Childhood Obesity: A Review of Literature

Hiram Bautista
University of Texas at El Paso

Abstract
United States is known for having the largest obesity rates all around the world.

There

have been few studies and experiments trying to understand the rapid increase in obesity but is
mostly ignored by society even though it is a huge epidemic. Its not uncommon for children to
be obese in todays society and people are unaware of the risk kids are susceptible to when they
have obesity. Lately fast food restaurants have been getting bigger and are starting to become an
easy and quick way for parents to feed their children. Without society trying to slow down
childhood obesity rates kids have a chance forming diseases such as diabetes and sleep apnea.
There is a way for society to slow obesity and all people have to do is have children be a little
more physically active and eat healthier. This literature review is going to give important
information on cause for obesity, what obesity can cause, and how easily it is to prevent if people
put a little bit of effort to slow down rates.

Childhood Obesity: Literature Review

Childhood obesity has become a real epidemic over the last few decades, because
percentage rates keep increasing every year. The increase of obesity for children from the ages of
6-11 has increased from 7% in the 1980s to 18% in 2012. It has more than doubled over time
and now about one third of children in the United States are classified as obese (Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, 2015). There is long term affects that obesity can lead to such as
heart problems and diabetes. It is reported that 70% of obese children run huge risk of at least
one cardiovascular disease. Its not something children can just grow out off, since children
obese as early as the age of 2 are more susceptible to being obese as grow adults. The most
threatening part of obesity is it opens risk to numerous types of cancer (Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, 2015). It can be agreed that the United States needs to express
awareness towards obesity and society needs to figure out a solution for obesity.
Its real simple to prevent children from become obese, by eating healthy and participating
in physical activities. Society has become ignorant to these issues and people need realize how
dangerous obesity is. Obesity rates are going to continue to increase if people do not chose to
start a healthier lifestyle. We can better understand the effects and impacts obesity has on today
society through these four questions:
1.

What other health problems can childhood obesity lead to when they become
adolescents?

2.

What type of cultural impact does childhood obesity have in United States?

3.

How do fast restaurants tie in with childhood obesity?

These questions will answer the not so obvious issues and what problems it has caused. It will
also show some big factors that have cause or lead to childhood obesity.
What other health problems can childhood obesity lead to when they become adolescents?
To better understand the seriousness of obesity society needs to learn the various health
issues that obesity can cause. Common effect is growth obese children tend to be taller, have
rapid bone ages and mature faster than non-obese children (Dietz, 1998). Early maturation can
lead to children becoming obese since it has an increase in fatness and can also lead to eating
disorders. This has the possibility of stating that early maturation has a biological determinant of
obesity and how puberty operates (Dietz, 1998). They both work in a pattern where if youre
obese you might mature faster and if you matured earlier that most you have a chance of
becoming obese.

The most common health issue obesity leads to is diabetes, which states that the body has
glucose intolerance. Noninsulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NDDM) has appeared in one third
of diabetes cases in Cincinnati and notes that morbid effects have increased 10-fold since 1982
(Dietz, 1998). Although the article has more data on adults having diabetes it does conclude in
children continue being obese until adult they are more than likely go to have diabetes. A factor
for children getting glucose intolerance is Acanthosis nigrican which is increased thickness and
pigmentation of skin in intertriginous folds which has a prevalence of up to 25% of obese
patients. With an increase of contribution of obesity to diabetes in adults and acanthosis nigrican

in children it more than likely there will be examinations on insulin and glucose to see if there
can be a medical solution for both (Dietz, 1998).
One of the uncommon health issues obese children deal with is sleep apnea. Sleep
apnea gives children difficulty breathing while they sleep at night and causes them much
obstruction. It is extremely rare since only about 7% of obese children have sleep apnea, but that
does not mean it should be ignored (Dietz, 1998). Children sleep apnea start forming
neurocognitive deficits making slower thinkers than most. There have been a few cases where
weight reduction has improved sleep apnea for children. There has been uncertainty how obese
hypoventilation syndrome which is when a person has trouble breathing rapidly and struggle
gaining enough oxygen is associated with sleep apnea, but because of high mortality its
extremely advice that obese children with this syndrome start taking aggressive therapy (Dietz,
1998).
What are public schools doing to slow down childhood obesity rates?
Children will spend most of their day going to school, and so schools have a
responsibility to educate them, feed them healthy foods and give some form of exercise to the
children attending. There was a study performed to see how they could balance out education
with physical exercise to try and make obese children lose weight. Sixty-three obese children
took part in the school-based program of behavior modification, nutrition education, and physical
activity for approximately ten weeks (Brownell, Kaye, 1982). The people helping in the program
such as a nurse, teacher and the parents where giving all giving a specific set of instructions. The
nurse would weigh the kids regularly and make sure to keep records of the children. The parents
were to motivate and encourage their kids to lose as much weight as possible and to help them

set a realistic goal. Finally teachers were told to teach kids the importance of staying healthy and
talking about nutrition and exercise. Specifics meals were offered to the children that were
prepared according to United States Department of Agricultures type A meals (Brownell, Kaye,
1982). Overall the children were constantly being supported by everyone including their peers.
The end results were amazing since sixty out sixty-three participants lost an good amount of
weight unlike the a control group which consisted of fourteen obese children that where not
participating in the program and only three of them lost weight. This program work so well it
could have been implemented into schools curriculum.

