The Relationship Between Childhood Obesity and Low-Income Homes in the Southeastern United States

The Relationship between Childhood Obesity and Low-Income Homes in the Southeastern United States

Justin Jones

English 122

Professor Megan Pope

February 26, 2012

The Relationship between Childhood Obesity and Low-Income Homes in the Southeastern United States

Childhood obesity has become a major issue in the United States. Over the last decade, the number of obese children has drastically increased, but none more progressively then in the southeast region of the United States. States like Kentucky, Virginia, and North Carolina are the biggest contributor to this deadly disease (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011). Another important factor that has played a role in the escalation is the number of obese children coming from low-income homes. This problem has become a huge concern because of the impact it imposed on children's physical and mental well-being that can last all the way into their adulthood. Although there is no exact answer to the cause of childhood obesity, there are several factors that contribute to obesity. These are caloric balance, environment, genetics, diseases, and drugs. We, as Americans, must educate ourselves on this issue and start to do something now before this matter gets any worse than it already has so that we can ensure that we are giving our children the best quality of life possible. If we continue to sit back and do nothing to mitigate the deadly disease, this problem will have a catastrophic chain reaction for generations to come and the number of obese children will climb out of control. We must fix this problem now or our grandchildren will grow up in a world where obesity and health problems will be common and they will not be able to live long healthy lives. It is apparent that obese children growing up in low-income housing in the southeastern United States has become a major problem, caused by laziness and the lack of education, therefore it is up to the parents, friends, and families to educate our children and find solutions in order for us to beat this killer. Parents of obese children need to intervene in their children's lives and enforce healthy habits because it can reduce the risk of serious mental and physical health problems that can hinder them throughout their entire life.

The most important factor of why we must get childhood obesity under control is because of the health concerns that this deadly disease can cause. Childhood obesity can cause a number of mental and physical illnesses which can follow them all the way up in to their adult years. Many of these health concerns can hinder the overall well-being of our youth. If it continues and nothing is done to mitigate this disease, obese children will keep on living unhealthy lives and suffer agonizing health problems and possible even death.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, some of the biggest health risks that obese children were more susceptible to were increased blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, breathing problems such as asthma and sleep apnea, joint problems, liver disease, and gallstones (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011). Not only have obese children faced these physical concerns, they are more likely to suffer from social and psychological problems as well. Some of the mental issues include discrimination and low self-esteem which can continue up into their adult years. Obese children are often scrutinized by their peers because of their size or eating habits which in turn can cause severe psychological issues that can hamper then for the rest of their lives.

Studies have also shown that when children are obese, they are more likely to face severe adulthood obesity (Freedman, Dietz, Srinivasan, and Berenson, 2001). Some of the more severe adult obesity concerns are heart disease, diabetes, and several types of terminal cancers (National Institutes of Health, 1998). There are many health risks that childhood obesity can cause. These are just a few of the more serious problems that have occurred because of childhood obesity. We must educate ourselves on these severe health problems so that we understand why it is so important to fix the problem of childhood obesity. Watching a loved one suffer from any of these health issues is inexcusable and unfair to our youth. In order for us to mitigate childhood obesity there are other factors that we must consider. Another noteworthy aspect we must ponder is to pinpoint where the majority of this disease is happening.

One of the major contributors of childhood obesity is their environment. Children who are raised by parents that live unhealthy habits are more likely to follow in their footsteps. One other significant environmental factor is the neighborhoods they live in. If a child lives in an area that has insufficient or unsafe space for them to conduct physical activities, then they will be more likely to pick up unhealthy habits that can lead to childhood obesity. Many children may not have much say in how much money their parents will have, where they will live, what they will eat and what type of physical activities they will participate in. A child's environment can play a significant role in childhood obesity. For us to fully understand the issue at hand, we have to determine where the majority of childhood obesity has stemmed from. In order to find some of the best possible solutions, one must find out which area is most affected by the disease, why it is happening, and then make an educated solution to help solve the problem of childhood obesity.

A survey conducted by the National Survey of Children's Health showed that the highest percentage of obese children came from the southeastern region of the United States (Emery, 2010). The study showed that the reasoning behind the high numbers in the southeast was due to higher crime rates, less access to physical recreation sites such as parks and playgrounds, and easier access to unhealthy food choices such as restaurants and fast food establishments. One other huge contributor to the high number of obese children in the southeastern United States is that the majority of them come from low-income homes. The relationship between low-income homes and childhood obesity in the southeast states can account for the majority of the problem. Children with parents who have a minimal income face more obstacles of avoiding obesity. One of the biggest obstacles is that they are more restricted when it comes to physical activities. Low-income homes are unable to allow their children to attend extracurricular activities as well as afford nice equipment