Pediatric Obesity in the United States
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58445/rars.2146Keywords:
child obesity, dietary intake, genetics, low-income households, health effects, interventionAbstract
Our society today is vastly different from what it was in the past, especially in terms of healthcare. Numerous advancements and improvements have been made in medicine. As a result, many conditions and diseases that were deemed as dangerous or even deadly previously, are no longer considered a threat. While our progress cannot be overlooked, we also cannot undermine the severity of the new issues we are being introduced to that haven't plagued society in the past. While infectious diseases may no longer be the leading cause of death in America, there are several other conditions that can drastically jeopardize one’s health, including pediatric obesity. Pediatric obesity is defined as being in or above the 95th percentile on the Body Mass Index or BMI. The BMI measures the proportion of someone’s body fat to their height and weight. It then compares that ratio with others who are within the same sex and age cohort.
In the Western world, pediatric obesity is becoming an increasingly significant and relevant issue. This review paper will look at several aspects that influence and contribute to one's risk of developing obesity during childhood. These risk factors include issues and imbalances in diet (for both the child and mother during pregnancy), genetics, screen time, and financial status. This paper will also describe various health complications that could develop in adulthood including type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Additionally, many intervention programs have been implemented to help prevent the youth from becoming overweight or obese. These programs inform the youth about the importance of nutrition as well as the benefits of having a balanced diet and aim to persuade adolescents to maintain healthy habits. This article will highlight some of the interventional programs that have been instituted on both the state and national scale.
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