier foods, to insure a change in their lifestyle. Prevalent overweight children have joined active clubs to assist them on their journey to weight loss. Reassuring the adolescent in their eating habits and physical activity, prevents the epidemic of obesity to spread among children.

            Obese children should consider joining active social groups because physical involvement will lead them to an improved lifestyle. As reported in the striking article, “Childhood Obesity”, “Some teenagers may benefit from joining a structured weight-loss program such as Weight Watchers” (1). Parents who monitor their children’s eating habits and assist them in maintaining a well-balanced meal, will allow obese children to conquer the horrid challenge of being overweight. Studies show that parents who manage their children’s daily lives properly will admit them to a healthy childhood. Parents must limit their children’s meals to certain foods and encourage them to join social organizations, because this will offer them an active youth. These solutions work best because with good parental care, a child can grow to be healthy and not have to deal with the long-term health problems obesity comes with. “Alongside appropriate actions there are ways to limit and even prevent childhood obesity. Parents play a huge influence in their child's life. Parents can encourage healthy lifestyle habits. They can also use schools for support to raise awareness about the growing epidemic and its factors” (“Parents Are Responsible for What Children Eat, Not Children”). The thought of a child struggling and overcoming the battle of obesity is scares. Parents must do their part in aiding obesity in children, because they play a major role and a child’s life and can impact their decisions in a positive way.

Camus and Absurdity

            The rambunctious novel, The Plague, written by Albert Camus, is penned in regards to a town who falls into quarantine due to a wide spread illness carried by rats. Abruptly a massive amount of rats’ start dying. Soon after there were no more rats to be found, alive or dead, people begin dying instead. This started to concern an anxious surgeon, Dr. Bernard Rieux, who fights to discover a cure for the deadly illness along with his older colleague, Dr. Castel, who was the first person to recognize the epidemic of the plague was caused by the Black Death. The small town of Oran begins to panic. No one knows how the spread of the disease occurred. The citizens want answers and soon begin to panic. The public of Oran are in denial of the epidemic because they realized that the spread of the illness was caused by the plague, also known as the Black Death or bubonic plague, but refuse to admit it. The people of Oran react to the bubonic plague by pampering each other with love because they are forced to feel sympathy due to the fact that everyone around them was dying. Meanwhile Dr. Riex convinces himself that it is up to him to stop the diseases from causing more deaths. He had no distractions in finding the healing for the disease, because he had no one to care for. The absence of people in his life caused him to remain focused in solving the dreadful issue of the spread. Several months pass and the citizens of Oran finally convince themselves that the only way a cure to be found is if they all work together. Once the horrid plague comes to an end, the citizens of Oran return to their normal lives and daily routines.

            Albert Camus, author of The Plague, beliefs relate to the concerns of the epidemic of child obesity, because they focus on a cure for wellness. Camus’ writes in regards to absurd fiction. This contradicts social epidemics in the actual world because everything can have a resolution in fiction. Camus’ beliefs relate to Americans battling obesity because in the novel, the citizens of Oran were quarantined. Much like children now, metaphorically and physically, obese children are trapped in their own bodies. Obese children can come off as in denial because they have convinced themselves their problem is vague. The bubonic plague and child obesity are very much alike because they are both affecting society due to a widespread illness. Camus beliefs in regard to childhood obesity can be reflected in the persona of Dr. Rieux, who is desperately seeking an avenue for healing the plague. similar to parents in aiding their obese children. This attitude is similar to parents in aiding their obese children in efforts for rehabilitation.

            Author of The Plague, Albert Camus, would be concerned about the increasing spread of child obesity. Camus would be distressed with the numerous amount of children being affected by the obesity epidemic. He alludes individual freedom in the novel, The Plague, but targets denial within the citizens of Oran. He creates each character to serve their purpose, and organizes their thoughts similar to how he believes humans would response to an epidemic in the actual world. Camus constructs the characters based on people’s behavior towards controversial problems. Camus would be disappointed in the amount of people disregarding the social epidemic, much like the citizens of Oran.

