Management of Obesity and Eating Disorders in Adolescents and Children

Running head: MANAGEMENT OF OBESITY AND EATING DISORDERS IN
ADOLESCENTS AND CHILDREN
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Management of Obesity and Eating Disorders in Adolescents and Children Paper
Student’s Name
Professor’s Name
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MANAGEMENT OF OBESITY AND EATING DISORDERS IN ADOLESCENTS AND
CHILDREN 2
Question
How effective is the implementation of BMI programs in schools to aid parents and teachers in
the identification of children/adolescents who are at high risk of developing obesity and eating
disorders?
Answer
Introduction
The prevalence of obesity and several eating disorders amongst children and adolescents
has increased significantly over the past decade. The increment is mainly attributed to a culture
of unhealthy lifestyle across the world. As such, the prevention of childhood obesity has become
an international public health concern especially due to the positive correlation between eating
disorders and chronic illness. Obesity causes serious development, well-being, and general health
issues in children and adolescents. There are several international evidence based strategies that
can be implemented by families, communities, and government to aid in the mitigation of
childhood and adolescent obesity. The effectiveness of school-based BMI assessment programs
that provide statistical data to parents and teachers for development of preventive measures
should be evaluated across the world (A. J., 2008).
Part A: The perspective of the study
Increment in Obesity in Children and Adolescents
20.5% in the 2000s
82% in the 2010s

MANAGEMENT OF OBESITY AND EATING DISORDERS IN ADOLESCENTS AND
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Eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia are recognized as the third most common
childhood and adolescent chronic illness; where asthma and obesity at up the first and second
slots respectively. American medical reviews revealed that within the 2000s the cases of
adolescent obesity increased by 20.5%. That figure has quadrupled in the past half-decade. In
most situations, eating disorders start during a person’s late childhood and early teen years.
These conditions are most notable in girls and have been observed in children as young as 6 and
7 years of age. Research has shown that adolescents who are obese or overweight have admitted
to using laxatives and voluntary vomiting to manage their weight compare to normal teens
(Yang, et al., 2016). Eating disorders like anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa have also
become a common diagnosis for American teens especially in urban and rich suburban
neighborhoods. Anorexia is defined as a critical self-induced desire to maintain a given weight
range that is motivated by fear of becoming “obese” or “overweight”; even when the people is
underweight or normal weight. Anorexia is characterized by fasting, avoidance of previously
love food items, over-exercising, and a significant reduction the portions of fluid and food
consumed. While, bulimia nervosa is associated with considerable binge eating and purging that
is results in substantial abuse of laxatives and diuretic. Majority of children and adolescents with
Bulimia tend to eat a lot food in hiding and within a short period of time. Parent often notice
significant quantities of food missing and empty food containers on the kitchen counter. In
additions, these individuals are prone to taking long baths (time when purging occurs) and
frequent bathroom trips especially after meals (Yang, et al., 2016).

MANAGEMENT OF OBESITY AND EATING DISORDERS IN ADOLESCENTS AND
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33%
67%
Expenditure on Treatment of Obesity
and Eating Disorders
Current Annual Spending
Expected Annual Spending in the next three years
According to a report published by American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has
shown that the American health system contributes more than $100 million towards the
treatment of obesity and eating disorders annually; since 2009. Adjusting for inflation in
healthcare costs, new illness cases, and deterioration in healthy living, it is estimated that
treatment expenditure for obesity and eating disorders will be in excess of $200 million in the
next three years. The productivity impacts with regards to lost revenue and income for eating
disorders was estimated to be around $16.2 billion in 2017 (Waters, et al., 2011). According to
Access Economics, this amount was almost the same as the $17.9 billon registered for depression
and anxiety in 2010. 1.25% of this loss is attributed to unearned income from young people who
lost their lives to obesity and weight related ailments. The impacts of eating disorders normally
extend for long durations (between 10-15 years) which results in extended productivity issues
like low employment opportunities (costing $7.8 billion), higher absenteeism (costing $2.3
billion), and presenteeism (costing $5.4 billion). This productivity costs are most borne by the