Introduction
Obesity is having an excess total body fat. Furthermore one can be considered obese when the body weight is 20% or more above the normal weight. The measure of obesity is usually done by measuring the body mass index or BMI (Body Mass Index). On the contrary, morbid obesity means an individual is sufficiently overweight i.e. 50%-100% over the usually normal weight equivalent to over 100 pounds over normal weight. Therefore, obesity is an extremely serious problem and there’s a need for it to be taken seriously.
History and Statistics
The amount of people suffering from obesity in the world can be estimated as 1 billion. This figure is terribly serious and necessary action needs to be put in place to contain the situation. Obesity does not just happen with any reason; it develops slowly from the lifestyle choices, poor diet and to some extent could be genetically inherited.
During the past 15 years, there has been a steady increase in obesity in the USA (United States of America) and rates still remain high. Children alone, estimated at approximately 17% (or 12.5 million) of the entire population.
Furthermore malnutrition and chronic food shortage have been the bane of mankind from the dawn of history. Obesity now recognized as a public health crisis which is just a few decades old. The technological advances of the 18th century did a slight increase in the food supply thus increased variety of food leading to increased body size and longevity. This greatly accounts for the continuous prevalence of obesity in the world’s population.
Understanding the Issue of Obesity and Its Importance
Generally there is the need to understand that obesity can be caused by the lifestyle choices we choose such as the foods we eat. One can be obese by eating processed or fast food, not eating vegetables, fruits and unrefined carbohydrates, drinking too much alcohol also eating out a lot.
Similarly lack of physical activity causes obesity for instance time to relax, children are busy watching television, playing computer games and do no exercise. As if a person is not active, the body does not exhaust the energy that it produces through the food that is eaten, and the remaining calories are stored in your body as fat. Furthermore genes cause obesity. Genes can increase appetite, and if one is not careful, he/she end up eating a lot. Therefore, knowing the causes of obesity is significant, because one is able to know what to provide for their children.
Effects to the Society
The great impact on the increase of people with obese is the extra costs and expense needed to prevent, diagnose and heal the condition. Hidden costs are also incurred. Those who are obese are likely to get more off-work days as their problem will certainly require more medical care. Providing healthcare for children with obesity is exceedingly difficult to handle.
Effects to an Individual
A person suffering from excess weight is more likely to suffer diseases such as diabetes, blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases. A person also suffers emotionally and starts to show withdrawal symptoms i.e. they become shy to show themselves up.
Discussion
Should Parents Lose Custody of Obese Children? That’s the big question all round the state. Having to take away kids with obesity from their homes is being seen as a good idea by some while others think it is all wrong to get in between family relationships.
One of the ways to control the childhood obesity situation would be to take overweight children away far from parents. The best way to handle the obesity situation is to put them under foster care rather than going for the obesity surgery. State involvement may give out the best interests of children facing the situation, as it has become life threatening.
The point is not to blame their parents, but rather give help to the parents in what they may not be able to provide. State intervention will support the child and the entire family, with the aim of joining the obese child and family the quickest way possible. Despite the discomfort that can be caused by state intervention, it may sometimes be a duty to protect a child. There’s worry that the issue may be putting much blame on parents, but have become victims of bullying and peer pressure – things that parents are not able to contain.
On the other hand, separating children from their parents may cause discomfort could be too extreme. Pulling apart a child-parent relationship could be harsh and may cause discomfort. Sometimes intentions but with imprudent hard work may be reproachful to obese kids who are trying to lose weight.
Approximately there are 2 million U.S children who are extremely obese. The situation puts the children in eminent danger, as they are prone to facing obesity related conditions like liver problems and diabetes. A child’s life might be shortened, because the diseases could kill them at any given time. Therefore, parent training, education and temporary protective custody should be put into consideration. For parents considering weight loss surgery, they have to know that the surgery might cause complications to a child.
As a matter of fact education and therapy programs should be considered in treating obese children. If it happens that a parent repeatedly does not follow the guidance and advice for an obese child’s well being, state intervention might be a better step to take.
Conclusion
The greatness of life is not how much money or property we got, but how healthy we are. Body health can be invested while we are still young and we can use it when we grow old. Measuring body weight is one of knowing, whether we are healthy or not, whether we are overweight, normal, underweight or obese. We can know that we are healthy in two ways; one is through knowing body mass index and getting to know body weight. However, it is only us who can make a decision to change the styles of living.
Works Cited
Obesity in Children. Washington, D.C: U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2000. Internet
resource.
Kiess, W, Claude Marcus, and Martin Wabitsch. Obesity in Childhood and Adolescence. Basel:
Karger, 2004. Internet resource.
Okie, Susan. Fed Up!: Winning the War against Childhood Obesity. Washington, D.C: Joseph
Henry Press, 2005. Internet resource.
