The following is a list of possible
reasons that children may be experiencing obesity. This list of reasons was
obtained from the Centers of Disease Control as a guide to inform the public
for the purpose of this blog. If you would like more information, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/childhood/causes.html
Childhood
obesity is a complex health issue. It occurs when a child is well above the
normal or healthy weight for his or her age and height. The main causes of
excess weight in youth are similar to those in adults, including individual
causes such as behavior and genetics. Behaviors can include dietary patterns,
physical activity, inactivity, medication use, and other exposures. Additional
contributing factors in our society include the food and physical activity
environment, education and skills, and food marketing and promotion.
·
Advertising of less healthy foods.
Nearly half of U.S. middle and high schools allow advertising of less healthy foods, which impacts students' ability to make healthy food choices. In addition, foods high in total calories, sugars, salt, and fat, and low in nutrients are highly advertised and marketed through media targeted to children and adolescents, while advertising for healthier foods is almost nonexistent in comparison.
Nearly half of U.S. middle and high schools allow advertising of less healthy foods, which impacts students' ability to make healthy food choices. In addition, foods high in total calories, sugars, salt, and fat, and low in nutrients are highly advertised and marketed through media targeted to children and adolescents, while advertising for healthier foods is almost nonexistent in comparison.
·
Variation
in licensure regulations among child care centers.
More than 12 million children regularly spend time in child care arrangements outside the home. However, not all states use licensing regulations to ensure that child care facilities encourage more healthful eating and physical activity.
More than 12 million children regularly spend time in child care arrangements outside the home. However, not all states use licensing regulations to ensure that child care facilities encourage more healthful eating and physical activity.
·
No
safe and appealing place, in many communities, to play or be active.
Many communities are built in ways that make it difficult or unsafe to be physically active. For some families, getting to parks and recreation centers may be difficult, and public transportation may not be available. For many children, safe routes for walking or biking to school or play may not exist. Half of the children in the United States do not have a park, community center, and sidewalk in their neighborhood. Only 27 states have policies directing community-scale design.
Many communities are built in ways that make it difficult or unsafe to be physically active. For some families, getting to parks and recreation centers may be difficult, and public transportation may not be available. For many children, safe routes for walking or biking to school or play may not exist. Half of the children in the United States do not have a park, community center, and sidewalk in their neighborhood. Only 27 states have policies directing community-scale design.
·
Limited
access to healthy affordable foods.
Some people have less access to stores and supermarkets that sell healthy, affordable food such as fruits and vegetables, especially in rural, minority, and lower-income neighborhoods. Supermarket access is associated with a reduced risk for obesity. Choosing healthy foods is difficult for parents who live in areas with an overabundance of food retailers that tend to sell less healthy food, such as convenience stores and fast food restaurants.
Some people have less access to stores and supermarkets that sell healthy, affordable food such as fruits and vegetables, especially in rural, minority, and lower-income neighborhoods. Supermarket access is associated with a reduced risk for obesity. Choosing healthy foods is difficult for parents who live in areas with an overabundance of food retailers that tend to sell less healthy food, such as convenience stores and fast food restaurants.
·
Greater
availability of high-energy-dense foods and sugar sweetened beverages.
High-energy-dense foods are ones that have a lot of calories in each bite. A recent study among children showed that a high-energy-dense diet is associated with a higher risk for excess body fat during childhood. Sugar sweetened beverages are the largest source of added sugar and an important contributor of calories in the diets of children in the United States. High consumption of sugar sweetened beverages, which have few, if any, nutrients, has been associated with obesity. On a typical day, 80% of youth drink sugar sweetened beverages.
High-energy-dense foods are ones that have a lot of calories in each bite. A recent study among children showed that a high-energy-dense diet is associated with a higher risk for excess body fat during childhood. Sugar sweetened beverages are the largest source of added sugar and an important contributor of calories in the diets of children in the United States. High consumption of sugar sweetened beverages, which have few, if any, nutrients, has been associated with obesity. On a typical day, 80% of youth drink sugar sweetened beverages.
·
Increasing
portion sizes.
Portion sizes of less healthy foods and beverages have increased over time in restaurants, grocery stores, and vending machines. Research shows that children eat more without realizing it if they are served larger portions.This can mean they are consuming a lot of extra calories, especially when eating high-calorie foods.
Portion sizes of less healthy foods and beverages have increased over time in restaurants, grocery stores, and vending machines. Research shows that children eat more without realizing it if they are served larger portions.This can mean they are consuming a lot of extra calories, especially when eating high-calorie foods.
·
Lack
of breastfeeding support.
Breastfeeding protects against childhood overweight and obesity. However, in the United States, while 75% of mothers start out breastfeeding, only 13% of babies are exclusively breastfed at the end of 6 months. The success rate among mothers who want to breastfeed can be improved through active support from their families, friends, communities, clinicians, health care leaders, employers, and policymakers.
Breastfeeding protects against childhood overweight and obesity. However, in the United States, while 75% of mothers start out breastfeeding, only 13% of babies are exclusively breastfed at the end of 6 months. The success rate among mothers who want to breastfeed can be improved through active support from their families, friends, communities, clinicians, health care leaders, employers, and policymakers.
Reference
Centers for Disease Control (2016). Retrieved on July 20, 2016 from https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/childhood/causes.html
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