Health Concerns of Childhood Obesity

Health Concerns of Childhood Obesity

Final Research Paper

Taylor Nixon
0851339

PSYC*2360

Dr. M. Gloria Gonzalez-Morales

Friday, December 4

Introduction

        This paper will discuss the growing concern of childhood obesity and the causes and issues related to this epidemic. This paper will touch upon the affects childhood obesity can have on ones health as they mature in adulthood. Childhood obesity is an important subject to touch on because it has quickly become a major public health crisis nationally and internationally (Karnik & Kanekar, 2012). As well, childhood obesity is an important topic to research because with proper knowledge the nation can learn how to prevent this epidemic as well as give support to those who suffer from it.

        In children, obesity is defined by the medical community as the accumulation of body fat levels above twenty-five percent for boys and thirty-two percent for girls (Sevilla, 2006). These high levels of body fat in children often contribute to health and mental issues, which is why childhood obesity is a growing concern. Over the past thirty years the rate of obesity amongst children has nearly tripled (Lakshman, Elks & Ong, 2012).  Based on a study conducted by the World Health Organization the prevalence of obesity amongst children younger than the age of five has increased from 4.2 percent in 1990 to 6.7 percent in 2010 and is estimated to reach rates as high as 9.1 percent in 2020.  This information is based upon a survey conducted in 144 countries. Although the total occurrence of obesity in children is still lower than the rate among adults, the rate of increase in childhood obesity has doubled faster than the rate of adults (Litwin, 2014).

        Childhood obesity has become a widely known issue. There are many factors that contribute to obesity among children such as the limitation on healthy foods and increased portion sizes. Children that suffer from obesity face more health risks than children of a normal weight. A number of studies have proven that obesity can create clear health concern while you are a child, however the purpose of this study is to determine what affects childhood obesity can have on a person as they mature into adulthood. There is reason to believe childhood obesity will be connected to a number of both physical and mental health concerns in adulthood.
        There are a number of concerns related to childhood obesity that can be used as predictors for adult health. The first health concern connected to childhood obesity is growth. Based on a study conducted by William H. Dietz (1997), overweight children tend to be taller and have advanced bone ages. Studies have shown that accelerated height gain came quickly after the child excessively gained weight.  As well, obese children tend to mature earlier than non-overweight children. As a result of early maturation, these children have a higher chance of obesity as adulthood. Evidence shows that an average of 40% (up to 80%) of overweight children become overweight adults (Tracey Bridger, 2006). Additionally, obese children that mature earlier than the average child are more likely to develop an eating disorder such as binge eating (William H. Diets, 1997).

        Among obese women Polycystic Ovarian Disease (POD) has become increasingly prevalent. Amongst all women that suffer from POD 30% of them are obese. Although there is no clear answer as to why obese women are prone to POD, there are clear connections to adolescence. As stated above obese children mature quicker than non-obese children. As a girl matures and enters puberty her weight can have a heavy affect on her development. As well, obesity related issues such as hyperinsulinemia, hyperdrogenemia and severe insulin intolerance might promote development of POD (Anderson, Solorza & McCartney, 2014).

        According to the Journal of the American College of Cardiology obesity is often a contributor to specific health concerns that can progress into a cardiovascular disease (CVD). These health concerns include elevated blood pressure (hypertension), insulin resistance and dyslipidemia. Obese children are three times more likely to obtain hypertension than non-obese children (Tracey Bridger, 2009). This is largely due to your body mass index. As children gain weight and reach a higher BMI percentile their chances of gaining hypertension increase. A child that has a large stomach has intra-abdominal fat. This fat affects your blood pressure, which in return affects your blood lipid levels (Luma & Spiotta, 2006). When this occurs your blood lipid levels interfere with your body’s ability to tolerate insulin. Overtime a child may develop Type Two diabetes, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Although obesity itself has not been determined to be a specific cause of cardiovascular disease, it is clear that obesity has been found to generate health concerns that can eventually develop into CVD.

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