Childhood Obeasity Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Childhood Obeasity - Research Proposal Example The overwhelming evidence of prevalence of unhealthy obese lifestyle among the American youth originates a serious issue related to health. Children with obesity have to cope with numerous diseases linked with obesity that are discussed in this paper. Some of the research presented in this paper also deals with the factors that explain why the incidence of obesity is increasing among the American youth. Increase in the availability of affordable junk foods and sedentary lifestyle are also highlighted in the paper that contribute to incidence of obesity. Some factors that make it difficult to decrease the likelihood of obesity in the youth are also identified in the paper and backed up with authentic evidence. 1. Introduction: For the past many years, research reports have been illuminating that more and more children are getting overweight owing to the increased adaptation of sedentary lifestyle and increased consumption of junk food and sugar beverages. Childhood obesity presents on e of the greatest health challenges to the world. Obesity is especially drastic and devastating for the youth owing to the many other diseases it develops like emotional disturbances, heart problems, type 2 diabetes, and increased blood pressure. Over the past years, decrease in the prices of beverages and fast food has made it convenient for the youth to consume these readymade products excessively. Affordability of such foods that are high in calories, fat, and sugar has made the likelihood of obesity among youth all the more potent. There are numerous alarming side effects associated with this growing epidemic which are highly capable of destroying the futures of many children. The rate of obesity among the American youth is so markedly high that according to a report by Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Center to Prevent Childhood Obesity, â€Å"today, more than 23 million U.S. children and teens—nearly one in three young people—are either overweight or obese.† (Thompson, 2010). What aggravates the situation is that only a minimal percentage of youth is on diet that meets the national recommendations and even less percentage of youth considers the necessary 60 minute daily physical activity presently in America. Outdoor activity has been almost completely replaced with television and video games, and this greatly increases the incidence of obesity among the American youth. 2. Research review: a. Prevalence of obesity in the American youth: (Thompson, 2010) mentions that â€Å"obesity is becoming a problem at an earlier age, with 24.4 percent of children ages 2 to 5 already obese or overweight.† The problem of childhood obesity is prevalent in the American youth irrespective of race, religion, family income, and location. Still, some populations or communities are at more risk of childhood obesity than others because of their unhealthy lifestyle and increased consumption of foods that go against the recommended healthy diet. Some pa rticular races like Blacks, American Indians, and Latinos are at more risk of childhood obesity than other races owing to genetic factors. Sedentary lifestyle and social environments play more active role in increasing childhood obesity incidence than the genetic factors. Obesity significantly destroys the futures of many children because the adverse disease it brings with itself, cause a serious setback to such children. This epidemic