Schools in todays generation have set up ideas and programs to help ensure kids stay
healthy. An interview done on October 16, 2015 at Bassett Middle School, physical education
coach Reyes Lara gave information and his opinions on current health programs the school
district has put in play. The Wellness program was created for a simple purpose and that was to
make kids become more active. It would start before actual class began and encourage both
student and parents to become active. This is essential since kids love to play and its important
because it promotes healthy child development by contributing to the cognitive, physical, social,
and emotional well-being of children and youth (Ginsburg, 2007). Schools also give health class

once they reach 8th grade to gets kids aware of nutrition, physical activity and the importance of
staying healthy. Coach Lara Reyes approves of these programs and he himself motivates kids to
be as physically active as possible while having fun at the same time. He explains that the only
issue schools have is what they feed children since most of it isnt all that healthy and does
contain a lot of sugar which ultimately isnt good, but overall is pleased whit what schools are
doing.
How do fast restaurants tie in with childhood obesity?
It has been unclear what type of association fast-food restaurant has with childhood
obesity because of lack of data. There havent been many studies except for six that were
conducted only two were with children and one was with parents and children. The studies
followed of participants for up to 6 months and their weight was regularly recorded. There were
two groups in the study; one group was constantly going to fast food restaurant three to seven
times a week while the other group only group only went two to four times a week. Studies
showed a considerable increase in energy intake but were unable to see much difference in
weight gain. Although their need to be more studies to see the type of impact fast food
restaurants have on obesity there is enough data for people to start considering changing their
eating habits and start eating healthier (Rosenheck, 2008). Especially since the United States has
the highest obesity rates in the world.

Advertising for fast food restaurants also has an impact on childhood obesity. An article
title FastFood Restaurant Advertising on Television and Its Influence on Childhood Obesity
suggest that eliminating advertising for fast food would reduce obesity rates by 18% percent
(Chou, Grossman, Rashad, 2008). This article states that weight gain is caused by more energy
intake than energy expenditure over a long period of time and fast food advertising on television
has effect of having no physical activity because of the person just staring at the screen and an
increase in consumption of fast food because of all the exposure it has on television (Chou,
Grossman, Rashad, 2008). Another article titled Food Marketing to Children and Youth: Threat
or Opportunity has found compelling evidence of the linkage of fast food advertising and
childhood obesity so much that they suggest regulation on television advertising. In order to slow
down the rapid obesity rates policies will have to be implemented on huge factors like fast foods
advertising and any other cause for childhood obesity
Conclusion
This literature review has explored some major effect, consequences and solutions for
childhood obesity. It is still a growing epidemic and obesity rates keep increasing rapidly. The
main purpose of this essay is to get awareness about childhood obesity. It targets possible

contributors to childhood obesity such as fast food and how although not enough studies
performed still hold reliable information to infer that fast food restaurants are a probable cause
and they should be regulated by our government to ensure they stop endangering children even if
it is not their intentions. It gives viable info on the consequences obesity can lead to such as
disease like diabetes which can be control and slowed but will ultimately destroy your body.
Ultimately it gives solutions like schools setting up systems to help slow down obesity rates by
having kids eat healthy and be physically active. Overall responsibility will fall to the parents to
ensure they do everything they can to keeps children from becoming obese.

References
Brownell D. K, Kaye S F. (1982). A school-based behavior modification, nutrition

education, and physical activity program for obese children. 102(4). Retrieve from
http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/35/2/277.full.pdf+html
Childhood Obesity Facts. (2015). Retrieved from
http://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/obesity/facts.htm
Chou S, Rashad I, Grossman M. (2008) Journal of Law and Economics. 51(4). 599-618
http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/590132
Dietz H, W. (1998). Health Consequences of Obesity in Youth: Childhood Predictors of Adult
Disease. 101(2). Retrieved From
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/101/Supplement_2/518.full
Ginsburg I, K. (2007). The Importance of Play in Promoting Healthy Child Development and
Maintaining Strong Parent-Child Bonds. 119(1). Retrieved from
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/119/1/182.full
Rosenheck, R. (2008), Fast food consumption and increased caloric intake: a systematic review
of a trajectory towards weight gain and obesity risk. Obesity Reviews. Retrieve from
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