Obese Children
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Obesity can be broadly defined as too much body fat. Levels of obesity may be measured by a body mass index scale known as the BMI index. BMI projects obesity by assessing body proportions and fat deposits based on a height and weight scale. Obesity is a huge problem in the United States, and is considered to be a threatening epidemic. This is the case especially for our youth population who are vulnerable to many future obesity risks that are somewhat beyond their control. Children do not manage what they eat, drink, or what is prepared for them in school. In addition, children have lost many of the opportunities to “play” outside as society promotes a culture of computer games, video games, and television. If statistics report that “approximately 30.3 percent of children (ages 6 to 11) are overweight and 15.3 percent are obese,” and that, “for adolescents (ages 12 to 19), 30.4 percent are overweight and 15.5 percent are obese,” then who is to blame (
Family income is an important factor when considering obesity causes in children. In this country fast food is relatively cheaper than a quality meal. A McDonalds double cheeseburger costs one dollar. The problem with this is that the burger alone has a whopping 480 calories and 23 grams of fat (
Income varies from household to household, so the cost of healthy food is an important factor to the health of children. If they can afford better quality meals, families with higher incomes may be physically fit and able to eat lean healthy diets. In contrast, families with lower incomes who cannot afford to buy more expensive, yet healthier alternatives may be not as physically fit due to their inferior diet. In this country the lowest incomes can be associated with disadvantaged minorities. Subsequently, the highest rates of obesity are also linked with poor minorities (
Increase in Overweight and Obesity Prevalence
Among U.S. Adults* by Racial / Ethnic Group
Overweight
(BMI > 25)
Prevalence (%)
Obesity
(BMI > 30)
Prevalence (%)
Racial / Ethnic Group
1988 to 1994
1999 to 2000
1988 to 1994
1999 to 2000
Black (non-Hispanic)
62.5
69.6
30.2
Mexican American
67.4
28.4
White (non-Hispanic)
62.3
Fig. 1. Source: CDC, National Center for Health Statistics, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Flegal et. al. JAMA. 2002; 288:1723-7 and IJO. 1998;22:39-47. *Ages 20 and older for 1999 to 2000 and ages 20 to 74 for 1988 to 1994.
In hindsight, I understand that my family was a statistic. I lived in a lower income home. We could not afford high quality meals. Also, we all were slightly overweight. For example, my eleven year old brother weighs 160 pounds at five feet tall. His BMI is over 31 percent which means that he is obese (
Even at school, kids may not be able to control their eating habits or what they eat. Standards for nutrition in school have relaxed over the years. Last month, a Massachusetts