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How Can We Stop the Obesity Epidemic Among Children In the United States?
Bibliographic Essay
Rafael Ramirez
Professor Leslie Drake
Research Techniques and Technology
4 December, 2014
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Abstract
This paper was written to discuss the topic of child obesity and how can we stop the
epidemic. This question will not only be answered in a direct manner, but this essay will also
give information underneath the surface, as well as critically analysis of “obesity.” In the
sections below the topics will vary based on the different aspects that there are to discuss about
obesity. Children in the United States are getting obese at a faster rate each year, which has been
growing. The problem with children being obese has been affecting their health. The main topic
is that obesity must be prevented by public awareness, physical activity, and integrating public
health. The final section will discuss the consequences of obesity and the habits created, and how
obesity has had such a deep effect on society, enough to change people’s norms and views on
what is allowed to be consumed.
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Introduction
The world today shapes who we are as individuals, whether it come from interaction with
family or if it comes from media. There are many opinions, facts, ideas, statistical information
and more on any given topic of debate. In this paper there will be statistical data, discussion
about the way we can prevent obesity on the youth of American society, as well as the
consequences that come with being obese. The paper will be organized into sections that will be
discussing what is found through research and help point individuals to their everyday choices
for consumption.
Statistical Data
In the first source, “Timing of Adiposity Rebound: A Step Toward Preventing Obesity”
we can examine about the statistical information about obesity. Besides the statistical
information that will be explained shortly, there is also a method some doctors used to find data
they can use to plan early intervention efforts to prevent childhood obesity. The method that was
used is called AR mechanism. “AR is recognized as a period of rapid growth in body fat where
adipocytes increase in both size numbers” (Rolland-Cachera 1984). Some facts that are credible
are, “Children 2 to 19 years of age in the U.S has increased approximately 3 to 4 times in the last
three decades” (Ceters for Disease Control and Prevention |CDC|, 2009a). In this article gender
and racial differences in AR were identified at an early age. The authors concluded, “To address
the obesity problem, it is important to start prevention and intervention strategies in early
childhood.” The authors suggest in planning and showing effort to prevent childhood obesity.
This source is credible because it includes number of authors meaning it was a well put article
and peer reviewed.
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Prevention
In the next source, “Framing the Consequence of Childhood Obesity to Increase Public
Support For Obesity Prevention Policy”, it explains the ways to prevent the problem of obesity.
This source is an article, from the “American Journal of Public Health”. In this article the authors
show multiple studies of surveying different people. These surveys are about different methods
on how to prevent obesity. They ask questions on the concerns of obesity. One of the questions
for the survey was, “Strong Reasons for the Government to Do Something About Childhood
Obesity?”. Several policies that were supportive were like “prohibiting junk food marketing in
children’s television programing, implementing school-based surveillance of students body mass
indices, prohibiting junk food and soda in school cafeterias” (Gollust). These policies are some
solutions to stopping obesity in children. The source has references and authors with authority
which means it is very credible.
This article was written by, Boonpleng Wannaporn, Chang Gi Park, and Agatha M.
Gallo. In this article it explains how the number of obesity among children is getting higher. The
name of the article is, “Physical Activity And Childhood Obesity: Strategies and Solutions for
Schools and Parents”. Just like the source prior to this one there different methods to help reduce
the epidemic of children among children. This article gives examples such as eating more fast
food, eating food from the vending machine, and how children in the present use less energy than
their older family members. This source seems to be directly written to schools and parent. The
reason to that would be to have more support within our community to prevent and stop
childhood obesity. Some strategies and solutions for schools are, “Create and maintain safe
facilities, equipment, and supplies. Place salad bars in each school; provide quality physical
education for all students” (Green). Some strategies and solutions for parents are, “Involve the
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entire family when planning physical activities, select food choices that contain low levels of fat,
sugar, sodium and cholesterol”(Green). This article was a good insight of strategies and
solutions. This article is from the summer of 2012, letting us know it is a current source. It also
has its references at the end of the article making it credible. The journal is called “Education”
and the authors are doctors making the information reliable.
“Educating Health Care Professionals In Advocacy For Childhood Obesity Prevention In
Their Communities: Integrating Public Health and Primary Care in The Be Our Voice Project”,
focuses more on the education side of this topic. This article was written in scholarly manner.
This was written with the intent to explain on how to educate health care professionals. The ideas
of the article were different kinds of trainings in which doctors, nurses and other health care
professionals learn methods and procedures to use when interacting with children. This is a good
step towards stopping and preventing obesity. They learned public health strategies to advocate
for environmental systems changes to prevent childhood obesity in their communities. This
source is credible and has the resources to back up facts and ideas. This article is current since it
was written last year in 2012. This journal is from the “American Journal Of Public Health” and
has the credibility it deserves.
Consequences of Obesity
The article “The Effect of Prenatal and Postnatal Care On Childhood Obesity”, explains
the consequences of being obese. So far, the essay has been about prevention, in contrast article
explains the downfalls of being an obese child. According to this article, “If this problem is
unresolved, some children will be at risk for disorders such as type 2 diabetes, high blood
pressure, and cancer and will become a high economic and social burden for society.” (Seipel)
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Like the other articles it also explains some ways to help stop obesity among children. This
source was published in June 2013, meaning it is a current source. This article has its references
making it credible. The journal is from the National Association Of Social Workers. Seipal has
the authority for the source because he is a professor from Brigham Young University.
Conclusion
In conclusion throughout this paper, there has been a display of different aspects of the
topic of obesity with children. Topics discussed in this paper included statistical data, prevention
of obesity in schools by education, and policy, but also the consequences associated with being
obese. This problem of obesity has plagued our society over recent years, the choices being made
with the food a child consumes and accepting the problems with eating poorly. In the end we
must do our best to change our future for the better, and can be as easy as changing what foods
our kids eat at schools.
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Bibliography Resource Page
Boonpleng, W., Park, C. G., & Gallo, A. M. (2012). Timing of Adiposity Rebound: A Step
Toward Preventing Obesity. Pediatric Nursing, 38(1), 37-42.
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Gollust, S. E., Niederdeppe, J., & Barry, C. L. (2013). Framing the Consequences of Childhood
Obesity to Increase Public Support for Obesity Prevention Policy. American Journal Of
Public Health, 103(11), e96-e102. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2013.301271
Green, G., Riley, C., & Hargrove, B. (2012). Physical Activity and Childhood Obesity:
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McPherson, M. E., Mirkin, R., Heatherley, P. N., & Homer, C. J. (2012). Educating Health Care
Professionals in Advocacy for Childhood Obesity Prevention in Their Communities:
Integrating Public Health and Primary Care in the Be Our Voice Project. American
Journal Of Public Health, 102(8), e37-43. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2012.300833
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childcare center setting. BMC Public Health, 13(1), 1-10. doi:10.1186/1471-2458-13-78
Seipel, M. O., & Shafer, K. (2013). The Effect of Prenatal and Postnatal Care on Childhood
Obesity. Social Work, 58(3), 241-252. doi:10.1093/sw/swt025
Werner, D., Teufel, J., Holtgrave, P. L., & Brown, S. L. (2012). Active Generations: An
Intergenerational Approach to Preventing Childhood Obesity. Journal Of School Health,
82(8), 380-386. doi:10.1111/j.1746-1561.2012.00713