Essay on Causes of Obesity in Children

Introduction

American children have a high risk of overweight, and the number keeps rising. These children might not have health-related problems due to overweight, but they risk suffering when they reach adolescent or adult age. The children are likely to be affected by stress, sadness, or low self-esteem aside from chronic diseases like diabetes and heart diseases. Obesity in children is caused by genetic factors, limited physical activity, and unhealthy eating habits.

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Genetic factors play a greater risk as a cause of obesity in some children. Some children have inherited genes from their parents, thus making them gain weight at a tender age. The current generation rarely gets involved in active work, therefore making it easy for these children to acquire obesity traits from their parents (McBride et al. p 40-45). Genetics do not play a vital role in obese children, but the traits can be enhanced when food with calories are taken in. There is also a rare condition where obesity is linked to Prader-Willi syndrome. The condition affects a child's body parts whereby the child become hungry even after eating. The outcome makes the child be obese due to uncontrolled eating. The condition is passed from parents to children with a missing gene on chromosome 15.

Limited physical activity as a result of lifestyle and environment causes obesity among children. Children's environment that includes schools, family, and surrounding environment enhances the physical activity of children. Children find themselves eating without engaging in active practices that would improve their physical activity hence find themselves being obese (Papoutsi, Drichoutis & Nayga, 743). Children who rely on cars to go to school without engaging in walks and cycling are likely to be obese. Obesity in children is vulnerable to children who spend too much of their time on television and playing video games instead of engaging in physical activities such as gardening. Inactive children, therefore, do not use energy stored in their bodies. Instead, they are stored as fat, which finally might turn them to be obese.

Unhealthy eating habits are the leading cause of obesity among children. Infants and young children get obese if their parents ignore them when their bodies respond to having had enough. The large portions taken in by the child after being full is what eventually will lead to obesity. Obesity in children is gradual and do not take place overnight. It involves poor dietary by eating a lot of food that is rich in fat and sugar. Parents who feed children everything ignoring their fullness are the reason some children end up obese. Other habits include taking food when sad, love expression and as a reward when well behaved. Unhealthy bad eating habits might be family traits, which could influence the child from a young age.

Conclusion

There is an increased number of children with obesity cases, that is why solutions ought to be established. The solution to childhood obesity can range from state programs and community efforts. State and local programs should be established to assist in helping parents to understand their children's body mass index. The community should also put their factors to promote healthy eating for children at a young age. Children should get involved at school by participating in games. Cooking meals at home and packing for young children assist in preventing bad eating habits where children eat from fast foods. There are many causes of obesity in children, but the major ones are genes, poor physical activity, and unhealthy eating ways.

Works Cited

McBride, Dulcie, MA, MBBS, MSc, D.R.C.O.G., M.F.P.H. (2010). Childhood obesity: The journal for nurses in general practice. Practice Nurse, 39(11), 40-45. Retrieved from https://search.proquest.com/docview/577081308?accountid=45049

Papoutsi, G. S., Drichoutis, A. C., & Nayga, R. M. (2013). THE CAUSES OF CHILDHOOD OBESITY: A SURVEY. Journal of Economic Surveys, 27(4), 743-767. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6419.2011.00717.x