HRE #3: Childhood Obesity

This project focused on childhood obesity and the public issues that surround this devastating reality. Below are the excerpts from this student's research:

"Childhood Obesity 4% overweight 1982, 16% overweight 1994, 25% of all white children overweight 2001, 33% African American and Hispanic children overweight 2001, Hospital costs associated with childhood obesity rising from $35 Million (1979) to $127 Million (1999, (www.annecollins.com)"

"What causes childhood obesity? The causes of obesity are complex and include genetic, biological, behavioral and cultural factors. Basically, obesity occurs when a person eats more calories than the body burns up. If one parent is obese, there is a 50 percent chance that the children will also be obese. However, when both parents are obese, the children have an 80 percent chance of being obese. Although certain medical disorders can cause obesity, less than 1 percent of all obesity is caused by physical problems. Obesity in childhood and adolescence can be related to: poor eating habits, overeating or binging, lack of exercise (i.e., couch potato kids) family history of obesity, medical illnesses (endocrine, neurological problems), medications (steroids, some psychiatric medications), stressful life events or changes (separations, divorce, moves, deaths, abuse), family and peer problems, low self-esteem, depression or other emotional problems (www.aacap.org)"

When the student was asked to reflect on his own thoughts on childhood obesity, here's what he said:

"I have a stepbrother and sister who are both obese. My brother weight about 290 ,and he is only 17 my sister is 16 and she weight about 200. In the u.s.a. Americans do not practice good eating habits. If a person comes from another country, the odd are good that they will be fat in five years or less. I have a friend from; when she came to the u.s.a. the first thing that caught her attention was all the fast food restaurant. So our culture today needs to change our eating habits.

[These are the ways our culture has contributed to the rise of childhood obesity]: To many fast-food restaurant. Vending machine at schools soda or candy. Less exercise at school.
Parents are kids themselves. Bad eating habits. The problem of child hood obesity will get worse. I never seen so many obesity kids in the years of 2005-2007 now its almost common to be fat as a child. And to stop the problem, we need money, programs, and government assistant. And today’s time convinces is everything. So I don’t see the problem getting better anytime soon."

When asked what he would do to create a campaign to fix the childhood obesity epidemic, he suggested:

"I will call it [the campaign] PUNCH THE FAT OFF! That alone says it all; kids will love it."

Below is the Public Service Announcement this student created to bring awareness to the ongoing epidemic of childhood obesity:



(If you can not view the PSA, go here.)

If you have any questions or thoughts about this project, please feel to post a comment. What are your thoughts on childhood obesity? Will we manage to ever bring it under control? Do you know anyone who is suffering from health problems due to childhood obesity?