The Overview of Childhood Obesity - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 8 Words: 2269 Downloads: 3 Date added: 2019/03/22 Category Health Essay Level High school Tags: Childhood Obesity Essay Obesity Essay Did you like this example? Obesity is a current health epidemic that has dreadful consequences for Americas health, particularly among low-income children and adolescents. The rising rate of obesity has reached epidemic proportions and is now one of the most grave public health challenges facing the US. However, underlying causes for this increase are unclear. This literature studies several of the factors that place low-income children at risk for developing obesity; psychological, environmental, and biological. This investigation will show that none of these particular factors operate in isolation but are torturously intertwined, as suggested the Biopsychosocial model of Disease provided by Psychology. The findings indicated that participants weight was most influenced by family lifestyle and school environment factors. More proper education and prevention methods are essential in creating a safer healthcare system that provides maximal quality of life. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "The Overview of Childhood Obesity" essay for you Create order The Overview of Childhood Obesity Obesity is a critical health problem that is increasing worldwide, and in the United States in particular. In the US, the percentage of children and teens affected by obesity has more than tripled since 1970s ( Irimia R, Gottschling M 2016). According to a survey conducted and published in JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association, seven states have self-reported obesity rates surpassing 35%, according to new data from the CDC, up from the comparison in 2012 in which all states were lower than 35% (Bridget Kuehn, MSJ, 2018). Excess weight is not just a matter of physical appearance. The concerns about the increasing prevalence of obesity are founded in the association between obesity and adverse health outcomes and increased health expenditures. Obesity has been linked to an increased risk of numerous comorbidities, including high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, type 2 diabetes mellitus, coronary heart disease, osteoarthritis, asthma, and gallbladder disease. An alarming fact of this epidemic is that children are increasingly becoming obese. Data collected from the CDC during the years 2015-2016 show that nearly 1 in 5 school age children and young people (6 to 19 years) in the United States has obesity ( Irimia R, Gottschling M 2016). Adolescents who are Black or Hispanic or live in poverty are at almost twice the risk for being overweight as non-Hispanic white youth. These children will become more susceptible to a poorer quality of life plagued by various illnesses, low energy and eventually low esteem. There is a magnitude of factors that lead children to overeat, make innutritious diet choices, and not exercise consistently. Of great concern is that children who are overweight or obese are also more likely to be overweight or obese as adults (Freedman Et Al., 2005; Wang, 2008). Psychology, as a science of human behavior, offers a powerful perspective on the interwoven nature of these factors and can point the way towards the development of successful interventions to halt the march of this epidemic. However, this research has largely ignored the role of rising income. Studies that have examined the role of income on obesity within the United States have been unable to account for the potential endogeneity and reverse causality between income and weight and obesity prevalence. Social and Enviromental Factors With the numerous medical concerns obesity causes, childhood obesity affects childrens social and emotional health. Obese adolescents are often bullied and/or teased because they are overweight. They face being exiled from activities, particularly sports. These negative social issues lead to low self esteem, low self confidence within themselves (Sahoo, K., Sahoo, B., 2015). The negative issues of childhood obesity presented can be life altering to children. The consequences of being an obese child tend to contribute to difficulty in weight management. Obese children shy away the public eye to protect themselves from negative comments and unwanted attention; retreating to safe places, such as their homes (Lobstein, T., Jackson-Leach, R., 2015). The social factors intertwined with being apart of a low income family, the pressure on the child surmounts anything one could imagine. Low income families are faced with various obstacles that prevent them from obtaining a healthy lifestyle regimen, thus socioeconomic status tends to play a significant role in the obesity epidemic (Lobstein, T., Jackson-Leach, R., 2015). Environmental factors that include; low-income, lack of access to healthy food choices, and lack of resources within the confines of the community can definitely contribute to obesity. Approximately 23.5 million people within the United State live what the United State Department of Agriculture (USDA) labels a food desert; an urban area in which it is difficult to buy affordable or good-quality fresh food (United States Department of Agriculture, 2009). Within these low-income communities, the only places residents are able to buy food are fast-food restaurants and gas stations that offer sugary, fatty, and processed products according to the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC). These restaurants serve many energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods at relatively low prices. Fast food consumption is associated with a diet high in calories and low in nutrients, and frequent consumption may lead to weight gain (Powell Nguyen, 2013). According to researchers at the Rudd Center suggest that despite the addition of some healthy kids meal options, less than 1% of all kids meal combinations 33 out of 5,427 possible meals met recommended nutrition standards (Yale, Rudd Center 2013). These hyperpalatable foods served at Burger King, and or