Final Research Paper Childhood Obesity
Childhood Obesity – Childcare Programs Fighting the Epidemic First Lady Michelle Obama opened the Let’s Move campaign in 2010 by telling us that “Over the past three decades, childhood obesity rates in America have tripled, and today, nearly one in three children in America are overweight or obese” (Let’s Move, n.d.). Rates of childhood obesity continue to rise in the United States. The percentage of young children ages 6–11 years in the United States who was 18% in 2012 from 7% in 1980. Additionally, the percentage of pre- teen and teenagers ages 12–19 years who were obese increased from 5% to nearly 21% over the same period. (CDC, n.d.) Even among infants, toddlers and preschoolers the prevalence of obesity is alarmingly high. A large percentage of children ages six weeks old to eleven years old are enrolled in some sort of a child care program, and the amount of time children spend in child care programs each week has increased over the years. Even though parents are ultimately responsible for their children not educators, early childhood educators have the unique position and ability to help reduce the childhood obesity epidemic because early childhood educators spend large amounts of time with children, have the chance to be a good role model, and have the opportunity to help teach children healthy habits to last a lifetime. Before early childhood educators can help reduce the childhood obesity epidemic they must first understand what obesity is and how it is diagnosed. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that overweight is defined as “having excess body weight for a particular height from fat, muscle, bone, water, or a combination of these factors” and “obesity is defined as having excess body fat” (CDC, n.d.). Crowie adds that obesity and the accumulation of body fat presents a risk to overall health. (Crowie, 2014) Now that it is clear what being overweight or obese is; the physical cause of obesity will help with understanding how a change can be made. The CDC states that the state of being overweight and obese “are the result ofLDHOOD OBESITY 3 ‘caloric imbalance’—too few calories expended for the amount of calories consumed—and are affected by various genetic, behavioral, and environmental factors” (CDC, n.d.). It is clear what overweight/obesity is and what causes it, but how is it diagnosed? Lara Field who is a registered dietician and pediatric nutritionist, was a guest on a podcast series called 1 Meal 1 Minute by Aaron Butler, Don Sullivan and Mark Cockrell. In the podcast Field describes what doctors consider when they diagnose childhood obesity. Field says that a child having a body mass index (BMI) or height to weight ratio of betw……………
From essays to dissertations, we deliver on time, every time.
DO MY ASSIGNMENTS!We are a reliable online essay writing website that offers tailor-made assignment answers for students. From essays to dissertations, we deliver on time, every time. We specialize in helping university students to turn in the best possible essays. We offer a full range of services aimed at delivering high quality papers and we do it all at affordable rates. If you are looking for essay writing services we can help you.
Ask for Instant Assignment Writing Help. No Plagiarism Guarantee!
