Parents As Means Of Change For The Childhood Obesity Epidemic

Parents as Means of Change for the Childhood Obesity Epidemic Introduction The epidemic of obesity has been a serious public health concern in the United States. The rapid increase in the prevalence of this epidemic has shown to be higher among ethnic groups (Klohe, 2004). In addition, those of lower socioeconomic status are 50% more likely to be obese than those from higher education/income backgrounds (U.S. Department of Heath and Human Services, 2001). For children, obesity can lead to serious health outcomes such as asthma, insulin resistance, orthopedic abnormalities, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and sleep apnea (American Obesity Association, 2002). For example, almost 60% of overweight children aged 5-10 already have encountered one cardiovascular risk factor and approximately 18% have had two or more (Freedman et al., 1999). Intervening early to encourage proper food choices is critical because once poor dietary habits are established; they can be hard to change. A big tie to obesity can be related to mother and child relationship (Melgar-Quinon ez et al. 2004). Studies have shown that a family based approach to changing life style, diet, and physical activity is critical for the prevention of a child being obese. For these reasons, having a program that manages obese mothers to encourage physical activity and dietary modification is critical to prevent cases of the obesity epidemic for their children. A study was conducted initially using food frequencyShow MoreRelatedChildhood Obesity : A Developing Problem1197 Words   |  5 PagesObesity in America is a developing problem, and not just in adults. Today, one in three American children and teens are either overweight or obese; almost triple the rate previously in 1963. Child obesity has expeditiously become one of the most genuine health challenges of the 21st century (â€Å"10 Surprising Facts About Childhood Obesity†). 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