McDonalds, for instance, are much higher in fats, sugar and sodium than healthier foods choice (i.e. vegetables and fruits). In addition to the lack of access to healthy food options, parents within these communities work long hours outside of the household. Which leaves the parent(s) not having the adequate time to prepare healthy meals at home, making it harder to set up a routine of eating quality food. A childs environment and mind is also flooded with the presence of media. Typically children spend 44.5 hours a week in front of electronic screens. Watching television has been directly linked to obesity in childhood, with a rate of obesity that is 8.3-times greater in children who watch more than 5 hours of television per day compared with those who watch up to 2 hours of television per day (Proctor MH et al. (2003). Adolescents aged 9-14 spend over 20 percent of waking hours watching television, compared to 9 percent on hobbies and 3.5 percent on homework. The average American teen spends about 20 hours a week watching television, with the heaviest viewers coming from low-income households (Irimia R, Gottschling M 2016). Electronic use time amounts to nine hours a day for children of minorities, more than the six hours a day watched by Caucasian children. Not only are adolescents moving less when they watch television, but they are also more exposed to the medias message. Low-income children are exposed to disproportionately more marketing and advertising for obesity-promoted products that encourage the consumption of unhealthful foods (fast food, sugar infested beverages) and discourage physical activity (television shows, video games) according to a report issued by the Institute of Medicine (2013). Approximately 0% of the commercials broadcast on childrens networks are for fruit or vegetables, while about 34% of the commercials are for candy and snacks. Such advertising has a particularly strong influence on the preferences, diets, and of children, who are the targets of these marketing efforts (Institute of Medicine, 2013). Media outlets are not the only culprits; children exposed to marketing by advertising on billboards, on buses, and at school in vending machines. The marketing is very exploitative, for adolescents under the age of 10 do not comprehend the sole intent behind these ads. Simply viewing a commercial once can create a preference for a child, impacting what the child will begin to ask their parents to buy (Harris, Bargh, Brownell, 2009). Psychological Risk Factors Psychological factors affecting other medical conditions is diagnosed when attitudes or behaviors have a negative effect on a medical disorder that the person has. Peoples attitudes or behavior can negatively affect any disorder (such as obesity, heart disease and or diabetes). An enormous number of studies have revealed that the initial food environment of obese children differs distinctly from other children. Adolescents who are obese frequently eat a bigger portion of food and the quality of food is often high in calories. These individuals often have raised food portion sizes, increased calorie intake and eat less fruits and vegetables from an early age compared to normal weight children of the same age (Bammann, K., 2014). Obese children tend to have less hours of physical activity and spend more time using electronics. This inactive lifestyle combined with high caloric intake contributes to obesity. It is well documented that a large number of children with pediatric obesity have parents and or family who are obese as well. Parents who are obese contribute to specific food environments, that are created at a young age. The underlying basis of obesity and eating disorders tend to lie in some grouping of psychosocial, environmental, and genetic attributes. Individuals who suffer from mental disorder (e.g. eating disorder, depression, and anxiety) may have more trouble controlling their food intake, obtaining the adequate amount of exercise and maintaining a healthy weight. Those who suffer from obesity, tend to use food as a coping mechanism, particularly when they are stressed, feeling isolated, sad and or anxious. Many of these individuals there seems to be a perpetual cycle of mood swings, gluttony and weight gain. When in a mood of distress, these individuals turn to food to cope, and to comfort them which may result in temporary attenuation of their current mood. The weight gain that results may cause a dysphoric mood due to their inability to control their stress. The guilt they accumulate tends to reactivate the cycle, leading to a ongoing pattern of using food to cope with their emotions. Mental factors also play a real role in increasing the risk for childhood obesity by influencing dietary choices. Due to the fact children are very dependent on their parents for providing food, their parents choices largely determine their diets. The development of childrens food preferences involves a complex interplay of genetic, familial, and psychological factors. There is evidence of a strong genetic influence on appetite traits in children, but environment plays an important role in modeling childrens eating behaviors. Parents use a variety of strategies to influence childrens eating habits, some of which are counterproductive. Overcontrol, restriction, pressure to eat, and a promise of rewards have negative effects on childrens food acceptance. Parents food preferences and eating behaviors give an opportunity to model good eating habits. Satiety is closely related to diet composition, and foods with low energy density contribute to prevent overeating. Parents should be informed about the consequences of an unhealthy diet and lifestyle and motivated to change their nutritional habits (Scaglioni, S., De Cosmi, V., 2018). Biological Risk Factors Biological factors, such as exercise activity and sleep amount, also play a significant role in maintaining health. Physical activity controls weight by stimulating the metabolic, endocrine, and hormone processes of the body. Regrettably, adolescents have become increasingly lazy over recent years. Children who live in low-income neighborhoods have even fewer opportunities to safely exercise partly due to the fewer parks, green spaces, bike paths, and recreational facilities than are found in high-income communities, making it problematic to live a physically active lifestyle (FRAC, 2013). Due to high crime rate, and other safety concerns, children and adults, alike, are more likely to stay indoors and engage in inactive activities, such as watching television or playing video games. This lack of physical activity is established by the fact that less than 20% of ethnic minority adolescents participate in youth sports (Wijtzes, A. I., Jansen, W., 2014). Along with parents who do not participate in any physical activity themselves, adolescents arent given many examples of what being active looks like. Another biological risk factor for obesity is the quality and measure of ones sleep. Research has shown that interrupted sleep interferes with the bodys ability to effectively process fats and calories by altering hormone production (Myers, D. 2011). When a person is suffering from sleep deprivation, there is an increase in ghrelin in the intestines, which creates an appetite and creates the hunger feeling. Also, proteins, and leptin, which creates a feeling of being full, decreases; and, the stress-related hormone, cortisol, which leads to fat storage, increases. A person who does not sleep well will obviously feel tired and have less energy to exercise and carry out their daily routine. Conclusion This study was conducted to gain an understanding of how social-environmental, psychological and biological factors including family lifestyle, culture, neighborhood environment, and social environment that were present during participants childhood, impact obesity. The tangled nature of the risk factors for childhood obesity may seem impossible to overcome and leave doctors, researchers, and policy makers feeling hopeless about putting a halt to this epidemic. However, the biopsychosocial model of disease used by psychologists demonstrates that it is within this very interplay of biological, environmental and psychological factors that we can find optimism. The biopsychosocial model advocates that by creating even a slight change in a childs behavior, a well-designed intervention program has the potential to decrease obesity by creating a ripple effect that will be felt within the system. As a captive audience, children ages eight through twelve years experience the most exposure to these ads that infiltrate their minds with negative notions for healthy eating, exercising and caring about your health. It is perfect the age(s) to approach adolescents with new and convincing ideas that allow for the beginning of new, empowering thoughts about developing a healthy body. Numerous of American children have become fixed on a malicious biological, psychological/mental, and social cycle that is directing them towards a sustained future suffering from obesity. Yet, psychology permits us to recognize that due to the linked nature of the factors causing obesity, this cycle also has a solution.

8 Benefits of Time Management in College

Yes, there are benefits to learning how to manage your time -- everyone seems to know that. But what exactly do the benefits of time management look like to college students in particular? Is good time management really worth all of the time and effort? 8 Benefits of Good Time Management in College You wont miss important life deadlines. Life deadlines and projects are those things that keep your life on track. It may include turning in your FAFSA on time, getting your form in early so you have guaranteed on-campus housing next year, remembering to get your moms birthday present in the mail so it arrives on time. When your time management is bad, life can get ugly in an instant.You wont miss important academic deadlines. Paper coming up? Lab report due? Group assignment on the horizon? Missing academic deadlines means you may miss out on being able to stay in school. Having good time management, on the other hand, means you get your assignments in on time -- and get a little sleep the night before theyre due.You have more time to sleep well, eat right, and exercise regularly. Good time management means you have more time in general. And the better you treat your body, the better it treats you. Putting a little energy into time management now means youll have more energy to get through your days (and workload) later.Youll have less stress. Good time management means that horrible paper you have to write gets done in a reasonable amount of time with relatively little stress. Its a much better approach than facing a panic attack the night before a deadline.Youll have more time to just relax and enjoy your time in school. Lets be honest: Even if you do decide to throw caution to the wind and just hang out with some friends in the quad, that research paper youre avoiding is still fluttering around in the back of your brain. When youre good at managing your time, you can really let yourself relax, knowing that the time youll need to rock that paper has already been allocated in your schedule.Youll have more flexibility and spontaneity. When youre always behind and late on projects, you dont have the time -- or mental ability -- to just relax and enjoy, say, the spontaneous gathering in your residence hall or your roommates surprise birthday party.Things will be easier for your friends and family. You know what its like to have a friend who is always late: things can become trying after a while. Finally getting on top of your time management and turning into an independent adult who can run his or her own life will make things incredibly easier on your friends and family (not to mention yourself).Good time management skills will help you in your post-college life. Think your always-late, always-behind pattern is going to change once you graduate? Think again. Taking the time to learn and make permanent strong time management skills will serve you well in your life after college. After all, how can you go out and change the world if youre always running behind -- and late?

