Running Head: Childhood Obesity
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Childhood Obesity
Maria Webb
College of Southern Nevada
Childhood obesity is a leading topic within society and the healthcare industry. Three
articles that address the causes and possible solutions for this topic are “Doctors: Childhood
Obesity Prevention Must Start Sooner” by Bianca Seidman, of CBS, “Parents’ Denial Fuels
Childhood Obesity Epidemic” by Jan Hoffman, of NY Times, and “How to Prevent Childhood
Obesity” by Jo Hartley. Seidman reports that more than one-third of the United States children
are overweight and obese and to combat that percentage prevention needs to start during
childhood, instead of treatment by parents and physicians in later stages of life, a valid
assumption of where obesity stems. Despite widespread publicity about the obesity epidemic
Hoffman reports that when parents are notified of their children’s obesity they turn a blind eye
and develop “oblivobesity”, therefore adding to the root causes of obesity in children by not
addressing the inherent issue. The article validity states that parents are hesitant to admit that
something is wrong with their child and how parents, even in the medical profession, would
rather see their child as perfect before helping them out of a potentially harmful lifestyle. Hartley
reports that the most serious health problem children face is childhood obesity, an invalid
statement as the author does not state enough evidence showing that childhood obesity is the
Running Head: Childhood Obesity
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most serious health problem facing children. In the article Hartley states that between 1986 and
1998 childhood obesity doubled in children ages between four and twelve, a twelve percent
increase. Hartley reports that childhood obesity is caused by numerous factors including
inactivity and sugary food yet can all be remedied by lowering sugar consumption, encouraging
water as a main staple of a diet, and engaging them in daily exercise.
Brianna Seidman, of CBS, reports that childhood obesity has had growing concern and
attention yet there has been little change within the prevention of obesity, not just the treatment,
and prevention needs to start in early childhood. Seidman develops this argument in three
sections to show preventive measures; Early Risk Factors, Healthy Habits, and the Cost and