            Albert Camus’ emotions towards the results of child obesity would not surprise him. He is familiar with the negligence people put on social issues. The outcomes of child obesity have led to numerous children facing fatal health problems. Many citizens are blinded by the amounts of children being affected and are opposing fact that the epidemic is spreading rapidly. Camus is aware of how people reject the obvious. Compared to the narrative characters of Oran, Citizens of the Unites States deny contentious matters until they occur and cause distress among the public. Camus would feel exasperated with the amount of people disregarding social epidemics because he knows people will not pay any attention towards a consequential matter until it has touched their lives personally. Camus would most likely encourage people to stand up and fight for recognition on behalf of this epidemic.

Conclusion

            Child obesity has become a vast issue in America. The idea of children becoming obese has been met with indifference, because it is a problem that can easily be prevented. Childhood obesity continues to spread and is a consequential matter that is being denied by parents who have obese children, because they are in denial that their child is facing a dreadful issue. Negligent parents are allowing their children to consume large portions of high-fat and high-calorie foods, and are not encouraging physical activity in their child’s daily lives. Children must be taught about the dangers an obese child might be exposed to if they do not maintain a healthy lifestyle. Children who are obese are most likely to live an obese adulthood and obtain a lack of self-esteem. The epidemic of child obesity causes children to eventually feel self-conscious about themselves because they are unpleased with their bodies. This issue can also lead children towards depression or suicidal thoughts. Obese children or children who are leading towards obesity are in danger of numerous health conditions that may lead to serious and life-threatening and long-term health problems, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma and heart disease.

           

           

           

Works Cited

"Childhood Obesity: Should the U.S. government be involved in the fight against childhood obesity?" Issues & Controversies, InfoBase Learning, 14 Nov. 2011, http://icof.infobaselearning.com/recordurl.aspx?ID=2319. Accessed 17 July 2017.

"Childhood Obesity: 10 of Your Stories." BBC News. BBC, 02 Oct. 2012. Web. 26 July 2017.

Davidson, Tish, AM, and L. Lee Culvert. "Childhood Obesity." The Gale Encyclopedia of Nutrition and Food Labels, edited by Jacqueline L. Longe, Gale, 2017, pp. 113-117. Gale Virtual Reference Library, ezproxy.com.edu/login?url=http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do? p=GVRL&sw=w&u=txshracd2496&v=2.1&it=r&id=GALE%7CCX3645900040&asid=fcbf8372bcb3a65f758eb807a18f54a3. Accessed 19 July 2017.

"First Lady Michelle Obama Speaks about Health and Obesity." 20 Jan. 2010. Issues & Controversies, InfoBase Learning, http://icof.infobaselearning.com/recordurl.aspx?ID=7560. Accessed 20 July 2017.

Greenblatt, Alan. "Obesity Epidemic." CQ Researcher, 31 Jan. 2003, pp. 73-104, library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2003013100.

Johnson, Suzanne Bennett. "The Nation's Childhood Obesity Epidemic: Health Disparities in the Making." American Psychological Association. American Psychological Association, July 2012. Web. 18 July 2017.

"Obesity in Children Is a Serious Problem." Obesity, edited by Scott Barbour, Greenhaven Press, 2010. Opposing Viewpoints. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, ezproxy.com.edu/login?url=http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010380241/OVIC? u=txshracd2496&xid=947269e2. Accessed 19 July 2017. Originally published as "Childhood Overweight and Obesity," www.cdc.gov, 19 Aug. 2009.

Sahoo, Krushnapriya et al. “Childhood Obesity: Causes and Consequences.” Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care 4.2 (2015): 187–192. PMC. Web. 20 July 2017.

The kNOw Youth Media. "Parents Are Responsible for What Children Eat, Not Restaurants." Fast Food, edited by Tamara Thompson, Greenhaven Press, 2015. At Issue. Opposing ViewpointsinContext,ezproxy.com.edu/login?url=http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010311229/OVIC? u=txshracd2496&xid=aace1ba7. Accessed 1 Aug. 2017. Originally published as "Parents Are Responsible for Health of Children,", 25 May 2013.