Obesity In Children Among The Minority Essay Example

obesity among these minority groups. It is therefore important to note that the prenatal and infancy periods together with early childhood times are likely to be the key periods for the development of obesity and therefore its prevention and prevention of its consequences to the children.

In addition, given the increased cases of infancy obesity among the minority groups in the United States, life course may be used as an important approach in the provision of the framework together with creating a clear understanding of the etiology that exists in early differences in risk factors and differences that prevail. It also gives us ways on how to intervene during these early stages of obesity and eliminating it.

Every culture present in the United States is made up of a spectrum of people who express their cultures in different ways that vary from each other (Richard & Harold 2844). Studying the lifestyle of these cultures especially among the minority may give us a better insight on the increase in cases of obesity among them. Lifestyle implies critically analyzing their culture and socioeconomic environment.

Health behaviors, studied both within and across minority ethnic groups in the United States, vary widely with regard to their religion, geography and not forgetting socioeconomic factors. The physical activities being carried out by them is an important aspect when it comes to lifestyle. In addition, physical activities are one of the major factors that influence and determine the rate of obesity.
Low levels of physical activities among the minority groups in the United States have greatly influenced the high obesity rates experienced by them. For example, the Asian Americans have low levels of physical activities compared

to the white population in the United States. They remain reserved according to their culture hence making them vulnerable to obesity together with their children (Cynthia et al 1732). Research has shown that a low number of blacks and the minority in the United States participate in sporting activities, with even greater differences when it comes to gender.

A combination of socioeconomic, personal and economic barriers has proven to be the possible factors that discourage the minority ethnic groups in the United States from participating in physical activities (Anderson 941). For example, Asian women have been bound to specific dress codes, modesty and single sex sporting activities. Apart from that, there are other barriers that exist; these include the inability to find safe and suitable walking routes, availability of childcare together with dependent relatives.
There is also the problem of lack of exercise services that are acceptable to their culture. Moreover, research has shown that there exist disparities with regard to race and ethnic backgrounds with regard to the sporting activities. This therefore discourages them from participating in sporting activities hence creating a leeway for obesity to come in.

Difference in diet among children in the minority groups has also proven to be a key factor in the high cases of obesity among them. Children in the minority groups show tremendous irregularity in their eating patterns (Elsie et al 690). This is because the pattern is highly influenced by level of income, availability of the food, dietary laws that exist in their cultures and customs together with health. There has been a notable difference in the nutritional composition of the food taken by children in the minority groups

as compared to that taken by white children. Minority children tend to take in foods rich in energy. In addition, they are more likely to skip breakfast and engage themselves in dietary practices that are not acceptable.

In addition, the minority families lack the knowledge and skills needed in the preparation of western foods that are healthy. They are confined by culture and are prohibited against the consumption of some foods. This therefore leads to poor dietary habits among them leading to the increased cases of obesity among their children.

There is also a notable relationship between the rates of obesity in the minority groups and their socio economic status in the country (Richard & Harold 2847). The minority groups in the United States have a low socio economic status and therefore are at greater risk of reporting and recording high cases of obesity. This highly affects the children because obesity is highly related to the socio economic status when it comes to them. Minority levels in the United States mostly have high unemployment rates. In addition to unemployment, they record cases of minimal social mobility and low incomes. This leads to high poverty levels making their children to grow up in poverty. Due to this, they are deprived of proper diet and end up practicing improper consumption practices. This leads to the high levels of obesity among them.

Obesity in some minority groups is seen as a sign of success in their culture. Although in the United States it is not considered so, this belief continues to impact on the obesity rates in the minority groups and communities (Joseph et al 330). In addition, a research conducted

revealed that cases of obesity were seen as a trigger for high self-esteem among black female children. However, the white children in the United States together with the white society at large link obesity with some behaviors which are socially undesirable such as laziness and greed. Therefore, although the black female children see obesity as a motivator for high self-esteem, they end up being stigmatized of the same.

The minority groups in the United States are concentrated in areas that are deprived of urbanization and experiencing high rates of crimes. Research has proven that areas inhabited by black people and other minority groups in the united states are eleven times with less green space compared to those areas occupied by the whites in America (Cynthia et al 1730). In addition, the space that the minorities have is likely to be of a quality that is not matched to that of the whites. Moreover, they face potential barriers with regard to the use of their space.
Research has shown that there is a great relationship between built environment and rates of obesity. Less green space in the areas occupied by the minorities mean that there will be a high consumption of restaurant foods instead of green fresh foods which are more nutritious. The restaurant foods most of which are rich in fats will lead to the increase in cases of obesity especially among the children of the minority groups.

There is a clear gap between the knowledge the minority groups have with regard to obesity and that which the whites have (Cara & David 480). The minority groups lack knowledge on what causes obesity, its preventive measures together with

health risks associated with the condition. In addition this lack of knowledge is contributed by cultural factors together with different perceptions with regard to weight gain as compared to that of the whites. This lack of knowledge therefore exposes them to high cases of obesity especially among their children and by the time they realize it, it is too late. In addition, since some cultures associate obesity with success, they have no push to prevent.
There is a high rate of maternal obesity among the minority groups in the United States. This is therefore a clear predictor of obesity in the children that are acquired later. This is because the children born of these mothers are likely to be born too large for the gestational age. In addition, they are less likely to receive breast feeding and are at a greater risk of obesity.
Pregnant mothers among the minority groups especially the blacks’ practice a lot of smoking when pregnant and this highly increases the odds of having an obese child. In addition, these pregnant women show high cases of depression. This might be caused by the low living standards and poverty (Anderson 940). Depression by these women highly increases the chances of them giving birth to obese children. In addition, after giving birth, these children are exposed to poor feeding activities that increase adiposity. Most black mothers would prefer bottle feeding their young infants instead of breast feeding them hence exposing them to high risk of obesity in their later ages. In addition, these children are exposed to short hours of sleep due to the hostile environments that exist around them and this highly contributes to

the high cases of obesity among them.

In conclusion, obesity is a condition that affects children in the United States both from the majority and minority groups. However, the cases are alarming when it comes to the minority children due to the reasons described above some of which can be avoided and some of which need the intervention of the health sector like educating the women on how to conduct themselves when pregnant and how to feed their children after giving birth. All in all, obesity is a menace that needs not to be ignored because it has very hazardous health implications.