To determine obesity Essay Example for Free

To determine obesity Essay To determine obesity the BMI score of the subject is compared to the standard table used and the percentile is taken (CDC, 2007) The BMI-for-age percentile is utilized to interpret the BMI score and one should note that BMI for the younger group is age and sex specific, this is so because amount of fat fluctuate in children and the amount of fat is also dissimilar with boys compared to girls. Obtaining the percentile is the most common indicator in assessment of the size and growth structure of the child, this percentile will be used to note the position of the BMI obtained among same age and peer groups. The weight status of the child is then determined and CDC (2007) categorized percentile ratings as follows: A table of Body Index Score is provided below: According to the NHLBI website one should also note that children who are overweight, obese or extremely obese have increased risk for diseases like type 2 diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disorders, with the risks rated as children who are overweight and carries a body index of 25-29. 9 score have increased risk for such diseases, while obese children who has a 30 – 39. 9 classed as class I and II obesity BMI have a higher risk to develop the diseases mentioned. And the extremely obese children who scores 40 and above BMI are exceedingly at risk for development of the diseases usually associated only with the older population. A table of which is provided below: Results from the 1999-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), by means of measured heights and weights, designated that a projected 16 percent of children and adolescents with ages 6 to 19 years of age are obese. As it might be noted in Figure 1, this statistics represents a 45 percent mark up from the overweight estimates of 11 percent obtained from NHANES III (1988-94) not over ten years passed. Factors that Predicts Obesity in Children There are many reasons why children become obese. Although there genes do play a role in this fiasco, it will be noted that it cannot alone be blamed for the inordinate amount of obese children that has continued. The most common causative factors that are linked to obesity can be construed as genetics, as was previously mentioned, add to that a lack of physical activity, unhealthy eating habits or more likely a combination of the factors mentioned. One can say that obesity is the same for adults and children, and the underlying cause the same also, too much intake of food and very little physical activity. Realize that many children aged 8-16 years watches television for hours a day and it is shown that those children that watch the most television have the highest chance for obesity.