Causes of Childhood Obesity essays

Causes of Childhood Obesity essays Childhood obesity is a huge concern among society. Not only does it affect a child physically, but it affects them mentally and emotionally as well. Healthy eating habits must be enforced by parents to prevent adulthood obesity that originally stemmed from childhood obesity. The diet of the child begins at home, and the parents should be held responsible for any declining health issues resulting from a poor diet. Who would have ever thought something as simple as a McDonalds dinner treat on a Friday night would progress to the point of McDonalds being a part of a childs diet? What ever happened to home cooked meals that included the major food groups to keep a childs diet intact with the daily living requirements? Or better yet, a parents grocery cart is filled with more junk food and microwavable items high in sugars, carbohydrates, and fats instead of fruits and vegetables. "Good dietary habits start at home. If parents are eating poorly, chances are their kids are too." said resea rch scientist Susan H. Babey, a co-author of the policy brief (LiveScience). With that being said, the diet of the child begins at home and any declining health issues from a poor diet, the parent should be held responsible. Many people get being overweight and being obese confused. Overweight is defined as having excess body weight for a particular height from fat, muscle, bone, water, or a combination of these factors. Obesity is defined as having excess body fat. Body mass index (BMI) is the measurement in which is used to determine if a child is obese. There are two systems in determining obesity. This BMI differs from an adult because instead of actual numbers, child BMI uses percentiles and is age- and sex- specific. Children BMI percentile charts are used from 2- 19 years of age and it correlates the amount of body fat change with age and how it differs between boys and girls (CDC). If a child falls into the 85th to ...