Combating Childhood Obesity Boys & Girls Clubs of America - 1925 Words

Combating Childhood Obesity: Boys & Girls Clubs of America (Essay Sample) Content: Combating Childhood Obesity: Boys and Girls Clubs of AmericaName of Student:Institution of Affiliation:Date:AbstractThis term paper aims at examining the child obesity social problem that is currently affecting the United States as a nation. The paper majorly tackles why taking prompt action is required, the target groups for this intervention (like Boys and Girls Clubs of America), barriers and challenges affecting the achievement of the dream to combat childhood obesity, what the research experts and scientists are saying concerning this social issue and lastly, the possible interventions in combatting diabetes in children.Recent research work released by Centre for Disease Control (2015) in the United States indicate that about 18% of all the children in America are obese and that the number has been tripling since 1980. The same results showed that the major causes of such a high percentage of children suffering from obesity could have been triggered by the childr en drinking and eating so many sugary drinks and food and having fewer physical activities in school among other minor possible causes. The greatest news, however, is that, currently, different organizations have decided to act on the issue in order to rescue the children from this boring and shameful condition. Currently, there is a lot of activities coming from the states and the federal government, communities based groups, schools and parents that aim at combating the societal problem of childhood obesity. This step of action is very important as the extensiveness of the issue of obesity in children and its potential to affect the normal life the children, their teachers, community and family members cannot be ignored. The solution to this societal issue seems to be a simple one, that is, take a few calories and do regular exercise, two reasons which are always difficult to implement because exercising and diet requires close monitoring so that the behaviour is maintained. Such support, can easily occur in a society that promotes the practice of exercise and healthy eating. This, would therefore, mean that it is not only these affected people that need to change in order to cub this disease, but the society at large needs to change the kind of environment that it offers to those living around and within it and involving families in this campaign of early childhood obesity. Currently, organizations like Boys and Girls Clubs of America and YMCA are already dedicated and committed to ensuring a complete eradication of obesity in children by adopting specific adoption standards by the RTI team (CDC, 2015).Why is this issue so important yet these are just children? Why not just deal with adult obesity and let the children enjoy their lives by eating anyhow and not getting engaged in regular exercise? Children form a very important group of any society beginning from the household level. Children play a major role in deciding the kind of world to expect in the n ext generations. They are the ones expected to rule the world in the coming years. This would mean that failure to consider them probably means not taking care of our future world. Other than just being alive and well educated, the children needs to be in great health in order to function best in the society. Starting a habit earlier in the early ages of a child makes it a routine after they have grown up into adults. Introducing programmes that can help teach the children about healthy living and effects of eating junk food and not doing regular exercise means securing their future. What you teach them while they are young is what they are going to stay with even after they are grown adults. This would mean a major achievement in the general eradication of the issue of obesity, be it in children or in adults. Children are also a major source of happiness in any family. Ask any young man or woman why they want to get married, they always say that it is because they want to have wond erful children among other reasons. Losing a loved one, especially a child always indicate how important children are in the current world. As is that is not enough, sick children require more medical attention than adults because their immune system is still weak. As an English Proverb would always say, prevention is better than cure, it is important that the current children are protected from acquiring obesity than trying to put them on drugs after they have acquired it. Children need to always be in good health. That is when they can fully dedicate their energy and time towards making the coming years a better world. A sick child can barely perform any constructive activity in the society thus the importance of the target group. If obesity can be combatted among our children, America and the whole world would be sure of a better tomorrow.Despite the intervention efforts being currently put in place by the organizations such as Boys and Girls Clubs of America, there are major cha llenges that slows down this process. Among such challenges are financial challenge and stigmatization of obese children, cheap first food getting sold within the communities that are majorly affected, available soft drinks for consumption and difficult in exercising among other challenges. Almost nothing in this world can be done without money. Arvantes (2010) Finance is very important in combatting childhood obesity. Organizations like Boys and Girls Clubs of America require adequate funding in order to conduct their campaign to every corner of the United States. The intervention programmes require monitoring and sustainability of progress in combatting child obesity. Most of such non-profit organizations are rarely started by the rich individuals like Bill Gates, who can source funds to the programs thus most of them always end up getting frustrated and shutting own. The cost of educating teachers on the program and that of the facilities that are required in the program, organiz ing different related events within the program is very high. This is why the US government has decided to source Boys and Girls Clubs of America with high funding in order to assist them run their programs with little difficulty. Another challenge in combatting obesity in children is the kind of stigmatization that the affected children face at school or anywhere else. This is so serious that most of the affected children end up dropping out of schools and staying behind the lights thus making it difficult to get an assist them. This, in addition, may lead to fear of food among the affected children (Arvantes, 2010).The availability of fast food in every corner of America at a cheaper price than organic food possess a greater challenge in doing away with childhood obesity. The United States is currently estimating over 250,000 restaurants dealing with fast food. This, if not taken care of, would lead to a greater challenge in combatting childhood obesity. According to Hurt, Kulisek , Buchanan, McClave (2011), a study was done where 3031 adults were closely monitored for 15 years in order to evaluate their fast food habits, challenges in body weight and the development of insulin resistance. This study found a very strong positive correlation between the frequent visits to the weight gained by these individuals. Other similar studies has had the same findings. Another study by the Expert Committee of the American Medical Association indicated that most of the frequent consumers of fast food do not consume it in their homes. They have to buy it from a fast food restaurant. Of importance to the children, most brands of toys always offer, in addition, some of these high calorie and sweet meals to the children as a way of promoting their brands. This makes it more difficult to combat obesity in children. Fast food advertisement targeting children has made matters worse in the war on obesity. Being a child is always believing what everyone says. Children are gullib le. When they see a product, or a fast food being advertised on their cartoon program, they will start craving for it. The innocent parents, being overly loving to their children would always buy the children literally everything that they want so long as enough money is available.There is need for a multidisciplinary research aimed at developing an efficient and effective childhood obesity solution. Childhood obesity requires action in order to combat it, and action only comes after evidence has been presented. This evidence must, therefore, be obtained by thorough research. A research presented by the National Collaborative on Childhood Obesity Research (NCCOR) indicates that one out of three children in America become either overweight or obese before their fifth birthday. The report further states that approximately 12.5 million children, representing 17% of children and adolescents between the ages of two to nineteen, in America, are obese (CDC, 2015). As explained, these rates are higher in the environments with economically disadvantaged families. The research notes some of the factors that dictates whether one can be obese or not as; epigenetics, early life influences, genes and intrauterine environment among other factors. To them, in order to prevent obesity in children, it is necessary that the changes are enforced in each level including the government policies, communities, health care providers, schools, families and individuals (CDC, 2015).Another study involved data from Upstate KIDS Study, aimed at examining the effects of parental obesity. The research that enrolled more than 5000 four months after giving birth within the New York State but excluded the New York City, between 2008 and 2010. The children in the study were tested at the age of four months, which then followed six more retests until they reached the age of three. From the research, comparing the health of children with normal par...

Market governmnet and orgainzations (Keystone ) - 4125 Words

Market governmnet and orgainzations (Keystone ) (Article Sample) Content: Student’s Name Professor Course Date Introduction Keystone Pipeline Project is one of the leading collaborative efforts between Canada and US wherein both the countries are involved in the establishment of an oil pipeline between the two countries. It is meant for transporting crude oil and other oil related products to the refineries in US. Once completed, this pipeline will be more than 2000 miles long and will be covering the areas such as Alberta and different State of US. What is important to note that it is a phased project and interconnected with other projects also making it a keystone pipeline project supporting other smaller projects also. Three phases of the project are already complete with fourth phase is in construction stage. Considering the overall length of the pipeline and its design, there have been different issues, which have been highlighted. One of the key criticisms and serious issues to be dealt with is the environmen tal impact of this pipeline on various areas. Apart from this, there are also economic and political issues involved in the construction of this pipeline project. This project however, will focus upon identifying and exploring economic issue of whether this project will actually result into stimulation for the economy besides creating jobs for both the countries. There has been a criticism on whether the project has been actually able to generate the same level of economic stimulus and job creation in both the economies or not. It was considered as an important project to provide $7 Billion stimulus besides creating approximately 200,000 jobs in the country. However, there have been conflicting estimations regarding the consequence of the project on economy. Greenpeace, one of the leading campaigning organizations also appealed to the SEC to scrutinize the claim of project creating 200,000 jobs during its entire construction period. President Obama was also quoted as being saying t hat the overall jobs created by the project will be around 2000. There have also been issues regarding the capacity utilization of the pipelines as it has been suggested that pipeline may create serious capacity issues considering the overall construction cost involved in the production of this pipeline. It has also been suggested that this pipeline may not yield benefits to the local oil supply as it has been constructed to actually export the Canadian oil to China. This argument therefore suggests that such heavy expenditure on the construction of the pipeline may not result into same level of economic benefits being transferred to the local economy specially the States which are offering tax exemptions to this project (Flynn, 2012). Introduction Definition of Problem The problem here in is a case with the Keystone pipeline project, which was mainly constructed to create economic stimulus of more than $ 7 million, and more than 200, 000 jobs to the youths. The project upon compl etion has elicited a series of conflicting opinions from many people across the two regions. Most of these raise questions on both the credibility and viability of the project. Contrary to the Canadians and the US expectations, the company is totally on the other side likely to cause more loss than the