Childhood obesity. Problem analysis. Solution. Nursing Essay

CHILDHOOD OBESITY
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Introduction
Childhood obesity has been on the rise, and it has tripled in the last few decades  CITATION Cen181 \l 1033 (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2018). It is a disturbing trend that casts doubt on the future of the country because it affects the next generation. It also shows there are some things which need to be looked into that are fueling this trend because it is a result of multiple factors. Childhood obesity can be decreased by creating intervention measures, education in schools and physical activity.
Problem analysis
Obesity prevalence in children aged 5-19 in the United States has tripled since 1970 CITATION Fry14 \l 1033 (Fryar, Carroll, & Ogden, 2014) and data from 2015-2016 show that nearly 1 in 5 school age children and young people (6 to 19 years) in the United States have obesity. Obesity has immediate and long-term effects on the physical, social, and emotional development of the children. Obese children are more likely to be teased and bullied by colleagues in school. Bullied children have low self-esteem and are more likely to be depressed which adversely affect their academics. Secondly, obese children are more likely to be obese in their adulthood if the necessary steps are not taken to ensure the child grows into a healthy weight and maintain it. Thirdly, obese children are at higher risk of having other chronic health conditions and diseases that influence physical health. Some of these conditions include heart diseases, bone, and joint problems, sleep apnea, asthma, etc. The incidence of childhood obesity shows that obesity is highest at the youngest ages and it decreases with age through adolescent CITATION Che161 \l 1033 (Cheung, Cunningham, Naryan, & Kramer, 2016)Incidence proportions may differ by gender, race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status and hence strategy to fight this issue must account for its prevalence and differences in age and demographics. The variables greatly vary, but the is an underlying commonality; fast food industries, children, targeted marketing with unhealthy sugary foods, lack of proper awareness of the issue in the community and poor design of children's programs which do not encourage regular exercise to metabolize excess calories.
Solution
There is a need for Intensive awareness campaigns on healthy lifestyles for children. Technology has made children less active which makes them store more fat. They are hooked to television and video games which are relatively stable leisure activities compared to playing outdoors. They are relatively inactive lifestyle has significantly made children more obese, and there is a need for intensive campaigns that educate children on healthy living and structuring their school curricula to involve a lot of active outdoor activities. Children need to be encouraged to play outside and adopt active and healthier leisure activities as opposed to technological devices. Parents can be sensitized on the importance of outdoor playtime for children and reinforced in schools and through the media by professional associations, government agencies and or non-governmental bodies championing healthy living.
Parenting plays a role in childhood obesity CITA...