Introduction
In the recent years, obesity and its related conditions have plummeted to a high record. Obesity, a condition once considered as an adult problem, has spread among more young people in the 21st century, than in the past. This disease can be explained as the presence of excess fat in the body. A simple way of diagnosing obesity is by the use of Body Mass Index (BMI), which is simply weight (kg)/height (m)2. Speaking about the youth, once the BMI is determined it is then compared to that of other children of the same age and sex. The World Health Organization (WHO) considers a BMI with more than 30kg/m² as obese (deOnis, Blossner, & Borghi, 2010). This paper will delve into the causes and the solutions of this problem.
Predisposing Factors
Diet
Diet, in particular, plays a vital role in the health of a young person. Consumption of the processed foods with a high content of fat and sugar, affects the normal metabolism in the young body. This happens by causing a surge in the levels of blood glucose immediately after the consumption of the food. Moreover, this causes energy slumps in the body prompting a hunger impulse that in turn makes one eat a lot (Wieting, 2008).
Besides the constituents of the diet, other factors can predispose a young individual to develop obesity. To begin with, working parents increase the risk of their children developing obesity by being too busy to closely monitor or prepare what their children eat. Secondly, the fast food industry spends fortunes in advertisements to entice the youth to buy their products. Another factor is the proximity of these fast food outlets to schools and colleges. Finally, poor families often do not have enough funds to spend on healthy food and thus going for the cheaper options like junk foods (Danner, 2008).
Sedentary lifestyles
There is less physical activity among the youth today. Nowadays, most young people prefer remaining indoors and watch TV or play online virtual reality games. In turn, they rarely have time to get involved in physical activities. Schools, on the other hand, have also reduced the number of hours allocated to the physical education classes in an attempt to improve performance in state proficiency examinations (Wieting, 2008).
Genetics
There is an increased possibility of a child born to obese parents to get the same condition. It has been noted that the condition is also more prevalent among the black Americans and Hispanics than in the Caucasians (Wieting, 2008).
Health issues
Some diseases may increase the risk of obesity. A good example is the Cushing’s disease that results from over secretion of a stress hormone called cortisol. It leads to the deposition of fat around the stomach and the upper side of the back. In addition, some drugs used in the treatment of mental problems/psychosis, such as diazepam, can lead to an increased appetite (Wieting, 2008).
Tackling obesity
A responsible guardian should analyse all areas of their children’s lives. They should also think over their own lifestyle choices, as they could be the source of the problem. The following are some of the suggested solutions in preventing and controlling obesity.
Changes in diet
A meal should always have three main food groups. High fiber foods are the best form of carbohydrates. These include foods such as whole grain flours, brown rice and yams. White meat sources of protein like chicken are preferred to red meat. Beans and peas are also good protein sources. Vegetables and fruits are the best sources of vitamins (Danner, 2008).
Exercise
Parents should control the hours their children spend in front of the TV set. Instead of buying video games as gifts, they should substitute this with play kits such as a tennis racquets, bats, etc. Parents should also participate in these physical activities with their children in order to encourage them. Similarly, schools should allocate adequate time to physical education and encourage students to manage their time well to excel in their class work.
Screening for predisposing diseases
Children from families that have a disposition to develop Type 2 diabetes mellitus are supposed to be screened. Good dietary management is also very important for such an individual to prevent the condition, delay its onset or manage the symptoms if the condition is already present. Patients undergoing antipsychotic drug therapy should be put on a diet and exercise regimen by a nutritionist or physician.
Treatment
There are no drugs recommended for children, however Orlistat (Xenical) can be used in teenagers. It causes a small but steady decline in weight. Its use is often recommended alongside that of good dietary management. Sibutramine is another example; however, it is obligatory to consult a doctor when opting to use this remedy (Wieting, 2008).
Conclusion
It is very clear that obesity is no longer an individual problem. The world needs to do something about this condition. In fact, it is important to note that preventing and controlling obesity reduces the costs that one would otherwise incur in treating obesity related ailments like stroke, heart conditions, and blood pressure. Everyone is at risk of becoming obese; it is important to take the above steps in order to protect children from developing this scourge.
References
Danner, F. W. (2008). A national longitudinal study of the association between hours of TV viewing and the trajectory of BMI growth among US children. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 33(10), 1100-1107.
deOnis, M., Blössner, M., & Borghi, E. (2010). Global prevalence and trends of overweight and obesity among preschool children. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 92(5), 1257-1264.
Wieting, J. M. (2008). Cause and effect in childhood obesity: solutions for a national epidemic: JAOA. Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, 108(10), 545-552.