Childhood obesity is a topic that is of interest due to the high prevalence and the impact it has on health as well as society as a whole. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)(2015), the prevalence of childhood obesity in the United States is approximately 17%; while trends demonstrate a decline, the amount of children who remain obese is too high.The economic burden of childhood obesity is concerning as an estimated 24% of health care costs relate to obesity, and hospital costs attributed to childhood obesity have increased a three-fold reaching an amount close to $130 million annually (CDC, 2015). These accrued costs could be used to prevent childhood obesity rather than treat complications secondary to obesity, which is why focus should be emphasized on prevention.
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BackgroundChildhood obesity affects all races and ethnic backgrounds. In the United States, 18 percent of adolescents between the ages of 12 and 19 are obese, 20 percent of kids aged 6 to 11 are obese, and 10 percent of children aged 2 to 5 years old are obese.
Children who are overweight are much more likely to become overweight adults if they do not change their dietary and exercise patterns. Weight problems are one of the easiest medical conditions to recognize and prevent, but treating it is proving difficult due to many factors |
PathophysiologyObesity results from a complex relationship of genetics, environment, and the body's response to environmental factors. Though studies show a variety of risk factors and predictors for obesity, the specific moderators of excess weight gain vary and the relationship among variables is complex.
New findings of various factors such as hormones, microbes, and brain activity that are involved with satiety (feelings of fullness), insulin sensitivity, and weight regulation are being discovered daily. There is a general consensuses that most obesity is mainly a result of predisposition combined with environmental factors (diet, exercise, sedentary lifestyles, ect.) |
HP 2020 Goals
Promote health and reduce chronic disease risk through the consumption of healthful diets and achievement and maintenance of healthy body weight
Promote healthy diets and healthy weight encompasses increasing household food security and eliminating hunger. The Nutrition and Weight Status objectives for Healthy People 2020 reflect strong science supporting the health benefits of eating a healthful diet and maintaining a healthy body weight. The objectives also emphasize that efforts to change diet and weight should address individual behaviors, as well as the policies and environments that support these behaviors in settings such as schools, work sites, health care organizations, and communities. |