Child Obesity

CHILD OBESITYBY ALEJANDRO MONTOYA4/28/2014

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

• Obese as a child• Food choices• Eat junk food every day

• Unhappy with myself

CHILD OBESITY IN MERCED COUNTY• 4 out of 10 children are obese• 40% • “An estimated 43 percent of children in the county are overweight or

obese.” (Giwargis) • Country 38%

• Merced 2nd highest obesity rate in the state

OBESITY AND WHAT IT IS• Obesity

The condition of being obese: increased body weight caused by excessive accumulation of fat

• Metabolism • Process in which energy is broken down• Body: A pit stop for energy (calories)

• Calculated by BMI (Body Mass Index)• Calculated using height and weight

WHY IS CHILD OBESITY A PROBLEM• Higher risks of getting Type 2 Diabetes• High Cholesterol• High blood pressure• Depression• Bullying • Not happy about their weight• Inability to do physical activities

INTERVIEW: STEPHANIE RUSSELL• Merced County Department of Health• What is the greatest cause of Child Obesity in Merced

County?• “Parents don’t think obesity is a problem because they are

uninformed of the risks like increase of diabetes, heart problems and depression because children are being bullied”• “Parents are not informed of what obesity is.” • “Children are not eating real food”

PARENTAL INFLUENCE• Parental Influences• Why?

• Children eat what they are given.

• Parents put the food in the table• Children don’t have a choice

HOME COOKED MEALS VS FAST FOOD MEALS• Racheal Gussin reporter from LiveStrong claims, “Many

restaurant meals are portioned excessively, and some can contain as much as an entire day's worth of calories.”

• Stephanie Russell also claimed that “Children are not eating real food when they eat from fast food restaurants. Parents should consider making healthier meals at home

HEALTH BENEFITS

Fast FoodsCaloriesGrams Fat

Big Mac563 33g

M Sized Fries38420

M Sized Shake73321

Total1,68074

Home Cooked MealsCaloriesGrams Fat

Half Roasted Chicken Breast1423

8-ounce glass of 1% milk1023

M Sized baked white potato1300 (almost)

Total3746

IS JUNK FOOD REALLY CHEAPER

• As reported by Brad Tuttle a reporter from TIME states, “Supper for a family of four at McDonald’s runs in the neighborhood of $23 to $28, a full roasted chicken dinner, with veggies, salad, and milk, costs about $14.” (Tuttle)

Fast FoodsCaloriesGrams Fat

Big Mac563 33g

M Sized Fries38420

M Sized Shake73321

Total1,68074

Home Cooked MealsCaloriesGrams Fat

Half Roasted Chicken Breast1423

8-ounce glass of 1% milk1023

M Sized baked white potato1300 (almost)

Total3746

WHAT CAN BE DONE

• Inform the parents• Influence the change in diets• Less children eating junk food

• Economic Benefit• Appeals interest

EVENT TO RAISE CHILD OBESITY AWARENESS• Giveaway event at Rivera Middle School• Flyers given to elementary students• Give away food to the families who need it

• Whole chicken, fruits, vegetables, and soups• Games for children in the playground area

• Hopscotch, Jump rope, Capture the Flag, and Soccer• Volunteers

• Adult volunteers • Regulating Games and distribution of food

FUNDS• BHC• Building Healthy Communities

• Dedicated to fight against obesity• Funded by the California Endowment’s Fund

• Seek financial help and professional help from

WHY I CHOSE THIS• Personal Experience• Mother helped me• Changed her diet as well• Offer fruits instead of sweets

• Children don’t have a choice• Parents prepare meals• Children don’t cook