Child Obesity Awareness Published Sept. 26, 2013 By Adrienne Damian Family Advocacy Office GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the U.S. and has been officially recognized as a disease by the American Medical Association. In particular, childhood obesity has become one of the most long-term health challenges facing the U.S., with an estimated one in three of American children now being diagnosed with obesity. The World Health Organization has even used the word "globesity" to denote obesity significance on a global scale. In recognition of Child Obesity Awareness Month and given the consequences obesity creates, it remains a priority to bring awareness regarding this problematic disease. Child obesity is caused by multiple factors ranging from individual to societal with a host of contributing elements. Key and modifiable factors include: low levels of physical activity, parental inactivity, computer and video game viewing, increase hours of television and altered dietary patterns including high consumption of dietary fat, carbohydrate and sweetened substances. Child obesity also increases the risk of adult obesity by 80 percent. In addition, many obese-related health problems once thought to only be applicable to adults are being diagnosed in children. These conditions include: hypertension, hyperlipidemia, type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, polycystic ovarian disorder, asthma, orthopedic complications, depression and breathing and sleep disturbances. Unfortunately, studies are now reporting the current generation of children may even have a shorter life expectancy than of their parents. Multifaceted interventions are needed to address obesity. One factor of obesity many parents do not acknowledge is their child is overweight and they are unfamiliar with the associated health risks obesity poses to the child. Education, lifestyle changes and engagement of the family as a whole are vital in supporting treatment and weight management of the child. Treatments should include behavioral changes, increasing physical activity and decreasing inactivity, improving diet quality and consumption. Family education on implementing better eating habits such as label reading, improvement of cooking skills and guidelines for eating out have proven beneficial. Interventions should also include a strong mental health component. Evidence has shown overweight children have difficulties with poor self-esteem and display problems with anxiety and depression. Therefore, implementation of cognitive and behavioral support is critical in enhancing healthy choices and managing barriers while making the child's happiness a priority. Child obesity has become a major problem in the U.S. which has dramatically impacted the physical and psychosocial health of our children. It is imperative to better educate the publicity to better understand this disease, its consequences and prevention methods. More so, if people ignore the preventative measures, this distressing disease will carry even greater developments of adult obesity and eventual mortality.
