Childhood Obesity

Running head: CHILDHOOD OBESITY 1
Childhood obesity
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Childhood obesity
Introduction
The World health Organization defines childhood obesity as the condition in which children
store more than the recommended fats in their bodies. Childhood obesity contributes to mortality
among children and there is the need for immediate action. Within the framework of this
assignment, there will be an analysis of childhood obesity and how it relates with different
factors such as determinants of health and the National Australia Health Priorities.
Discussion
Significance of childhood obesity
Childhood obesity is regarded as one of the most serious public health issue in the 21st century.
The condition is mostly affecting low and middle income countries. As of 2016, the World
Health Organization reported 41million cases of obesity among children below 5 years. The
CDC states that as of 2014, 13.7 million children and adolescents were suffering from the
condition. This translates to 18.5% (Taveras et al 2017). Childhood obesity has severe
consequences that can be classified either as immediate health risks or future health risks.
According to the Centre for Disease Control (CDC). The immediate health risks include high
blood pressure as well as high cholesterol. Recent studies indicate that obesity leads to the above
complications. The two complications together leads to cardiovascular diseases which is one of
the most causes of mortality among children with the World Health Organization reporting 25%
of deaths due to CVD among children in 2017 (Woo Baidal et al 2017). Childhood obesity also
leads to increased risk of impaired glucose tolerance and insulin resistance. This eventually leads
to type 2 diabetes mellitus. Scientists also link childhood obesity to other conditions such as

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psychological problems like anxiety and depression. Furthermore, the physical appearance of
obese children creates low self-esteem and social problems like bullying and stigma which
contributes to suicide among the affected children as reported by the World Health Organization
in 2015.
Childhood obesity is associated with health risks in the future. These are complications that
could occur in the future if the risk factors for childhood obesity are not addressed effectively.
Recent studies link childhood obesity to obesity in adulthood. This further subjects the children
to other health conditions like type 2 diabetes and cancer in the future. Childhood obesity is a
serious condition that needs serious interventions among different stakeholder to avert the
consequences associated with the condition.
Relationship between childhood obesity and one of the Australia National Health priority
The Australia National Health Priorities were stipulated back in 1996. The objective was to
indicate the areas that were in need of urgent interventions to improve the health status among
the Australian citizens (Simmonds, Llewellyn, Owen, & Woolacott 2015). Cardiovascular health
is one of the Australia National Health Priorities. The aim of this priority was to improve
cardiovascular health through lowering the rate of cardiovascular diseases and their impacts on
the overall population. This priority directly relates to childhood obesity in Australia. According
to research, obesity is associated with high fats or cholesterol that lodge in blood vessels making
them narrow and this subsequently creates pressure in the heart leading to cardiovascular
complications. Therefore, the basis of addressing cardiovascular problems lies in handling
obesity among children.