• Breaking News
  • U.S. News
  • Contact
  • View Print Edition
    • CL Digital
  • Subscribe
Thursday, May 19, 2022
  • Login
No Result
View All Result
Advertise with us
The Chicago Leader
Donate Now
  • Home
    • Subscribe to the print newspaper
    • Scavenger Hunt Contest
    • Download Media Kit PDF
    • Ad submission
    • Sponsors
  • World
    Bahamas

    Bahamas Mysterious Deaths Puzzles Tourists

    Mexico

    Mexico Is One of the Most Dangerous Countries for Reporters

    Germany

    Germany Prepping to Forgo Russian Gas

    Trending Tags

    • Breaking News
    • Health
    • Coronavirus
    • coronavirus pandemic
  • U.S. News
    • All
    • Black History
    • Chicago
    • Illinois
    US

    US, Spain, and Portugal Identify Monkeypox Patients

    Floyd

    Former Officer Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter in George Floyd’s Death

    Jetblue

    JetBlue Attempts to Buyout the Competition

    Trending Tags

    • U.S.
    • U.S. Census
    • Politics
  • Business
    • All
    • Jobs
    Barbie

    Barbie Continues to Be Inclusive With Its Dolls

    Ohio

    Ohio Doctor Free From Murder Charges

    Jones

    Alex Jones Infowars Files for Bankruptcy

    Trending Tags

    • Wall Street
    • Trump
    • Bankruptcy
    • Federal Reserve Bank
  • Technology
  • Entertainment
    • All
    • Arts
    • Book Review
    • Chicago Film Office
    • Gaming
    • Movie
    • Music
    • Review
    Apple

    Apple Update iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 Changes

    marvel

    Marvel’s Latest Film Stays on Top in Its Second Week

    Kendrick Lamar

    Kendrick Lamar Drops New Album

    Trending Tags

    • Movies
    • marvel movies
    • Dancing
  • Sports
  • Science
    • All
    • CBD
    • Climate
    • Marijuana
    Octopus

    Octopus Mothers Die After Laying Eggs

    black hole

    Black Hole of the Milky Way Galaxy First Seen

    UFO

    Biological Impact of UFO Sightings on Human Observers

    Trending Tags

    • UFO
    • Coronavirus
    • Novel coronavirus
    • coronavirus pandemic
    • NASA
    • scientists
  • Health
    • All
    • COVID-19
    • Faith
    • food
    • homeopathy
    • mental health
    • prostate
    stroke

    Stroke Prevention Is Key to Stay Healthy

    Abortion

    Abortion Protest Outside Clinic

    monkeypox

    CDC Expresses Concerns About Unusual Outbreak of Monkeypox in UK

    Trending Tags

    • Golden Globes
    • Mr. Robot
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Climate Change
    • Flat Earth
  • English
  • Spanish
  • Home
    • Subscribe to the print newspaper
    • Scavenger Hunt Contest
    • Download Media Kit PDF
    • Ad submission
    • Sponsors
  • World
    Bahamas

    Bahamas Mysterious Deaths Puzzles Tourists

    Mexico

    Mexico Is One of the Most Dangerous Countries for Reporters

    Germany

    Germany Prepping to Forgo Russian Gas

    Trending Tags

    • Breaking News
    • Health
    • Coronavirus
    • coronavirus pandemic
  • U.S. News
    • All
    • Black History
    • Chicago
    • Illinois
    US

    US, Spain, and Portugal Identify Monkeypox Patients

    Floyd

    Former Officer Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter in George Floyd’s Death

    Jetblue

    JetBlue Attempts to Buyout the Competition

    Trending Tags

    • U.S.
    • U.S. Census
    • Politics
  • Business
    • All
    • Jobs
    Barbie

    Barbie Continues to Be Inclusive With Its Dolls

    Ohio

    Ohio Doctor Free From Murder Charges

    Jones

    Alex Jones Infowars Files for Bankruptcy

    Trending Tags

    • Wall Street
    • Trump
    • Bankruptcy
    • Federal Reserve Bank
  • Technology
  • Entertainment
    • All
    • Arts
    • Book Review
    • Chicago Film Office
    • Gaming
    • Movie
    • Music
    • Review
    Apple

    Apple Update iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 Changes

    marvel

    Marvel’s Latest Film Stays on Top in Its Second Week

    Kendrick Lamar

    Kendrick Lamar Drops New Album

    Trending Tags

    • Movies
    • marvel movies
    • Dancing
  • Sports
  • Science
    • All
    • CBD
    • Climate
    • Marijuana
    Octopus

    Octopus Mothers Die After Laying Eggs

    black hole

    Black Hole of the Milky Way Galaxy First Seen

    UFO

    Biological Impact of UFO Sightings on Human Observers

    Trending Tags

    • UFO
    • Coronavirus
    • Novel coronavirus
    • coronavirus pandemic
    • NASA
    • scientists
  • Health
    • All
    • COVID-19
    • Faith
    • food
    • homeopathy
    • mental health
    • prostate
    stroke

