The Psychological Effects of Childhood Obesity

The Psychological Effects of Childhood Obesity

Abstract
While sitting at a mall, a person may notice the different sizes of people walking by. Generally speaking there are really tall people, short people, some with small waists and others with large waist. There are small children and large children. The children are what we will be focusing on throughout this paper. One of the growing problems in the United States is childhood obesity. What is the cause? Why is childhood obesity a growing problem? Is it the parents of these children that are neglecting to limit their children’s caloric intake or inability to teach proper eating habits? Or is the fact that children of today tend to be more sedentary? Or even still is it the fault of the child? Another aspect to realize is the psychological effects that may haunt the obese child throughout their lives. Throughout the following paper the facts will prove that not only genes are responsible for obesity of children in the United States. This paper will also look at the psychological effects of childhood obesity and what the prognosis is for childhood obesity in the United States.

The United States faces more than just war in other countries. The facts are the rate of childhood obesity increases every year. This war is directed fully at our future. Parents are the number one advocate against the war on childhood obesity. The facts are childhood obesity can be defined and even blamed on the parents, schools, and cafeteria lunches. Childhood obesity, according to Center for Disease Control, body mass index (BMI) is a measure used to confirm that a child is overweight and obesity and is measured through the height and weight of the child. The CDC growth chart measures the height and weight of children of the same age and sex, which assists in determining whether a child is within the normal range for weight. A BMI at or above the 95th percentile for comparable children of the same age and sex would define an obese child. According to Center for disease control has 17% of children in the United States are overweight or obese and will be the first generation to die before their parents. The psychological effects of childhood obesity are devastating and can continue into adulthood.
There are many psychological effects that are linked directly to childhood obesity. Psychological issues that are often found in obese children include low self-esteem, depression, impaired social relationships, obesity stigma, and lack of quality of life (Vander JS, Mitchell ER, 2011) shown the factors of childhood obesity does not only lie in the size of the child. It is heartbreaking to watch a child who is an outcaste around other children of the same age or of any age. Low self-esteem and obese children often times goes hand in hand.
Self-esteem according to the National Association for Self-esteem is defined as, “Educators, parents, business and government leaders agree that we need to develop individuals with healthy or high self-esteem characterized by tolerance and respect for others, individuals who accept responsibility for their actions, have integrity, take pride in their accomplishments, who are self-motivated, willing to take risks, capable of handling criticism, loving and lovable, seek the challenge and stimulation of worthwhile and demanding goals, and take command and control of their lives.” Obese children have a disrupted sense of self-esteem (National Association for Self-Esteem). The psychological effects may also cause a child not to excel in school.
According to the Mayo Clinic Health system, childhood obesity is often times the cause of anxiety and poor social skills in obese children compared children of healthy normal weights. There has been a link between obese children having outbursts and being disruptive in class, however the other extreme has also been noted that obese children will at times become withdrawn in a classroom. Both factors contribute to academic decline (Retrieved from Mayo clinic website). The problem is not only a visual problem. Psychologically, obese children not only look differently, they also act differently (Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, retrieved from ProQuest database). The psychological effects can be treated and the root of the cause for the obesity may be found. While researching the childhood obesity epidemic, the fact that a child has to deal with the environmental criticisms could cause heartbreak. Picture yourself in a room full of other children; all the other children seem “normal”. Normal meaning that they are not obese or even overweight. Do you feel like you fit into this picture? Many people would say no that they did not feel as though they fit in. This is one of the psychological aspects of being an obese child: the feeling of being an outcast. Imagine each day waking up looking in the mirror and hating yourself because of the stereotyping and bullying that occurs in school. Now the question becomes: How can we as a nation begin to change the future of our children and their health? There is a direct link between childhood obesity and parenting. The fact is the high calorie, high fat and sugar content of most “junk” food that parents allow their children to have is a huge