Childhood_Obesity



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First off what is Childhood Obesity?
Obesity is an excessive accumulation of body fat. In young girls, if their total body weight is more than 32% fat, it is considered childhood obesity. In boys, if their total body weight is 25% or more, they are considered obese.

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=Causes of Childhood Obesity= = =

Lack of Physical Activity
Videogames, computers, and television serve as a distraction, and kids just don`t get outside as much as they would before activities like these. Much of this time could be devoted to getting some fresh air and exercise.

Bad Eating Habits[[image:j0406483.jpg width="128" height="137" align="right"]]
The unhealthy food that is available to children is one of the main causes of obesity. Fast food resturants such as McDonald`s encourages children to eat their food with 'happy meals' advertisements. Eating food while watching TV or on the computer is even worse because children will continually to eat without realizing how much they`ve consumed.

= = =Effects of Childhood Obesity=

Physical health
heart disease ,cancer, diabetes high cholesterol, blood pressure, an dtriglyceride levels. two times likely to have high levels of cholesterol.

Psychological and social health
social, psychological and emotional consequences. mostly treated differently- scariest factor to young obese children. may feel isolated and lonely could result into self-esteem an identity problems

= = =Treatment for Childhood Obesity=

There is treatment that can be done for obesity. Some things may seem simple but can influence and help a whole lot then what they seem to be. Adults can start helping by suggesting and helping them their obese child with some of these strategies. Here are some of them:

Begin the treatment, and involve the family in helping. Start the family in somethings outside to keep the childs mind off of eating and wanting high-calorie, high-fat foods. Support from the family is the key to letting the child know its ok, and that somebody cares enough to help them.
 * Involve the family.**

A goal of weight is key in helping obese children. Keep them away as best as you can from high-calorie, high-fat foods. Most fast food resturants have this type of food, so try and cook them meals or take them to places that don't have as high percentage of calorie or fats. Family is also important in helping this goal. Another key this is to excersise. Even if that means, bringing the family outside for a walk or playing a game in the yard just so the child gets a little bit more excersise then he/she normally gets.
 * Maintain weight.**

Physical activity is probably the most important factor of this all. Time, intensity and variety are three important concepts to enhance the impact of physical activity on health, as well as the child's interest in what he/she is doing. Work them so they get the excersise they need, but also have fun so they will want to do it again and not give up.
 * Encourage physical activity.**

Other Informational Sites

 * [|American Obesity Association]
 * [|Word on Health]
 * [|Robert Wood Johnson Foundation]

Resources

 * 1) http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/content2/obesity.html
 * 2) http://www.obesity.org/subs/childhood/causes.shtml