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 What is Obesity?

​"We can all agree that in the wealthiest nation on Earth, all children should have the basic nutrition they need to learn and grow and to pursue their dreams, because in the end, nothing is more important than the health and well-being of our children..."- Michelle Obama

Facts About Childhood Obesity

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  • In the past 30 years, childhood obesity has tripled.
  • More than one third of children were overweight or obese in 2008
  • Obesity is caused by not burning off the caloric content ( or amount of calories) in the foods we eat along with genetic, behavioral, and environmental factors.

​Health Affects of Being Obese
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​Immediate health effects:

  • More at risk for cardiovascular disease like high blood pressure or high cholesterol
  • More at risk to have prediabetes, where blood glucose levels indicate a high risk for diabetes.
  • More at risk for joint and or joint problems
  • More at risk for sleep apnea (pauses in breathing or shallow breaths while asleep), low self-esteem, or stigmatization (bullying or negative attitudes of others toward us)

Prevention

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  • Healthy living habits!
  • Physical activity, eating healthy foods (veggies, lean meat, etc.)

Links

                                                                                                                                                                      

                                                                                                                                                                                                                         *copy and paste; not a direct link    
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Longterm health effects

  • Children that are obese are more at risk for adulthood obesity which can lead to more serious medical issues, such as type 2 diabetes, strokes, cancer, and osteoarthritis (arthritis that breaks down cartilage in joints)
  • ​More at risk for cancer of the cancer of the breast, colon, endometrium (lining of uterus), esophagus, kidney, pancreas, gall bladder, thyroid, ovary, cervix, and prostate, as well as multiple myeloma and Hodgkin’s lymphoma



The graph shows Childhood Obesity in America from the 1960s to the early 21st century. Clearly stated in the graph, both obesity in early adolescence and teenage years are increasing rapidly and increasingly similar in rate. While the graph is slightly outdated, the information has only gotten more shocking as the percentage has risen.

This graph shows the most recent study of location of obese children according to state. According to the graph the south and southeast have 15%-20% obese children out of the population in that state, while Kentucky and West Virginia are currently hold the highest percentage of obese children in the United States. 

Statistics

In this graph, it shows the cost of different diseases such as Heart Disease, Osteoarthritis, Gallbladder Disease, Type 2 Diabetes, and Hypertension. The graph shows that the cost of Diabetes immensely surpasses all of the other diseases listed. 

This graph shows the shifting obesity in 2007 from 2003. The blue, which is the most prominent, represents increasing rates of obesity in the states. The gray represents the decreasing percentages of obesity in a particular state. The caption at the bottom states " obesity classification is based on children's body mass index for their age. Children in the top 5% on growth charts were considered obese." These means that the results are slightly skewed towards obesity, however, the percentage that this applies to in minuscule.

This graph expresses the importance of children having a strict and physical schedule  Studies show that if your child is busier, they will have less time to sit in front of the television and will be more likely to be both more productive and healthier. This graph also shows that age, race, and gender do not play key factors in obesity.

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