Childhood Obesity - the Schools Fight - Research Paper Example

? Childhood Obesity: The Schools Fight (Add (Add (Add Introduction The issue of obesity in children is gaining more and more importance as time passes. A considerable proportion of children in urban areas are victims of obesity. However, the interesting fact is that various researchers hold various views regarding the exact causes of childhood obesity. The reasons range from lack of physical activity, variations in nutrition, environmental factors, and genetics. Out of them, physical activity and diet are the most noticeable ones as both are easily changeable. The fact is that some scholars like Guerra, Teixeira-Pinto, Ribeiro, Ascensao, Magalhaes, Andersen, Duarte &Mota (2006) dispute the claim that physical activity is linked to obesity. This work intends to argue that physical activity can, and in fact does, reduce obesity. Points supporting the link between physical activity and obesity Trost, Sirard, Dowda, Pfeiffer & Pate (2003) compared the levels of physical activity in overweight and non-overweight children between 3 and 5 years of age. It was fond in the study that overweight children were considerably less active than their non-overweight counterparts in the preschool years. However, no such correlation was visible in the case of girls. Despite this shortcoming, the study proves that there is a relation between physical activity and obesity. However, it remains still unclear as it can happen either way: either obesity causes less physical activity or less physical activity leads to obesity. The work by Goran, Reynolds & Lindquist (1999) looks into the same issue. By looking into the relevant literature, the scholars reach certain hypothesized conclusions. The first conclusion is that physical activity reduces the development of obesity by increasing energy expenditure. The second assumption is that physical activity increases resting metabolic rate (RMR) thus resulting more energy use and reduced obesity. The third point is that during physical activity, body depends on fat instead of carbohydrates for energy fuel. Thus, there is reduced obesity. In fact, there are various studies which support each of these independent assumptions. To illustrate, it is pointed out by Poehlman (1989) that physical activity increases energy expenditure due to the cost of the activity. The second finding was that physical activity leads to increased resting metabolic rate. Similarly, Almeras, Lavallee, Despres, Bouchard & Tremblay (1995) observed that physical activity is of a positive effect on substrate mechanism. The reason provided is that during physical activity, especially intensive exercise, the body increasingly relies on fat instead of carbohydrates for energy fuel. Whatever the reason may be, there are a large number of studies which show a link between physical activity and obesity. In a study by Sasaki, Shindo, Tanaka, Ando &Arakawa (1987), children were given daily aerobic exercise. It was found in the two year study that the subjects reported reduced body weight and fat. Very similar is the study by Gutin (1999). In this study, a 15 week combined aerobic and strength training program was offered to the selected children. In fifteen weeks, there was spectacular result. The body fat of children decreased at an average of 3.7 %. There are problems associated with such studies, which cannot be ignored. For example, it is possible that during intense physical activity interventions, children are likely to reduce their physical activities outside the interventions. In fact, one study took this issue into consideration. Blaak, Westerterp, Bar-Or Wouters &Saris (1992) proved that four weeks of endurance training which includes 45 minutes of cycling for five times a week at a VO2 max of 50-60% does not impact the spontaneous physical activity outside the intervention. At this juncture, the question arises as to whether it is possible to control obesity giving no attention to diet. Admittedly, people like Bar-Or (1983, p. 45) noticed a 5-20% decline in body weight as a result of both physical activity and dietary modification. However, the issue to be addressed here is whether physical activity alone, without dietary modification, can lead to any significant decrease in obesity. The study by Gutin (1999) looked into the effect of 40 minutes of physical training for five days a week without any dietary intervention on the body weight and health risk factors of obese children aged 7 to 11 years. In the study that lasted four months, it was found that there are significant benefits even in the absence of dietary intervention. It led to beneficial changes in percent fat, visceral and subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue, fasting insulin and triglycerides, and cardiac parasympathetic activity. Vandongen et al, (1995) conducted a large scale study in Australia covering 30 schools. There were five intervention conditions and schools were assigned one intervention. It was found that there is increase in fitness condition and reduced triceps skin fold measures. The Active Living Research named Walking and biking to school, physical activity and health outcomes alleges that the recent social and environmental changes are responsible for the increased obesity in children (Active Living Research, 2009). According to the paper, the changes limited children’s access to open places where they can play, walk, and bike. As a result of these changes, the children today are less physically active than their predecessors. Some environmental and social hindrances pointed out in the paper are traffic issues, development of residential areas without sidewalks, and urban sprawl. As a result of these changes, there is a decline in the number of children who walk or bike to school. According to the report, the percentage dropped from 42 % to 13% between 1969 and 2001. According to the report, this decline in physical activity coincided with the recent increase in childhood obesity. It is pointed out that in the same period, the prevalence of obesity rose from 4.2 % to 17% in children. In a study among elementary students by Rosenberg, Sallis & Conway (2006) found that baseline body mass index and skinfold measurements are lower among 4th grade boys who actively commuted to school at least two days a week. However, the problem is that the same result is not obtained among girls of the same age. At this juncture, it is necessary to detail how physical activity leads to reduced obesity. Bray (2012) writes that physical activity can be defined as an activity which uses one or more large muscle groups in the body resulting in a rise in the heart rate. Also, the study points out that the various factors influencing energy expenditure in body are basal metabolic activities which include heat production for maintenance of body temperature, maintenance of ionic gradients across cells, and resting cardiac and respiratory function; thermogenesis, and physical activity. In order to explain how physical activity influences energy expenditure, it becomes necessary to rely on the work of Nagai & Moritani (2004). The study finds that obese children possess reduced sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous activities as compared to lean children who do equal levels of physical activity (Nagai & Moritani, 2004). Though it is not clear as to whether reduced nervous activities lead to obesity or the onset of obesity leads to reduced nervous activities, it becomes evident that reduced physical activity is linked to obesity. In addition, the study shows that it is possible to enhance overall autonomous nervous system activity through regular physical activities in both lean and obese children. Thus, once again, it becomes evident that physical activity can control obesity. The obese ones usually find solace in the claim that they posses an ‘obesity gene’ called the FTO gene. Admittedly, studies have proved that the presence of this gene increases the risk of being obese; having higher body mass index, larger waist circumference and higher body fat percentage. However, the study by Li, Zhao, Luan, Ekelund, Luben, Khaw, Wareham & Loos (n.d) shows that the chance of being obese can be reduced at n average of 27% by being physically active. It was found in the study that an hour of physical activity can reduce the risk of obesity by 40% even if a person has an obesity DNA variant (Li et al). The same case is seen in weight gain too. While inactive people gain an additional 1.3 pounds through the presence of the obesity gene, the amount is just 0.8 pounds in the people who exercised despite the presence of the gene variant. Thus, it becomes evident that though the presence of certain gene variants is associated with increased risk of obesity, it is possible to control the same through regular physical activity. As O’Leary (2010) reports, despite a considerable improvement in physical activity, there is a 25 % increase in obesity among West Australians. Thus, it becomes necessary to accept that there are certain other factors with more or equal effect on obesity other than physical activity. Thus, one has to pay attention to another factor which has changed significantly over these years, that is consumption. To illustrate, weight gain is the result if calories consumed are higher than calories used. Similarly, weight loss is the result if calories consumed are less than calories used. Admittedly, physical activity only results in an increase in the calories used. That means if there is a rise in the calories consumed, the effects of physical activity will not be visible. As Pennings (n.d) reports, the changing environment has widened the food options available for consumption. Grocery stores have their shelves filled with a wide variety of products. In addition, there are pre-packed foods, fast food restaurants, and various energy and soft drinks. It is a known fact that these items often contain excessive levels of fat, calories and sugar. That means the people who depend on these food items regularly take excessive levels of calories. Thus, the moderate levels of physical activity they introduce in life fail to burn the excessive levels of energy they take up on a daily basis. In addition, there are environmental factors which give people no room for physical activity. For example, a person who has a supermarket just across the street loses the chance to walk to the store to purchase things. Similarly, a child may decide not to walk to school because of the absence of sidewalks. Conclusion Thus, in total, there are various factors which are linked to obesity ranging from physical activity, calorie intake, genetic predisposition, environmental factors and so on. Despite genetic predisposition to obesity, it is possible to control the same through proper physical activity. However, if calorie intake is higher than calorie used, the impact of physical activity will not be visible. That means physical activity should be accompanied by proper calorie intake for optimal benefits. In fact, physical activity reduces obesity in a number of different ways. Firstly, it increases energy use as a result of exercise. Secondly, it increases resting metabolic rate (RMR). Thirdly, physical activity can enhance autonomous nervous activity which is often slow in obese children. To sum up, it is clear that physical activity is most important factor in controlling obesity. References Active Living Research. (2009).Walking and biking to school, physical activity and health outcome, Active Living Research. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Retrieved from http://www.rwjf.org/childhoodobesity/product.jsp?id=42952. Almeras, N., Lavallee, N., Despres, J. P., Bouchard, C & Tremblay, A. (1995). Exercise and energy intake: Effect of substrate oxidation. Physiology and Behavior. 57, 995-1000. Blaak, E. E., Westerterp, K. R., Bar-Or, O., Wouters, L. J.M, Saris, W. H. M. (1992). Total energy expenditure and spontaneous activity in relation to training in obese boys, Am J Clin Nutr, 55, 777-782. Bar-Or, O. (1983). Pediatric sports Medicine for the Practitioner. New York: Springer Verlag. Bray, G. A. (2012). