Childhood obesity has become an important health and social problem in the 21st century. Today, there are many children experiencing obesity-related complications, than ever before in the history of mankind (Kopelman, 2005, p. 493).
In America for example, it is estimated that, the prevalence of childhood obesity has tripled over the past two decades, with recent statistics showing the prevalence rate of childhood obesity at 28% (Neighmond, 2000, p. 1). This statistic is very high, as compared to previous years. More so, this trend has been brought by a change in lifestyle.
Due to the adverse health effects of childhood obesity on a child’s health, this study focuses on the topic “childhood obesity” because of its expansiveness and its impact on childhood health. Moreover, there has been a constant increase in prevalence of childhood obesity in the country and experts all over, are registering their concerns over this trend as well.
Refinement and Limits of the Topic of Discussion
The topic of childhood obesity is very expansive and is often, marred by a lot of controversy regarding the extent to which it affects childhood growth and development (Ebbeling, 2002, p. 473).
This study focuses on childhood obesity as a unique health factor in childhood development and seeks to exclude other factors associated with the pandemic, such as obesity statistics, causes, health implications and such like factors.
More importantly, this study focuses on childhood obesity as a unique segment in health circles and fails to include other factors relating to obesity in general, or factors associated with adult obesity. To properly refine the research data to be included in this study, I will only focus on determining the extent to which childhood obesity affects childhood wellbeing.
Since this topic is particular to childhood health, this study will only focus on the physiological and psychological factors regarding the wellbeing of a child, which are affected by childhood obesity. This aspect of childhood obesity is the specific claim to be argued in this topic. This fact is further explained below.
Topic Argument
There are numerous studies and literature excerpts which have asserted that, childhood obesity has a profound effect on a child’s health and psychology. Specifically, emotional impairment and psychological difficulties have been cited as the primary health effects of childhood obesity.
Other studies focus on health-related complications, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, cardiac diseases and the likes, as examples of the various health-related complications brought about by childhood obesity (Great Britain Parliament House of Commons Health Committee, 2004).
More so, many of these studies have focused a lot on the causes of childhood obesity such as genetics, lifestyle factors, diets, home environments, medical illnesses, psychological factors and the likes (Cornette, 2008, p. 136). However many of these studies have failed to expose the degree to which childhood obesity affects the health or general wellbeing of a child. This is the focus of this study.
From this understanding, this study will focus on the extent to which childhood obesity affects the growth and development of children, with a much detailed focus on qualitative factors affecting childhood growth and childhood obesity.
In other words, this study will try to establish the extent to which childhood obesity impact a child’s health. Focus will be directed to the nature of the relationship between childhood obesity and poor health indicators, with a possibility of a strong relationship between childhood obesity or a weak relationship of the same variables. This analysis will constitute the argument of this study.
References
Cornette, R. (2008). The emotional impact of obesity on children. Worldviews Evid Based Nurs, 5(3), 136–41.
Ebbeling, C. (2002). Childhood obesity: public-health crisis, common sense cure. Lancet, 360(9331), 473–82.
Great Britain Parliament House of Commons Health Committee (2004). Obesity – Volume 1 – HCP 23-I, Third Report of session 2003-04. Report, together with formal minutes. London, UK: TSO (The Stationery Office).
Kopelman, P. (2005). Clinical obesity in adults and children: in Adults and Children. London: Blackwell Publishing: p. 493.
Neighmond, P. (2000) U.S. Childhood Obesity Rates Level Off. Web.