Television and Childhood Obesity Essay Example for Free

Television and Childhood Obesity Essay Childhood obesity has become a national dilemma. Recent studies have shown several causes for this public health epidemic. The evidence between childhood obesity and children’s excessive amount of time in front of the television has done nothing but increase each year. How long do children watch television each day. Does the media target children television? What are the health risks involved with childhood obesity? Childhood obesity continues to increase dramatically as the young viewers are victimized by television. Television Associated With Childhood Obesity During a recent study at UCLA School of Public Health, Sarah Anderson stated â€Å"The association between television viewing and childhood obesity is directly related to children’s exposure to commercials that advertise unhealthy foods. † (Anderson. S 2010) Researchers Frederick J. Zimmerman and Janice F. Bell conducted a study that involved 3,563 children, ages ranged from infants to 12-year-olds. Primary caregivers reported children’s activities and television viewing during the week. Studies had shown that commercial viewing had a significant affect with a higher BMI. According to Zimmerman and Bell, â€Å"steering children away from commercial television may be effective in reducing childhood obesity, given that food is the most commonly advertised product on children’s television and the fact that almost 90 percent of children begin watching television regularly before the age of 2† (Zimmerman, F. and Bell, J. 1997). Nevertheless, researchers have indeed discovered the link between television and childhood obesity as it continues to rise. Since 1980 the percentage of child obesity has more than tripled in the United States. Identifying childhood obesity can be done in various ways. One warning sign is acanthosis nigricans, a skin condition in which the darkening or thickening of the skin folds that can appear on the back of the neck, armpit or groin area. Acanthosis nigricans happens to children of all races. This skin condition is caused by insulin resistance in the body. In addition to visually identifying obesity in children, Pediatricians are measuring the BMI (body mass index) in children of all ges. A Pilot Program to identify obesity in children was performed by Ramona M. Kwapiszewski, DO, and Alex Lee Wallace. During the process Kwapiszewski stated â€Å"Our first challenge was to define obesity. We chose to use the BMI because it has been recognized by the National Institute of Health as a reasonable and accurate tool for detecting obesity in children younger than 18 years. † Kwapiszewski also proceeded to define the BMI as â€Å"the BMI represents the ratio of weight to height squared, and the definition of obesity in children varies based on age and gender. Generally speaking, the television itself does not cause obesity in children; it is how television viewing affects your child. According to the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) children who view more than four hours of television each day are likelier to be overweight. Children who view violence on television tend to be more aggressive and at the same time the child fears the outside world. Characters on television also portray smoking, drinking, risky behaviors, and racial stereotypes as cool. Most of all, too much screen time perpetuates obesity in children as physical activities decrease. Associations of Television Content type and Child Obesity Research has proven that different content types have different affects on obesity. â€Å"Television might lead to obesity through 3 primary pathways: by displacing time that would otherwise be spent in physical activity; by promoting eating while viewing which may foster both lower quality and higher quantity food intake; and by exposing children to food advertising, which adversely affects their diets† stated by Zimmerman PhD, F and Bell PhD, MN, MPH, J.  Studies have shown that as the number of hours children view television increases, so does their body fat. Evidence shows Amy B. Jordan, PhD during one of her investigations â€Å"the causal relationship comes from randomized controlled trials (RCTs), which have linked reduction of television and other screen media use to decreased BMI, waist circumference, and triceps skin fold thickness in elementary school-age children. † Jordan PhD, A. On the contrary, the media has found a way to target children. During children programming more 30 second advertisements are viewed. None of which have nutritional value. In 2007 the Kaiser Family Foundation performed a study and found that several of ads kids see 34% for candy and snacks, 28% for cereal, 10% for fast food, 4% for dairy products, and 1% for fruit juices. The number of food ads children view each year is phenomenal. Children from ages 2-7 view more than 4,000 food ads per year. Children between the ages of 8-12 see more than 7,000 food ads per year. Nevertheless, more than 95% of the food ads were high in fat, sugar and sodium. Most of all, the media has found a way to target young viewers. Childhood obesity has a variety of health risks. An article from the CDC (Center for Disease Control) included several consequences of childhood obesity. The CDC stated â€Å"Obese children are more likely to have high blood pressure and high cholesterol, which are risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). In one study, 70% of obese children had at least one CVD risk factor, and 39% had two or more. Increased risk of impaired glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes. Breathing problems, such as sleep apnea, and asthma. Joint problems, and musculoskeletal discomfort. Fatty liver disease, gallstones, and gastro-esophageal reflux (i. e. , heartburn). Obese children and adolescents have a greater risk of social and psychological problems, such as discrimination and poor self-esteem, which can continue into adulthood. † (CDC 2011) In this situation, it is important to increase activity and provide children with a well balanced diet. Strategies for Combating Childhood Obesity No doubt it is extremely important to combat childhood obesity. It is equally important to do so in a positive manner. Recently Amy B. Jordan PhD discovered an article written by an expert panel on children, television viewing, and weight. These are the five most promising strategies they believe will combat the negative effects of media use on children’s weight. â€Å"They are: 1. Eliminate TV from children’s bedrooms. Eliminating bedroom media use may reduce overall screen time and may help to limit nighttime media use that may interfere with children’s healthy sleep. 2. Encourage mindful viewing by monitoring screen media, budgeting TV time, and fostering media literacy. The committee encourages parents to collaborate with children on establishing appropriate amounts of screen media use and sharing and discussing the content to which children are exposed. 3. Turn off the TV while eating. Disconnecting food from TV viewing may increase awareness of food consumption, while also increasing family communication, and decreasing total TV watching time. 4. Use school-based curricula to reduce children’s screen time. The panel noted that schools are an excellent forum for efficiently and effectively reaching a large number of youth with a focused curriculum. 5. Provide training for health care professionals to counsel on reducing children’s media use. The panel recommends training and support for pediatricians and others on issues related to reducing children’s use of media. † In addition to implementing those five steps, it is also important to encourage healthy eating habits. To do so, start off by cutting down on fatty foods and start eating foods low in fat or fat free. Also, cut down on sugar and sodium intake and be sure to provide your child with a well balanced diet that includes fruits, vegetables, dairy, protein, and grains. Teaching children healthy eating habits when they are young will teach them a healthy eating style when they are adults. Conclusion The association between television and childhood obesity is directly related to the amount of television a child watches, television content type, inactivity, and unhealthy eating habits. Monitoring the amount of television a child watches and encouraging healthy eating habits along with plenty of exercise will help in maintaining a healthy weight. Help decrease the number in childhood obesity and do not let children be victimized by television.