Childhood Obesity Epidemic in USA Essay

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Childhood Obesity Focused on 6 to 11-Year-Olds in Tyler, Texas

Obesity is associated with a condition of calorific imbalance in which the ratio of consumption of calories consumed and the ones expended is skewed such that the amount of the ones spent is much lower than the amount consumed. The condition is influenced by a range of factors that include genetics, behavioral patterns, and environmental influences. In data availed by the Centre for Disease Control, children between the age of 6 to 11 with obesity condition stood at 7% in 1980 and increased to almost 18% in 2012. In 2014, figures from the Obesity Prevalence Map from the CDC showed that all states had obesity prevalence rates of 20% and above. Three of the states reflected an alarming 35% prevalence in their populations. The state of Texas was rated as having 30 to 35% people with obesity. Two states among the three that had a prevalence of above 35% were from around the state of Texas (in the neighborhood). The aggregate population targeted in this study is all the obese children and overweight children in the eastern part of Texas. Another study, from the Children's Hospital Association of Texas shows that one in every three children of Texas is either obese of overweight. It also points that almost half of Hispanic Children are obese. The aggregate population targeted here consists of 50% non-Hispanic White people, 23% non-Hispanic Blacks, 22.8% Hispanic and 2.1% non-Hispanic Asians. Generally, the study aims at establishing the overweight and obese cases among children of 6 to 11 years from all races in the Tyler area of Texas. It seeks to establish a partnership based on collaboration between community members and the inter-professional networks so as to address the needs and work to initiate change for the people of the targeted study area.

In short, there is need to address obesity from a two pronged attack points, i.e. nutrition and encouraging people to take part in physical activity.

1. Introduction and Description of aggregate

Obesity is a result of calorific imbalance or very low usage of such calories. It is influenced by genetic, behavioral and environmental aspects (CDC, 2015). Children who develop obesity and/or overweight are likely to carry the problem to adulthood and are more vulnerable to stroke, heart disease, diabetes, some types of cancer and even osteoarthritis. Obesity and overweight are associated with a heightened risk of developing a range of cancers including breast cancer, endometrium, colon, kidney, esophagus gall bladder, pancreases, cervix, ovary, prostate, Hodgkin's lymphoma and Myeloma (CDC, 2015). As mentioned, this study aims at the aggregate population of children between the ages of 6 to 11 years, in Tyler, Texas area.

Figures from CDC show that the percentage figures for children with obesity and overweight complications increased from 7% in 1980 to 18% in 2012 (CDC, 2015). Overweight means having a Body Mass Index above the 85th percentile and lower than 95%. Obesity, on the other hand is defined as having body weight above the 95th percentile for children of similar age and sex when it is shown on graphic growth charts (Stanhope & Lancaster, 2012). In my research, I discovered that there is no safe or immune state to this condition; yet it is only growing worse with the passage of time. CDC statistics in 2014 reveal that no state showed less than 20% prevalence in obesity or overweight. Three of the states studied showed a prevalence rate of over 35%. Texas was within the 30 to 35 range but two of those above the 35% mark were from the nearby areas. The study focuses on obese and overweight children of the eastern part of Texas. The children's Hospital Association of Texas shows in a study that one in every three children from Texas are already obese or overweight. The figure highlights that nearly half of Hispanic children are also obese (Arons, 2011). Another alarm bell, in the whole scenario, points to the fact that these children stand over 2/3 risk of maintaining their obese situation beyond 35 years. Obesity treatment cost Texas in excess of $3.3 billion each year. The obese children today are set to multiply the adult obese cases in Texas threefold by 2040. There is also a direct correlation between such expansion and expenditure (Arons, 2011; Stanhope & Lancaster, 2012).

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Obesity during childhood enhances the possibility of developing other health complications in childhood and in later years as an adult. The common diseases that affect such children and adults include but not limited to diabetes type II, hypertension, sleep apnea, cardiovascular disease, asthma and osteoarthritis (Gungor, 2014). Glucose intolerance is a common indicator of the onset of the development of type II diabetes and even cardiovascular disease is a common complex condition among children and adults that suffer from long-term obesity. In Diabetes type II, is the cause is insulin resistance. This affects the uptake of glucose. It also comes with glucose intolerance (Reinehr, 2013). Glucose intolerance is common among overweight and obese children.

The constitution of the aggregate population selected is 22.8% non-Hispanics, non-Hispanic Asians: 2.1%, 50% non-Hispanic whites, 23.5% non-Hispanic Blacks (city-data.com, n.d). The city ranked higher than the state in the number of college graduates at 2, 4 and professional levels at doctoral heights. The town of Tyler Texas was only slightly below Texas in the number of people pursuing Masters Programs. The families in the lower income bracket were split into couple and married couple families (27.3%), wifeless males at 19.7%, and females with absent husbands at 53%.

The Median household income in the year 2013 stood at $44,467 and was significantly higher that the states ($51,704) Poverty was notably higher in Tyler standing at 16.8% as compared to the Texas figure that stands at 15.4%(city-data.com, n.d). The adult obesity rate in Texas was slightly higher at 26.7% than the rest of the state.

Community Description

One out of three children and half of Hispanic children in Texas suffer from obesity or overweight issues (Arons, 2011). Over two thirds of these children are likely to carry their obesity problems into adulthood. This eventuality will place a burden on Texas in terms of resources. Statistical data point at the burden (on healthcare) soaring to 3.3 billion dollars every year. The allocation to Tyler; based on demographics is 50% for non-Hispanic White people, 23.5%, for the non-Hispanic Blacks, 22.8% Hispanic while for non-Hispanic Asians stood at 2.1% (city-data.com, n.d). Tyler was rated higher on the poverty scale. It ranked higher than the rest of the state for obese college graduates. All these figures have a co-relationship with the trends of obesity. Tyler was ranked above average in health matters for cities that were comparable in terms of size but remained behind in some specializations such as pediatric Endocrinology that manages overweight or obese children with a medically related history. The town has a public transport system that operates all routes. However, it is more focused on key thorough-fares in the city. Going off the routes means that one has to seek alternative means (city-data.com, n.d).

Luckily, the school systems and health units in the area have accepted that there is a problem, and have already acted in some way to forestall the epidemic that only seems to grow worse. With a concerted effort from all stakeholders, children in future stand a chance of leading normal lives, as it should be (city-data.com, n.d). Indeed, many schools and colleges have incorporated physical activity programs in their routine and increased the time for these programs. Yet, such adjustment is still considered piecemeal. Tyler ISD has developed a 5-2-1-0 program that points at five fruits a day, 2 or less hours of TV, an hour of physical exercise and total avoidance of sugary foods. Texas developed strategies to prevent excessive expenditures on healthcare programs by enhancing healthcare outcomes. The state developed policies to arrest the runway childhood obesity complication. Three senate bills in the concern were passed over a six-year period. The bill 19 of 2001 showed a minimum physical activity in elementary schools, coordinated school health programs. The state even stated school health advisory councils for physical activity and nutrition. The senate Bill no.42 of the year 2005 increased the minimum physical exercise requirement to incorporate children in mid-school. The bill no 530 of 2007 promoted physical activity programs for children in grade K- 8. It even mandated annual testing for the physical fitness of these children (aerobic capacity, strength, flexibility, body mass index), also referred to as the fitness gram for children of grades 3 to 12. (The mandating of the Texas Department of Agriculture initiated.....

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