benefits anticipated. There are also allegations that the pipeline would actually not export oil to the US, but to China, one of the issues that greatly raise the credibility as well as the viability of the report throughout the implementation season. Stating historical facts The keystone pipeline project was collaboratively rolled out to export crude oil to refineries in the US. This project was aimed at boosting economic stimulus of the country by $7 billion, and was equally meant to create over 200,000 jobs for citizens of both countries. The project was also tailored to provide support for other projects in the region hence making them survive. The cost of setting up the project significantly provided conviction that it would be viable and of great benefit to the two countries. The progress of the project has however not indicated any sign of the anticipated benefits. Contradictions have surrounded the project with many raising alarm over its viability and the ability to fulfill its intended mandate satisfactorily. The project leaves more questions than answers as the truth regarding its progress finally uncovers. The billion-dollar project cost the two countries a great deal, and letting things it die, would result into such a big loss to both the countries. The idea of the Keystone pipeline transporting oil to china is also alarming since that was not part of the original plan. Progress on the project The project is currently complete up to the third phase, and the fourth phase is under way. The fourth phase is however facing a number of controversies over its routing which passes through to Nebraska. Most of these are related to the environmental hazar ds attached to this project. Relatively, part of the pipeline route that should go through the sea brings further controversies over the fourth stage of construction. Overall purpose of this paper In lieu of the above allegations and conflicts over the Keystone pipeline project, this research is aimed at making in depth research into the conflicts and problems surrounding the project, and then coming up with possible recommendations to help find an ultimate solution. The research will take into consideration, the environmental, political and the economical impacts of the project vis a vis the current progress. In addition, the research will take historical perspective of this project into account while attempting to analyze the salient issues revolving around its viability and project life. Literature Review Historical perspective of the issue The Trans Canada Corporation proposed the project on 9th February 2005. However, the communications, energy, and paper workers Union of Ca nada in 2007 requested the Canadian government to block any regulatory approvals for the project; terming it as a trick to benefit the US citizens with permanent jobs. The commission further indicated that the project was meant to reduce Canada’s energy security as well as jeopardize job creation and investments in the Canadian energy sector. Despite this, the Canadian national energy board went ahead and approved the construction of the Canadian section of the pipeline. The US government, through the Department of state also played their part by issuing a presidential permit, which authorized construction, the maintenance and operation of the pipeline at the United States – Canada border. In 2008, the ConocoPhillips purchased 50% of the project stake. The TransCanada however agreed that they would buy the shares held by the ConocoPhillips and become the sole owner of the project. The process of acquiring all the necessary legal documents pertaining to the transfer of shares took over two years. The construction also took another two years hence the pipeline from Alberta to Patoka, United States started operating in 2010. The keystone project began as a collaborative project that was to strengthen the economic status of the US and Canada. The pipeline was meant to transport crude oil from Canada to the US refineries. The project was seen as capable of boosting trade within the two regions and was to create many job opportunities between the two countries. The governments of both the two countries were optimistic about the project benefits and they fully pledge their support for the same. Concerns have however been raised over the projects feasibility in terms of environmental sustenance amidst other conflicting ideas. Further research digging dipper into the project reveals causes of conflict over the project’s key intention and whether it was sufficiently planned for before the release of the funds. Related issues highlighted in literat ure The literature reveals a number of issues surrounding the project at hand. Most of these have been raised by the two countries owing to the levels of risks attached to the project development. The most common conflicts involve the environmental issues, the conflicts of interests, geopolitical issues, conflicts of interest, political issues, indigenous issues, safety issues, economic issues, and issues relating to public opinion among others. Environmental factors Despite the various conflicts in opinions regarding who was meant to benefit from the keystone pipeline project, there are various environmental concerns that were equally attached to the same. A number of environmental activists, citizens, and politicians have express concerns over the negative environmental impacts likely to be brought about by the Keystone project. One of the biggest environmental issue lies on the risk of oil spillage along the pipe; experts fear that this could easily lead to sensitive terrain and would further increase the greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 17 percent during the extraction of the oil sands. According to Samuel Avery, a social activist, mining on the Alberta tar sands would increase carbon dioxide in the air by 50 to 60 parts hence raising the total levels to at least 450ppm. This is the least threshold for critical climate feedback and it is the point where global warming begins to take effect. Another environment concern is that oil spillage on the pipeline would cause air and water pollution hence interfering with water supplies as well as causing harm to birds and water creatures. The pipeline’s original route plan went through the sand hills, the Nebraska wetland ecosystem and then to the Ogallala Aquifer which is among the world’s largest fresh water reserves. The Ogallala aquifer covers eight states in the US, and the same time providing nearly two million US citizens with drinking water. The Aquifer is also said to be supporting agric ultural projects worth $20 billion. After the opposition from activists, th...