Childhood Obesity

Term Paper # 105304

Child, Youth Issues
Medical and Health > Eating Disorders
Nutrition

Childhood Obesity

An overview of the issues concerned with childhood obesity with a focus on San Diego, California.

1,221 words () | 4 sources | APA | 2008 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper relates that childhood obesity is reaching epidemic proportions all over the United States. The paper then explains that obesity can be controlled by the individual who experiences it and that, although some individuals might be unable to control obesity caused by physical factors, they might be able to reduce other factors that cause obesity. The paper then discusses how, for that reason, the city of San Diego has instituted some measures that may reduce the incidence of childhood obesity in the area. This paper then focuses on some of the causes of childhood obesity and suggests some ways for families to address the issue.

Outline:
Childhood Obesity Overview
Causes of Obesity
Prevention and Treatment of Obesity
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Berry et al. (2004) explains that diet and exercise, as well as nutritional education, have all been proven to have an influence both on weight loss and on preventing obesity. Restricting calorie intake is proven to create the negative energy balance required to lose weight, while increased activity both enhances the speed of the weight loss and increases the probability that weight will remain off (Berry et al., 2004). One weight loss diet mentioned in the article is the "traffic light diet," also known as the glycemic index diet. This diet color codes dietary components by the number of fat grams that they contain. This diet, according to the authors, has been shown to produce a "significant short-term decrease in obesity," while it encourages improved eating patterns (Berry et al., 2004, p. 432). "

Sample of Sources Used:

Berry, D., Sheehan, R., Heschel, R., Knafl, K., Melkus, G., & Grey, M. (2004). Family-based interventions for childhood obesity: A review. Journal of Family Nursing, 10(4), 429-449.
Obesity epidemic, The. (2005). San Diego Health Archive. Retrieved September 22, 2007, from http://sandiegohealth.org/child/mmwr_yrbs/2005_obesity_sandiego.pdf
Resources to treat childhood overweight in San Diego County. (n. d.). Coalition on Children and Weight San Diego. Retrieved September 22, 2007, from http://sandiegohealth.org/child/obesity/resources_to_treat_childhood_overweight_english_1003.pdf
Statistics fact sheet. (2002). San Diego Health Archive. Retrieved September 22, 2007, from http://sandiegohealth.org/child/obesity/childhood_overweight_statistics_fact_sheet.pdf