    Stroke Prevention Is Key to Stay Healthy

    Abortion

    Abortion Protest Outside Clinic

    monkeypox

    CDC Expresses Concerns About Unusual Outbreak of Monkeypox in UK

    Trending Tags

    • Golden Globes
    • Mr. Robot
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Climate Change
    • Flat Earth
  • English
  • Spanish
No Result
View All Result
Chicago Leader
No Result
View All Result

Childhood Obesity Widespread and Is More Than About Food for Some

by Sheree Bynum
October 29, 2020
in Headlines, Health and Lifestyle
0
Childhood Obesity
0
SHARES
0
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Don't like to read?

Childhood obesity is widespread and for some food is not the only culprit. There are ongoing studies that showcase the global outcome of the nearly 330 million children and adolescents who do not regularly eat nutritionally balanced meals.

Childhood and adolescent obesity opens the door for cardiovascular disease including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. All of which can marginalize the quality of life and lead to an early death.

Childhood ObesityFactors Contributing to Childhood Obesity

Food is not the only reason some children are obese. There are several contributing factors that are a direct and indirect result of what goes into their mouths.

Socioeconomic factors play a major role in the consumption of the types of food that are accessible to children.  Depending on a child’s zip code and the amenities offered in their community they may not have access to food that yields high nutritional value.

Some families are not in close proximity to grocery stores and therefore are forced to shop at convenience stores.  This gives them less availability to fresh fruit and vegetables and more access to foods high in preservatives and sodium such as packaged meats, crackers, and cookies.

Frequenting fast food restaurants can add to increased childhood obesity.

Neighborhoods with high crime rates act as a deterrent for families to safely go shopping for food. Low-income communities lack adequate and/or safe parks for children to play which contributes to a sedentary lifestyle that is conducive to widespread childhood obesity.

Culturally, people have a natural proclivity to eat the foods they ‘grew up on’ which may be high in saturated fats, carbohydrates, butter, sodium, and sugar.

Depression and anxiety from bullying or other social issues can also be the root cause of obesity in children.

Combating Childhood Obesity

Combating childhood obesity includes, at the very least, addressing the aforementioned underlying socioeconomic and cultural factors.  Families must learn how to properly select and prepare well-balanced meals. They must also be given access to purchase these foods, as well as a means to safely be active in their communities.

In terms of food consumption, the U.S. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, show that probiotics may serve as a health benefit when consumed and applied to the body. These live bacteria and other microorganisms can be found in yogurt, kefir, goat milk, aged cheeses, other fermented foods, and dietary supplements.

Dr. Christopher Moran, a pediatric gastroenterologist stated, “The more processed foods that you eat, the more likely you are to have a bad effect on the microbiome. That could potentially lead to obesity but also potentially (gastrointestinal) distress and inflammatory conditions of the GI tract such as Crohn’s disease.”

As with any diet, parents are urged to check with their physician first before starting any dietary changes, especially a probiotic regime. Longer-term studies are necessary to determine the long term effect of probiotics, the gut, and children.
Ultimately, eating more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and exercising will have a positive impact on the obesity rate in children. Consideration should be given to the studies that show food is not the only reason for widespread childhood obesity. Where children live and what they may or may not have access to can greatly affect their health.
Written by Sheree Bynum
Edited by Cathy Milne-Ware

Sources:

CNN Health: Probiotics may help manage childhood obesity, study finds; Kristen Rogers

American Psychological Association: Childhood obesity disparities: Influential factors and intervention strategies; Guillermo M. Wippold, MS, and Carolyn M. Tucker, PhD

Michigan Medicine: Low-income communities more likely to face childhood obesity

Featured Image by Tony Alter Courtesy of Wikimedia – Creative Commons License

Inset Image Courtesy of Christer’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License

Tags: childhood obesityfeatured
Sheree Bynum

Sheree Bynum

Next Post
Census

For Liberty and Census for All

Recent Posts

  • Stroke Prevention Is Key to Stay Healthy
  • US, Spain, and Portugal Identify Monkeypox Patients
  • Octopus Mothers Die After Laying Eggs

Newsletter

Loading
No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • Ad submission
  • Contact
  • Team
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • FAQ
  • Mission

© 2018 TNS - TNS theme by Frackle TNSthemes.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Politics
  • World
  • Business
  • Science
  • Entertainment
  • Gaming
  • Movie
  • Music
  • Sports
  • Health and Lifestyle
  • View Print Edition
  • Subscribe to the print newspaper
  • Contact

© 2018 TNS - TNS theme by Frackle TNSthemes.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
Posting....

Support independent local journalism by subscribing to the Chicago Leader print
and digital publication for just $15 a year.

Subscribe Now