Thesis
Although obesity is a first-rising problem that affects many children around the globe due to imbalanced diet, stress, and lack of adequate exercise, it is harmful to the economy and wellbeing of the respective children and thus demands immediate intervention.
Pont, S., Puhl, R., Cook, S., & Slusser, W. (2017). Stigma Experienced by Children and Adolescents With Obesity. Pediatrics, 140(6), e20173034. doi: 10.1542/peds.2017-3034
Pont, Puhl, Cook, and Slusser (2017) depicts that approximately one-third of children and youths are obese, meaning that it is an issue present in the country. Conversely, the writers confirm that obesity cases among young adults are more compared to those suffering from chronic illnesses. However, the main subject discussed in the article is those young adults who are obese encounter weight stigma, which affects their mental health adversely. By definition, weight stigma is when an individual criticizes another because he or she is overweight. These stereotypes presume that obese individuals are lazy, unmotivated to exercise, and are undisciplined when choosing their diets. The authors argue that weight stigma does not prompt the overweight people to join weight loss programs or start exercises. Instead, these individuals result in consuming foods with high-calories to console themselves. Moreover, stigmatized teenagers become antisocial, inactive and avoid catering to their health, thus increasing obesity cases in the nation (Pont, Puhl, Cook, & Slusser, 2017). Therefore, when children are exposed to weight stigma, it affects them negatively compared to grown-ups and the effects interfere with their daily lives. To establish the seriousness of the matter, Pont, Puhl, Cook, & Slusser, 2017, highlight that in schools, teachers acknowledge that weight stigma is more prevalent than other forms of bullying. The psychological effects of weight stigma include self-harm and suicidal effects. Although obesity is a severe problem to treat, the authors state that having a strong support system such as parents, health practitioners and the community is a sure way of helping the stigmatized obese people from experiencing depression.
Chaput, J., Saunders, T., & Carson, V. (2017). Interactions between sleep, movement and other non-movement behaviors in the pathogenesis of childhood obesity. Obesity Reviews, 18, 7-14. doi: 10.1111/obr.12508
This source is a report of research carried out on the health effects of physical activity, sedentary behavior and slept on the various health outcomes. The articles mainly focus on how these aspects impact childhood obesity. Based Chaput et al. a recent discovery of evidence proves that "the combination of sleep, movement and non-movement behaviors matters and all components of the 24-h movement continuum should be targeted to enhance health and prevent childhood obesity…"(1). The article, therefore, explores the various researches that have been conducted on the aspects of physical activity, sedimentary behavior and sleep on their relation to obesity among children to establish the effects of these elements on the issue of childhood obesity. The authors postulate that a mixture of these behaviors being studied in the article is to blame for the high level of obesity cases among children. While most people only focus on the aspect of fast food as the primary cause of obesity, they fail to take into consideration the element of movement and exercise. Children, just like adults require training to keep them active to avoid accumulation of fats and negative impacts on their health.
Most of the children in different parts of the globe lack proper advice on how to take care of their health and as a result, end up experiencing issues with obesity. This source complements the thesis statement since it portrays some of the problems that lead to obesity in children hence creating room for the development of strategies to counter the issues for the fight against obesity to be successful. Through this source, it becomes easier to discover some of the negative aspects that many people ignore in their children, which in turn cause them to become obese. Furthermore, the source also plays a huge role in the offering reader's insights on the guidelines and public health decisions that need to be implemented in order achieve the desired effect in the fight against obesity and obesity-related illnesses. This source is therefore beneficial in my research since it offers insight into some of the neglected causes of obesity among children and the remedies to these problems. Furthermore, the source can be used since it analyzes other types of research regarding the same topic to come to cover the issue comprehensively.
Van Leeuwen, J., Koes, B., Paulis, W., & van Middelkoop, M. (2017). Differences in bone mineral density between normal-weight children and children with overweight and obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Obesity Reviews, 18(5), 526-546. doi: 10.1111/obr.12515
This source documents a study to examine the difference in bone mineral density among obese children and healthy weight children. The researchers employ a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies methodology to gain insights on their research. The results of the experiment were pooled together, and the mean difference between the healthy weight children and the obese children was calculated. From the investigation, the researchers discovered that overweight or obese children had a higher whole body bone mineral content than healthy weight children. Furthermore, it was also determined that obese children had a higher overall body bone mineral density than the healthy weight children. In addition, upon the application of a sensitivity analysis, the research revealed that "the association was stronger in girls" (1). Based on Van Leeuwen et al.'s findings obese children possess a significantly higher bone mineral density compared to healthy weight children. However, the findings failed to provide information on the long-term effects of higher bone mineral density. As a result, further research is required to establish the long-term effects of higher bone mineral density on the health of obese children as they turn into adults.
The source does not support the thesis statement since it portrays the notion that obesity studies among children do not actually reveal any significant impacts on the child's health in the long run. The fact that the article fails to explain any form of complications or effects that may impact obese children during the course of their lives proves that it shows that there is nothing wrong with children being overweight, which is entirely wrong. However, the article is essential in my research since it represents the notions of many obese people regarding what effects their body sizes have on their overall health in the present and in years to come. Using this article, I will attempt to prove that it does not contain sufficient research to determine that there are no effects of being obese to a child's health. The fact that the authors themselves claim that they have insufficient information to prove their findings is an indicator of the fact that their conclusions cannot really be trusted to argue that obesity in children is not harmful to the health of the patients. The source is, therefore, important in identifying the other side part of the obesity argument especially in children to eradicate the aspect of bias in the discussion and improve the credibility of the research.
Bennett, C., & Blissett, J. (2016). Parental monitoring may protect impulsive children from overeating. Pediatric Obesity, 12(5), 414-421. doi: 10.1111/ijpo.12159
Bennet and Blissett argue that childhood obesity is a crucial health concern worldwide. The problem continues to accelerate because the parents do not control what their children eat, which forces them to overeat. The authors demonstrate that impulsivity is among the factors that contribute to obesity among children. The more impulsive the children are, the more they are likely to overeat and suffer from obesity. Although the authors establish that there are no sources to prove that impulsivity contributes to obesity, children who are exposed to rewards tend to overeat even though they are not hungry. In fact, a relation exists between a variety of food and impulsivity, meaning that the latter can lead to obese children (Bennet & Blissett, 2016, 414). Another thing the authors demonstrate is that a correlation exists between caregivers who feed the children and impulsivity. If these individuals' moderate food consumption among the children, they can live healthily and vice versa. Bennet and Blissett (2016) affirm that parental monitoring can reduce childhood obesity because it can control the calories, they give the children as well as emotional cheating (415).
The source is credible because the Pediatric Obesity journal contains articles discussing obesity among children and teenagers and has existed since 2005. The scholarly article includes a study of ninety-five parents alongside their 2-4-year-old children, and several factors were considered to conclude the study demographic information, child eating behavior, mealtime, parental feeding practices, and parent-reported child impulsivity among others. The authors indicate the limitations of the study, meaning that their audience can recognize they endured challenges, but the final information can be trusted.
The information is useful in the essay because it proves the existence of obesity among children. Bennet and Blissett confirm that impulsivity is a common factor that leads to obesity, but parents can help children overcome the behavior. Many children if unsupervised, tend to eat food with high-calories because they do not know whether it can lead to obesity. Nonetheless, with supervision, the authors demonstrate that the parents or guardians can regulate what the children can eat and help them consume healthy products. Besides, based on my thesis, obesity is a first-rising problem, and the article affirms because the children's impulse eating behavior depends on how they grow up. In this regard, having this source in the essay demonstrates that parents are the hope of ending obesity since they can regulate what their children intake. The strategy protects the children from encountering health problems associated with obesity such as hypertension and high blood pressure.
