Demographics Paper

Demographic Paper

Demographic Paper

Sernearia C. Hill

HCS/490

January 14, 2013

Professor Cindy Perkins

Demographic Paper

The definition of demographics according to Merriam Webster, is relating to the dynamic balance of a population especially with regard to density and capacity for expansion or decline or the statistical characteristics of human populations used especially to identify markets. Demographic data can include characteristics of a human population that is used in government marketing and opinion research.

There is a difference between overweight and obesity. Overweight it defined as having excess body weight for a particular height from fat, muscle, bone, water, or a combination of these factors. Obesity is defined as having excess body fat. Both of the two are a result of the amount of calories consumed and are affected by various genetic, behavioral, and environmental factors. These definitions at one time were only attributed to adults but things have changed dramatically over the years. In the Unites States children are in taking as much if not more calories than adults.

Childhood obesity is a trend that is becoming more and more prevalent over the years. According to The Center for Health and Health Care in Schools, the obesity rates are increasing in school age children. The percent of school age children ages 6 - 11 that are overweight has more than doubled between the late 1970’s and 2000, rising from 6.5% to 15.3%. Up to date research has shown that over the past 30 years the childhood obesity rate has tripled. Research has shown that the rate between boys and girls obesity has remained the same or hasn’t shown a significant change over the years. This demographic has an impact in the health care market in many different ways. Childhood obesity opens the door to many immediate and long term health effects.

Children in this category are more likely to have risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, such as high...