Childhood Obesity Essay Example for Free

Childhood Obesity Essay Childhood obesity is a growing health concern nationwide. Obesity is a disorder in which the body fat content has become so high that it creates health problems and increased risk of health problems (Childhood Obesity: An Overview. Children Society, 21(5), 390-396). Doctors agree that there are two primary factors in creating obese children. First, the children and teenagers are not eating the right kinds of foods. Second, Americas children are getting less and less exercise on a daily basis. The effects of childhood obesity can be very serious and often include both physical and psychological effects on the lives of the children who are affected. Children that are obese go through a lot of different situations that allow them to become more prone to a mental illness. There are several causes for childhood obesity. Technology plays a big role in childhood obesity in today’s society. The biggest cause of childhood obesity is the lack of parenting. Childhood obesity can be prevented. It is best to prevent it from happening than to have to obtain a treatment for it. Childhood obesity plays a major impact on children up into adulthood and even has a role in the decisions an individual makes. Children that are obese have physical limitations. Most children usually take a liking into some type of physical activity whether it is playing a sport or just running around the yard for fun. Those actions are the normal expected actions of any child by both society and most of all parents. It is very difficult for a child when he or she is excluded from or limited to a certain amount of a physical activity due to weight related issues. Some children do not take rejection very well in any way, shape, or form. Obese children fall subject to a variety of physical and perceived physical barriers. Living an active lifestyle is difficult for an obese child. Obese children often go through a cycle of inactivity and poor health which creates more and more of a problem. Some of these problems that inactivity and poor health cause include asthma, joint pain and increased musculoskeletal stress, orthopedic problems, and psychosocial morbidity. When it comes to physical activity it is common in obese people to have the feeling of being too heavy in order to perform any physical activities. It is almost impossible for an obese child to just jump into heavy doses of high intensity physical activity. It is preferred that an obese child take a slow approach with light low-intensity physical activities in order to reach a better health. Obesity is associated with early mortality and has overtaken smoking as the health problem with the greatest impact on quality of life, mortality, and morbidity (Canadian Journal Of Psychiatry, 57(1), 13-20). The physical effects are often similar to the effects that are faced by adults who are obese, the psychological effects can sometimes be much, much worse because of the negative impact these issues can place on a still developing child. Mental illness is a significant factor that associates with obesity. Most people hear the term obese and mainly think of it as a physical condition. Obesity can be both physical and mental. From a behavioral perspective, mental illness is often characterized by a symptom profile that impacts energy, appetite, and motivation, and is more likely to be associated with unhealthy lifestyle factors, such as smoking, alcohol, and drug use. This makes exercise and healthy nutritional choices more difficult to implement (Canadian Journal Of Psychiatry, 57(1), 13-20). There is on individual on the face of this earth that smokes, drinks, or uses any recreational drugs that can still perform heavy doses of high intensity activities on a regular basis. The most common mental condition that is found it obese children is low self-esteem. Most people do not realize how much detrimental comments affect these children. The majority of children who are obese are faced with constant and persistent ridicule. The sad part about this situation is that the ridicule does not come from just other children but adults as well. The results of constant ridicule may lead a child to believe that they are worth anything which makes them feel as if there is no reason for them to even try to amount to anything. When anyone has that belief in their head it blocks that person from not caring about their life as a whole. This leads to a variety of problems all on its own. Success is something that may never be strived for by a child or adult that loses the mental battle that comes along with obesity. Studies show that children that are obese are at a higher risk of emotional problems that often carry over into adulthood. The study also reported that obese boys and girls with low self-esteem had higher rates of loneliness, sadness and nervousness. These children were more likely to smoke and drink alcohol compared with obese children with normal self-esteem. Depression, often an outcome of low self-esteem, affects as many as 750,000 teens in the U. S. (Source: Pediatrics, Childhood Obesity and Self-Esteem, January 2000. ) Untreated depression is recently passed upon but is a cause and effect of childhood obesity. Technology is at an all-time high. The technological age has resulted in children spending prolonged hours in front of television (TV) and computer screens. Lots of children are more interested in the technology than the usual interest of physical activity. Television shows, the internet, mobile phones, and video games occupy most children’s attention for great amounts of time every day. The rapid growth of technology is grasping the attention of the youth. The new lifestyle that has taken over the lives’ of the youth leaves little time for them to exercise. This lifestyle reduces the amount of physical activity and it is far from the lifestyle that their parents may have enjoyed many years ago. Parks are not as used as they often were and playgrounds are not as busy as they used to be. All of that is replaced with computers, laptops, handheld games, and anything that involves little or no physical movement. Health researchers suggest no television at all for children aged less than two years and not more than two hours of viewing for children aged more than two years. Most importantly it’s unhealthy to provide your child a separate television or computer in his room. More time spent on television and computer playing video games or computer games means less time spent on healthy physical activities. Nintendo did have one breakthrough when they the WII system to the world. This games forces children to get up out of their seats and move in order to play the game. Children are limited to the use of certain technology while at school, but at home the use of technology is at the discretion of the parent. Most children would rather sit inside all day with technology and constantly intake major calories without burning any. On a daily basis this can add some major pounds and create bad habits. Technology is great to have but it must not be abused by any individual. More than 25 million students use the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) daily, while approximately 7 million utilize the National School Breakfast Program (NSBP) daily. The public school systems have started programs that assure that each child is being fed healthy foods and that each child has the required physical activity to go along with an education. School programs that encourage physical activity are important for increasing childrens energy expenditure; because children are less likely to participate in physical activity in the absence of adult supervision (Am J Public Health. 001;91:618-620). The education and health of children are prominent considerations in the 21st century. Schools have always had a traditional focus on increasing literacy and numeracy proficiency in children, but now they are increasingly being tasked with preventing obesity as well. Regular physical activity is directly implicated in the prevention of childhood obesity; there is evidence, however, that it may also benefit cognitive development(American Journal Of Public Health, 102). Physical education (PE) in schools is an ideal vehicle by which to promote physical activity in children because it is available to all children, and teachers have the opportunity to integrate it into the overall education process (American Journal Of Public Health, 102). The public school system has a major impact on the determination of what children are exposed to. Starting the concern for kid’s health at an early age is a head start for the future. The impact on the lives of kids early may be the influence each child needs in order to make healthy decisions in the run of life. Parenting is the best prevention method that exists today for childhood obesity. Parents may miss or just don’t ever think about the actions that they perform around their kids. Children are followers, so most kids are reflections of their parents. Parents can help prevent obesity by having the knowledge of nutritional facts, by the food available in the household, by the parents’ eating habits, encouragement of activity, parents’ activity pattern, the current weight of the parent and by monitoring the time spent with the new age technology that requires little or no physical movement. Old sayings often make people believe that obesity is genetic. This is not a true statement. Every adult has control over what their physical appearance would be. Children need a good role model physically. Parents are the perfect role models for this job. Parents have the biggest and most effect on the lives of their children. Parents should be very concerned with the health of their children at a very early age. Some of the schools are now offering to the parents a few courses that are very direct about proper nutrition and exercise. Also the lunch menu for the week is sent home in advance to inform the parents of what type of foods and snacks that their children are consuming on a daily basis. People are still in belief when it comes to kids that it is ok for them to eat anything. Proper nutrition plays a very big role in the development of a child , both physical and mental. Keeping the kids in the habit of eating healthy has very great benefits in the long run. The mixture of fast food diets along with sedentary lifestyles is creating a generation of children who are facing very adult health issues like high cholesterol, diabetes and heart disease. Preventing obesity, or even slowing the dramatic rate of increase in obesity prevalence, will probably require societal changes which facilitate the modification of diet and physical activity by children and their families (Childhood Obesity: An Overview. Children Society, 21(5), 390-396). Technology will continue to rise rapidly. Most children are more attracted to prolonged hours of sitting with some type of technology rather than to get up and be active. The society revolves around the use of technology, both mobile and stationary. Public schools are implementing new programs that will reflect the proper nutrition and exercise required for each child. Schools also have the potential to influence students beliefs and attitudes regarding nutrition and weight control. Parents are the best prevention method against obesity. Parents have the control over each and every cause of childhood obesity. Every child looks up to their parent and someday may want to follow in their footsteps. The result of the footsteps each child takes is heavily depended upon the parent.

