Problem Solution Essay

Doctors have spent much of the recent past trying to find a solution for the sudden global pandemic of childhood obesity. Although this problem is very large in America, it is becoming a global problem. This problem comes from different things such as genetics, environment, poor education, and improper nutrition. The world’s population is exponentially getting larger and unhealthier. “Concern for today’s overweight and obese children is turning into concern for tomorrow’s overweight and obese adults that are destined to suffer from all health problems and health care cost associated with obesity. In many countries more than half the adult population is overweight” (Rigby, 2004). Countries such as the United Kingdom, Finland, Germany and many East European countries have obesity rates in excess of 20 percent of adults; in some, the occurrence has doubled in the past two decades (Rigby, 2004). We even see that “the incidence of adult obesity in Kuwait is among the highest in the Arab peninsula” (Moussa,1999). Childhood obesity awareness is beginning to increase, but awareness is not the only solution to this problem.

Rigby explains that there was a global rise in energy consumption starting in 1964 (Rigby, 2004). This rise in energy consumption occurred in the middle of the Vietnam War when poverty was high. Rigby talked about how the “influence of an environment” in circumstances that led to poverty, “increased consumption of foods high in fat, sugar, and salt” (Rigby, 2004). To sum it up, people couldn’t afford foods high in nutritional value. This was the beginning of a pandemic that would infect our world. Fox News reports that “the Centers for Disease Control documented that in the United States; obesity rates have nearly quintupled among 6- to 11-year-olds and tripled among teens and children ages 2 to 5 since the 1970s” (Fox News, 2007). Policy Review pointed out that “the Department of Health and Human Services stated in a summary of this latest study’s evidence, among children and teens ages 6 to 19, 15 percent (almost 9 million) are overweight according to the 1999-2000 data, or triple what the proportion was in 1980” (Eberstadt, 2003).

Troubles that come from child obesity are both social and health concerns. An example of a social concern is that many children who are overweight face issues with making friends at school. Phipps talked about the health concerns and distinguished that a study done in Canada indicated that “children are becoming obese while very young, and that obesity-related diseases such as Type 2 diabetes and heart disease, as well as negative social consequences, are beginning to appear in children at very young ages. As a result, research into childhood obesity is now a priority in Canada and worldwide” (Phipps, 2004). Maffeis stated that “in both sexes, rates of diabetes, coronary heart disease, atherosclerosis, hip fracture and gout were increased in those who were overweight as adolescents…especially in females, obesity at late adolescence was associated with several and relevant psychosocial consequences in adulthood” (Maffeis, 2001).

The best way to increase awareness of this problem is through awareness and education. It is important that children of all ages engage in physical activity at least a few times a week. Schools need to start implementing more educational programs that educate children on the knowledge the students should learn in health class. A great, simple idea of stopping this problem is to create healthier lunches and restock vending machines with healthy snack choices. Fox News reports that in 2006 “a major federal pilot program offering free fruits and vegetables to school children showed fifth graders became less willing to eat them than they had been at the start. Apparently they did not like the taste” (Fox News, 2007). This shows that these programs are being implemented late in the child’s development of taste buds making it harder for change to occur. Fox News presents research by Trevino that indicates “if the mother is eating carrots and oatmeal the child will be born with those taste buds," said Dr. Robert Trevino of the Social and Health Research Center in San Antonio (Cited in Fox News, 2007). Fox News also reports that, Dr. Philip Zeitler, a pediatric endocrinologist and researcher, confirms that “the forces that make kids fat are really strong and hard to fight with just a program in schools, a steady stream of obese children are struggling with diabetes and other potentially fatal medical problems” (Fox News, 2007).

Childhood obesity is a global pandemic that is tortuously halting our attempts to free our children of its burden. As shown above, genetics, environment and education are the factors that affect childhood obesity. Therefore, these are the areas we must target to rid ourselves of this disease. All around the world people are working to change the way our children view food and physical exercise but the main responsibility lies in the parents. Based on my research I believe that we will not see the end of childhood obesity for years to come. Although, I do believe that we will see a decrease in its prevalence, I believe it will lie mainly with families that are not economically challenged. All of the people on Earth need to work together to research and solve the complex issue of childhood obesity so that children can lead a healthier, longer, and happier life.


Works Cited

Eberstadt, Mary (2003).The Child-Fat Problem. Policy Review. 107.


Fox News (2007). Experts: Federal Nutrition Education for Children is Failing. Retrieved April 2, 2008,from Fox News Web site:http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,288174,00.html


Maffeis, MD, C. (2001).Long-Term Effects of Childhood obesity on Morbidity and Mortality. Hormone Research. 55.


Moussa, M, Shaltout, A, Nkansa-Dwamena, D, Mourad, M, AlSheikh, N, & Agha, N (1999).Factors Associated with Obesity in Kuwaiti Children. The European Journal of Epidemiology. 15, 41-49.


Phipps, S, Burton, P, Lethbridge, L, & Osberg, L (2004). Measuring Obesity in Young Children.Canadian Public Policy, 30, 349-364.


Rigby, N, Kumanyika, S, & James, W (2004). Confronting the Epidemic: The Need for Global Solutions. Journal of Public Health Policy. 25, 418-434.