contributing factor to childhood obesity. As stated before, parents are the first step in combating childhood obesity. A parent can blame the cafeteria at school for their child being obese, which is simply not the fact. The fact is that if a child is educated about good food choices they will not pick the high calorie food that are offered in the lunch line at school. A parent can not be with their children 24 hours a day, however the education about eating healthy starts way before a child is in school. According to the Lets Move website which was started by Michele Obama, It is a parents and caregivers responsibility to teach children how to make good healthy food choices. The other factor that contributes to childhood obesity is in this day and age there are so much technology out there, that a child does not even have to leave the house. A good example of this would be video games, cable television, computer games to name a few. What happened to going for bike rides or nature hikes? Times have changed; children are more sedentary if the parents allow them to be. If as a parent, limited television time may be the answer. Another good idea would be for parents to join their children while playing outdoors. The fact is the more calories that are taken in the more have to be used up through exercise and activity (University Of Michigan Health System website).Obesity is a way of life for some children and in reality it does not have to be. What nine or ten-year- old buys the groceries? They do not usually buy the groceries, their parents do. So another word the children can not be the blame for their genetics or their obesity. Only the parents are to blame. Even the manufacturers of high caloric foods can not be the blame. The reason that they can not be the blame is because if parents did not buy the high caloric food the manufacturers would go out of business.
The link between parents and obesity is rather obvious. So what are we as parents going to do next? The answers to this question are best answered by the University of Michigan Health System. According to the University of Michigan Health System, the best way to tackle the epidemic of childhood obesity would be to start at the table. Have a family meal together, encouraging healthy eating habits. The problem of obesity is not just the problem of the obese child. Working together as a family to solve the unhealthy eating habits will assist in changing the habits. Parents really need to see the issues of the family and solve the issues as a family. If a child is obese is the reason because the child or children are not doing enough. Turn off the television. Have conversations together. Find an activity that all family members enjoy. Go for a nice walk after dinner. Have healthy snacks available, rather than making sure there are chips or ice cream make sure there is fruit and veggies in the house at all times. Chips and ice cream can be a family treat and not a daily must have. Obesity does not happen overnight and it is not going to change overnight. These little tips will be a start to ending the epidemic of childhood obesity. Make eating healthy a way of life for your family and it will be passed down from generation to generation helping end childhood obesity and in essence finding the cure for this epidemic one day at a time for generations to come. As we look toward our future, our children should be front and center: they are our future. As this paper is concluded the goal is that the reader leaves with the thought of how they can make a difference. It maybe that the reader has a child themselves that is overweight or obese, this authors goal is to prove that being an obese child is not just a number on a scale. It is so much bigger then that. As a nation we can overcome this epidemic one family at a time. A parent has the obligation to make sure that their child grows knowing they are loved. A parent also has the obligation to make sure a child learns self-confidence, has self-esteem and has a feeling of self-worth. Being an obese child can psychologically alter and have grave effects on a child. If everyone does their part to ensure a healthy environment as far as healthy eating habits and otherwise the United States has a fighting chance to cure childhood obesity.

References Center for Disease Control Website: Childhood Obesity www.cdc.gov Retrieved March 22, 2012 Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology
Swinburn B. Prevention of childhood obesity; Jan.18, 2009(1):209-23
Retrieved from ProQuest database March 29, 2012 Let’s Move Website www.letsmove.gov Retrieved April 10, 2012 Mayo Clinic Website: Childhood obesity www.mayoclinic.org Retrieved March 30, 2012 National Association for Self-Esteem Website www.self-esteem-nase.org Retrieved April 1, 2012 University of Michigan Health System Website http://www.med.umich.edu/yourchild/topics/obesity.htm Retrieved April 5, 2012 Vander Wal JS, Mitchell, ER Pediatric Clin North AM:
Psychological Complications of Childhood Obesity 2011 Dec. p 58(6):1393-401
Retrieved from the U.S. National Library of Medicine Website

References: Retrieved March 22, 2012   Retrieved from ProQuest database March 29, 2012   Retrieved April 10, 2012   Retrieved March 30, 2012   Retrieved April 1, 2012   Retrieved April 5, 2012