Childhood Obesity a Growing Epidemic

by Flo James

As a Registered Nurse, working in urban and suburban communities over the past 20 years, I have had the terrifying experience of observing first-hand the devastating effects of obesity on the senior population. What is even more alarming, however, is the fact that these diseases are now frequently observed in children, adolescents, and many young adults under 30 years of age. I hope that this article will serve to inform the many who are not aware of this growing pandemic and that it will influence change in our response to this crisis.

Why is my kid Overweight

The causes of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents are many, and rarely is it caused by a medical condition. The primary reasons for children and adolescents being overweight is lack of activity and unhealthy eating habits. Regrettably, this has been a growing trend over the past three decades.

Research states, “The growing prevalence of childhood obesity has also led to the appearance of obesity-related comorbid disease entities at an early age (Gungor, 2014).

According to the CDC (2020), Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes are the two fastest-growing diseases in the USA, and the alarming trend is that these diseases are increasing in children and adolescents. From 2000–2018, the prevalence of obesity…