Macroecenomics Free Essays

Everyone’s Biggest Nightmare Ask anyone; the biggest nightmare out there is unemployment. It’s something that no one ever wants to face in their lifetime. It effects not only their sleep and dreams, but their reality as well, which makes it worse than other nightmares. We will write a custom essay sample on Macroecenomics or any similar topic only for you Order Now It effects how you live, how you eat, how you are able to present yourself to others, and so much more. You need money to function in this modern day world and you need a job in order to get that money. Unemployment also alters the economy. With more people unemployed, less money is filtered through to the government because people are trying to save their money and buy less. Being unemployed changes everything. â€Å"Unemployment occurs when an individual is without a job, or work, or is not actively seeking a job,† according to Wikipedia’s article broaching the subject. No real solution has been created to cure, or stop unemployment because the causes of unemployment stem out from so many different problems, both personal and economical. An example of a personal affair dealing with unemployment would be that while an employer cannot just simply fire you, in most cases, they can begin to make the workplace uncomfortable so you leave or wish to leave. An economical example would be like during times of recession, where unemployment rates are incredibly low, employers do not have the means of supporting a certain number of employees and are forced to let some of them go. There are also several different types of unemployment, the two main versions being structural and frictional. Structural Unemployment is based upon structural problems concerning the economy and different variations of supply and demand. While no real causes have been solidified, arguments blame disruptive technology and globalization. Frictional Unemployment focuses on voluntary decisions by an individual to work. Entry wages and wage rates are often the largest factor that effects the decision to take a job or not to. But nowadays, structural unemployment is the most common form of unemployment in the U. S. In January, the unemployment rate increased to 7. 9%. The unemployment rate is calculated by taking the number of the unemployed and dividing it by the labor force. Then you times it by a hundred and you get the percentage of unemployment, or the unemployment rate. President Obama’s expensive â€Å"stimulus† plan was supposed to bring that number down to 5. % by now, but it hasn’t. The economic state isn’t improving and, in the article U. S. Unemployment: Our Long Economic Nightmare Continues, it is stated that the economic growth isn’t growing at all. There is something seriously wrong with our economy today, but economists can’t understand what it is or how to fix it . No one person can directly effect the economy so little changes must be made in order for the economy to get better at all. Like stated in the book, losing a job can be the most distressing economic event in a person’s life. People rely on earnings from work to maintain their standard of living. Losing a job can create problems concerning both the present and the future. It lowers your standard of living and you struggle to make ends meet. It creates anxiety about the future, about how things will pan out, and about how it will effect the other members of your immediate family. Losing a job can even lower your self esteem. Bringing in money and contributing to the pay of important necessities, like bills or food items or clothing, can bring about a sense of personal accomplishment to an individual. The normal rate of unemployment in which the rate is able to fluctuate is called the natural rate of unemployment, while the deviation of unemployment from it’s natural rate is called cyclical unemployment. The normal rate of unemployment and cyclical unemployment effect the rates of unemployment each year. No matter what we do, there is always some version or form of unemployment, even if the economy is doing really, really well. There are four different reasons for this. First off, it takes time for unemployed individuals to search for find jobs that are suited towards their ideal way of living and to their standard means of living. Another reason there is always unemployment fluctuating within an economy is that the number of jobs available may be insufficient to give a job to everyone, everyone who wants a job, that is. When the quantity of work exceeds the amount demanded, this particular example occurs. The third reason is the availability of jobs and the best way to search for them. Although we have been gifted with the Internet, we still struggle to to find jobs. The last problem is Unemployment Insurance. While they may not necessarily mean to, the program increases the amount of frictional unemployment. My dad lost his job last summer. He’d been working for the company for years, but due to the economy, his position wasn’t viewed as a necessity and they ended up letting him go. It was horrible because we went from living well below our means to living well above. Our only income was a teacher’s salary, which isn’t much for a family of five. The first week of unemployment was spent in shock. My dad, mom, and I sat at the kitchen table and discussed possible outcomes and solutions to our newest problem. While my dad searched for jobs at home on the computer, I did house work and yard work for our neighbors to help bring in some kind of income. It was so stressful. We couldn’t just go out to eat anymore, we had to actually cook because it was cheaper. Books, movies, things that we could just run out and get when we were bored couldn’t happen anymore. Before we did anything, took any kind of trip, we had to plan out exactly how much everything would cost. It really changed me and the perspective I had on life. In a few years, I will be moving out on my own and it will be up to me to make sure I have enough money to live comfortably. Like when my dad was unemployed, I will have to watch every penny like a hawk and make sure my money is well spent. It’s challenging and something everyone will witness at some point in their lifetime, whether it effects them directly or they are watching from the sidelines. It really is America’s most common and largest nightmare. Works Cited: â€Å"Unemployment. † Wikipedia. N. p. , 01 Feb 2013. Web. 6 Feb 2013. ;http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Unemployment;. Woodhill, Louis. â€Å"U. S. Unemployment: Our Long Economic Nightmare Continues. † Forbes. N. p. , 05 Feb 2013. Web. 6 Feb 2013. ;http://www. forbes. com/sites/louiswoodhill/2013/02/05/u-s-unemployment-our-long-economic-nightmare-continues/;. How to cite Macroecenomics, Essay examples