Childhood obesity Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Childhood obesity - Research Paper Example The obesity trends is rising day by day, and all that does emanate from the imbalance in the caloric content consumption. The trend has had detrimental effect to the children, exposing them to cardiovascular diseases, cancer and diabetes. The essay will expound childhood obesity with relation to classification, causes, effects and preventive measures. Obesity is determined by use of BMI in children who are two years or older. The center for disease control and prevention has come up with the acceptable body mass index from that that needs medical attention. A BMI of 18 to 24 is classified as a standard body mass index with 25 to 29 being overweight. Obesity sets in when ones weight and height ratio goes beyond 30. On the other hand, a BMI of less than 18 is classified as underweight as well (Anderson and Butcher). However, the United States preventive task force confirmed that high BMI can identify a health problem but does not mean that all children need to lose weight. The prevalence  of obesity in  childhood  is increasing in the world with the current estimates being in 42 million cases of overweight children (International Obesity Taskforce). According to (Force), the number of obese children has doubled from the ones in 1980 in all countries of North America that include Mexico, the United States, and Canada. Even though there is a decreased rate of childhood obesity development in the United States, the prevalence still remains high at 32.8 percent among children of age 6 to 11 years old, and 18 percent of the children with the age brackets of 6 to 9 years old (UniMelb Obesity Consortium). A myriad of factors often act in combination hence leading to the development of obesity among children. The mixture of elements that can result in the development of obese are termed as obesogenic in medical terms. One of the greatest risks of the child developing obesity is a situation whereby the parents to are suffering from the same condition. This can