Obesity is having an excess total body fat. Furthermore one can be considered obese when the body weight is 20% or more above the normal weight. The measure of obesity is usually done by measuring the body mass index or BMI (Body Mass Index). On the contrary, morbid obesity means an individual is sufficiently overweight i.e. 50%-100% over the usually normal weight equivalent to over 100 pounds over normal weight. Therefore, obesity is an extremely serious problem and there’s a need for it to be taken seriously.
History and Statistics
The amount of people suffering from obesity in the world can be estimated as 1 billion. This figure is terribly serious and necessary action needs to be put in place to contain the situation. Obesity does not just happen with any reason; it develops slowly from the lifestyle choices, poor diet and to some extent could be genetically inherited.
During the past 15 years, there has been a steady increase in obesity in the USA (United States of America) and rates still remain high. Children alone, estimated at approximately 17% (or 12.5 million) of the entire population.
Furthermore malnutrition and chronic food shortage have been the bane of mankind from the dawn of history. Obesity now recognized as a public health crisis which is just a few decades old. The technological advances of the 18th century did a slight increase in the food supply thus increased variety of food leading to increased body size and longevity. This greatly accounts for the continuous prevalence of obesity in the world’s population.
Understanding the Issue of Obesity and Its Importance
Generally there is the need to understand that obesity can be caused by the lifestyle choices we choose such as the foods we eat. One can be obese by eating processed or fast food, not eating vegetables, fruits and unrefined carbohydrates, drinking too much alcohol also eating out a lot.
Similarly lack of physical activity causes obesity for instance time to relax, children are busy watching television, playing computer games and do no exercise. As if a person is not active, the body does not exhaust the energy that it produces through the food that is eaten, and the remaining calories are stored in your body as fat. Furthermore genes cause obesity. Genes can increase appetite, and if one is not careful, he/she end up eating a lot. Therefore, knowing the causes of obesity is significant, because one is able to know what to provide for their children.
Effects to the Society
The great impact on the increase of people with obese is the extra costs and expense needed to prevent, diagnose and heal the condition. Hidden costs are also incurred. Those who are obese are likely to get more off-work days as their problem will certainly require more medical care. Providing healthcare for children with obesity is exceedingly difficult to handle.
Effects to an Individual
A person suffering from excess weight is more likely to suffer diseases such as diabetes, blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases. A person also suffers emotionally and starts to show withdrawal symptoms i.e. they become shy to show themselves up.
Discussion
Should Parents Lose Custody of Obese Children? That’s the big question all round the state. Having to take away kids with obesity from their homes is being seen as a good idea by some while others think it is all wrong to get in between family relationships.
One of the ways to control the childhood obesity situation would be to take overweight children away far from parents. The best way to handle the obesity situation is to put them under foster care rather than going for the obesity surgery. State involvement may give out the best interests of children facing the situation, as it has become life threatening.
The point is not to blame their parents, but rather give help to the parents in what they may not be able to provide. State intervention will support the child and the entire family, with the aim of joining the obese child and family the quickest way possible. Despite the discomfort that can be caused by state intervention, it may sometimes be a duty to protect a child. There’s worry that the issue may be putting much blame on parents, but have become victims of bullying and peer pressure – things that parents are not able to contain.
On the other hand, separating children from their parents may cause discomfort could be too extreme. Pulling apart a child-parent relationship could be harsh and may cause discomfort. Sometimes intentions but with imprudent hard work may be reproachful to obese kids who are trying to lose weight.
Approximately there are 2 million U.S children who are extremely obese. The situation puts the children in eminent danger, as they are prone to facing obesity related conditions like liver problems and diabetes. A child’s life might be shortened, because the diseases could kill them at any given time. Therefore, parent training, education and temporary protective custody should be put into consideration. For parents considering weight loss surgery, they have to know that the surgery might cause complications to a child.
As a matter of fact education and therapy programs should be considered in treating obese children. If it happens that a parent repeatedly does not follow the guidance and advice for an obese child’s well being, state intervention might be a better step to take.
Conclusion
The greatness of life is not how much money or property we got, but how healthy we are. Body health can be invested while we are still young and we can use it when we grow old. Measuring body weight is one of knowing, whether we are healthy or not, whether we are overweight, normal, underweight or obese. We can know that we are healthy in two ways; one is through knowing body mass index and getting to know body weight. However, it is only us who can make a decision to change the styles of living.
Works Cited
Obesity in Children. Washington, D.C: U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2000. Internet
resource.
Kiess, W, Claude Marcus, and Martin Wabitsch. Obesity in Childhood and Adolescence. Basel:
Karger, 2004. Internet resource.
Okie, Susan. Fed Up!: Winning the War against Childhood Obesity. Washington, D.C: Joseph
Henry Press, 2005. Internet resource.
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