A Different Kind of Holocaust Essay -- Literary Analysis, Spiegelman

Art Spiegelman's Maus is a renowned comic book that won a Pulitzer Prize. The book was published in two parts, Volume I: "My Father Bleeds History," in 1986, and Volume II: "And Here My Troubles Began," in 1991. It was later integrated into one single volume. The book told Spiegelman's desire to write about his father's experiences during the Holocaust, as well as the experiences themselves. There had been numbers of Holocaust books over the decades, but Maus is different among all. After reading numerous Holocaust books, they become repetitive, because most people are aware of the tragic event. Maus offers not only the tale of the Holocaust, but stories about its victims, and the next generation as well. Its distinction was already displayed through Spiegelman's use of animals for nationalities. This method was perhaps Spiegelman's way to show readers the race hierarchy. Also, this comic book is not of a typical Holocaust story, because it is a legacy of the event. The comic has sto ries within stories, Vladek Spiegelman's (Art's father), and Art's himself. The comic tells how the Holocaust affected Vladek's life after, and as Vladek told his experiences to Art, it showed how their relationship was affected as well. As Art took in everything his father told him throughout the book, he tried to understand his father. What Art had to make of his father was through the stories during the Holocaust, while he tried to relate to him. All these notions that the comic has makes it distinctive among all other Holocaust books. Maus has aspects to it that other books about the Holocaust do not include. The strategies Spiegelman used, for example, depictions of nationalities through animals. The woman animals are: mice for Jews, and cats... ...ents what happened after the victim told his or her story to the readers. Perhaps that part was more important than the actual circumstance, because of what it did to people. Also, it accounted a relationship between those two generations joined together in discussion of what happened. In this case, it was Vladek and Art's - their relationship was negatively affected by the power of Vladek's past. Vladek was unable to move ahead with his life as a result of the trauma he received. His marriage with Mala was also destroyed because of old habits formed by his past. Confused and complicated emotions formed in Art for the overall sense of the book. This work showed how the past ruined the present and potentially the future as well. The stylistic features included in this comic, along with literary themes, created a peculiar book - dissimilar to other Holocaust works.

