Topic Summary and Research Questions
Topic Description
In this paper, the task is to select a topic and develop an academic summary of the offered issue. There are many fields where different topics can be discussed, including education, technology, family, and healthcare. I find the topic of childhood obesity as one of the most interesting and challenging for discussion. On the one hand, childhood obesity is a serious healthcare topic that touches upon the lives of millions of Americans. Today, the rate of childhood obesity is 17%, with 8.9% of obese children aged 2-5 years, 17.5% of obese children aged 6-11 years, and 20.5% of obese children aged 12-19 years (“The state of childhood obesity”, 2017).
On the other hand, childhood obesity is not a simple topic the discussion of which has its beginning and its end. Childhood obesity remains to be one of the most crucial public health concerns in the 21st century. The debates around this topic may gain different directions discussing the role of parents, methods of treatment, causes of growth, etc. I believe that childhood obesity is the theme that has to be discussed at different levels in the United States. For example, the cooperation between parents and social caregivers is an important factor in the spread of childhood obesity. Sometimes, children are not able to comprehend how serious the question of healthy eating can be. Therefore, it is wrong to neglect or diminish the role of grownups in the lives of their children.
Research Questions
The following research questions can be raised in terms of childhood obesity discussions:
- Who should be blamed for childhood obesity: parents, children, or caregivers?
- What can be more effective to treat childhood obesity: physical exercises or diets?
- Is childhood obesity a psychological or physiological problem?
- Should the community be involved in the activities to prevent childhood obesity?
- Should the State take legally approved steps to punish families with obese children?
Reflection on the Purpose
The topic of childhood obesity is important because it determines the quality of human life with all its negative and positive aspects. It is not enough for people to know that childhood obesity exists and bothers some people. It is necessary to understand that this issue can become a challenge for any family where a child is born. It is so easy to make a mistake or miss something and face childhood obesity as a serious problem that threatens a child’s life.
Personally, I hope to investigate different aspects of childhood obesity in order to learn how to prevent the growth of this problem in my region and help other people succeed in this fight. Readers should understand that childhood obesity is not a personal problem. It is a social concern with no clear answer given. Many actions should be taken to find a solution to this problem, including the improvement of knowledge about childhood obesity, communication with families, and the exchange of experiences in preventing this threat.
Research Summary
Cunningham, S.A., Kramer, M.R., & Narayan, K.V. (2014). Incidence of childhood obesity in the United States. New England Journal of Medicine, 370(5), 403-411.
The main argument of this article is that the incidence of obesity among children cannot be neglected anymore. The point is that by the time to enter a kindergarten, 12% of American children are obese, and 14.9% are overweight (Cunningham, Kramer, & Narayan, 2014). The use of statistical analysis and the evaluation of data introduced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention should help to put childhood obesity at the top of the list of urgent topics. The authors underline the importance of thinking about preventive steps that can be effective for American children.
Sahoo, K., Sahoo, B., Choudhury, A.K., Sofi, N.Y., Kumar, R., & Bhadoria, A.S. (2015). Childhood obesity: Causes and consequences. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, 4(2), 187-192.
The core argument of this article is the fact that childhood obesity has already reached its epidemic level in many developed and developing countries. Evident epidemiological and nutritional transitions connected with childhood obesity cannot be ignored anymore because more than 40 million children suffer from obesity globally (Sahoo et al., 2015). The authors suggest beginning the discussion of childhood obesity by giving a clear definition of this problem, explaining its causes, and highlighting the consequences. These details should help to create a clear picture of what childhood obesity is and is not.
Purpose and Audience
A purpose of a future project on childhood obesity is to discuss the role of different people, including parents, caregivers, social workers, and medical workers, on the development of obesity among children aged 2-6 years. This project can be interesting and helpful to such an audience as medical researchers, nurses, teachers, caregivers, and parents. They have to understand that their role is crucial in their children’s lives because 2-6-year-old children can hardly understand all threats and consequences of obesity. At the same time, they have to know the worth of healthy eating, active lifestyles, and emotional well-being.
Focus and Preliminary Thesis
Childhood obesity is the problem that has to be discussed at different levels, and one of the most important aspects of this topic is the necessity to clarify the role of parents, caregivers, teachers, and medical and social workers due to their possibility to influence children and their perception of health. The peculiar feature of this project is the possibility to combine social, medical, and family issues in the discussion of childhood obesity and consider the importance of social roles’ recognition to understand what preventive steps are appropriate for the US society.
References
Cunningham, S.A., Kramer, M.R., & Narayan, K.V. (2014). Incidence of childhood obesity in the United States. New England Journal of Medicine, 370(5), 403-411.
Sahoo, K., Sahoo, B., Choudhury, A.K., Sofi, N.Y., Kumar, R., & Bhadoria, A.S. (2015). Childhood obesity: Causes and consequences. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, 4(2), 187-192.
The state of childhood obesity. (2017). Web.