How Far Does Linda Make Us Feel Sympathy Towards Linda in Death of a Salesman

In Arthur Miller’s â€Å"Death of a Salesman†, Linda plays the key female role. It seems the family revolves around her, and she seems to be the most forward thinking character in the play, but does Miller make us feel sympathy towards her? There are many reasons as to why we could feel sympathy for Linda. Firstly, Linda is living with all the families dreams. Trapped by Willy’s failed career the family has nothing, and Linda has to bear that. Her two children, who are both great looking and confident, have made nothing of themselves at ages 34 and 32.All she wants is a realistic goal, but she gets dragged into the dreams her family mistakenly create. Willy himself says in the restaurant scene â€Å"the woman has waited and the woman has suffered. † Willy is showing he realises what he is putting Linda through, but unfortunately he has no fix. Secondly, Linda has had to suffer through Willy’s Suicidal thoughts, plagued everyday with trying to remove the rubber pipe, but putting it back everyday for fear of hurting Willy.Linda is forced to bear the thought of Willy killing himself daily, that can’t be easy for a woman who suffers in so many other ways. Thirdly, Willy cannot provide for Linda, not allowing her to work, for fear of looking unsuccessful. Willy is only paid commission, and throughout his working life he has never made much money. This means the family cannot afford many luxuries, with a cheap car, and cheap appliances such as their refrigerator.Linda is seen mending stockings by Willy, a key symbol in the play, not only can Willy not provide enough money for Linda to afford expensive stockings, but Willy could provide stockings to ‘the Woman’, with Stockings a symbol for sexuality and femininity, it could be said that Willy provided sexually for his Mistress, but not for Linda. Thirdly, Willy has never treated Linda right. As Biff puts it, â€Å"He never had an ounce of respect for you,† the kitchen scene at the end of act one shows this well, with Willy shouting at Linda whenever she tried to put in a word, â€Å"Wildly enthused, to Linda: Stop Interrupting! , he doesn’t give Linda the respect she deserves, treating her as if she knows nothing, perhaps Willy doesn’t want her to know much, keeping her from being independent of him. This is also seen through Willy’s affair, it seems that through all of Willy’s choices or actions, Linda bears the pain from it. Although Linda can come across as a victim in all that has happened, it is not completely fair to say that she is completely worthy of sympathy;It seems that although Willy doesn’t provide much for his family, Linda doesn’t mind that Willy isn’t successful, she is happy with what she has, and lives realistically, accepting what she has, and not tying herself up in dreams like her family has. She is quoted to say â€Å"Why must everyone conquer the world,† something that rings through not just her thoughts but also what Miller thought. Miller wants to show us the difference between Willy’s dreamy hopes, and Linda’s realistic approach to living. Linda doesn’t believe in Willy’s adapted version of the American Dream, but it is ultimately this that finishes him off.

Christian Pilgrimage in The Pilgrim’s Progress Essay

Christian Pilgrimage in The Pilgrim’s Progress A pilgrimage is a journey that one takes to a land of special significance for self-discovery. Yet in The Pilgrim’s Progress, Christian’s expedition would have been cut short had it not been for those few who decided to aid him along the way. The moment he begins his journey, Evangelist greeted him and directed, then encouraged him towards the Celestial City. As he continued, he met Prudence, Piety and Charity, who provided him with some necessities that he would need for his continued travel. Finally, Christian, along with Hopeful, arrived at to the land of the shepherds. Here, they were both told of â€Å"secrets† that would guide them on their way to the Celestial City. Thus, John†¦show more content†¦Thus, Christian set off on his adventure towards the wicket-gate, and then towards the Celestial City. Yet before he could arrive at the gate, he met a man who turned him away from the path that Evang elist had told him to take there. Lost, and confused, Christian encountered Evangelist again. â€Å"Art not thou the man that I found crying without the walls of the City of Destruction†? Evangelist wondered how Christian has turned so far from the path that he had sent him on. After Christian explained what had happened, Evangelist denounced his actions, which placed a new fear in Christian that he would not be able to return to the correct path and be allowed to approach the gate. Evangelist explains that although â€Å"Thy sin is very great†¦the man at the gate receive thee, for he has goodwill for men; only, said he, take heed that thou turn not aside again, lest thou perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little†(24). Thus, after reassuring him again, Evangelist lay him on the right trail towards the wicket-gate. Twice, Evangelist had saved him from confusion and bewilderment, and sets him off towards happiness. Along Christian went and he was on his way towards the Celestial City, he stopped at a house where three women lived: Piety, Prudence, and Charity. At this house, he was sheltered and fed while he spoke to theShow MoreRelatedAbility s Inability ( Rough Draft )916 Words   |  4 PagesAbility’s Inability (Rough Draft) When considering Christian allegories that have been written through the years, one has stood out from the rest. This piece of literature has stood the test of time and remained beloved by many readers. 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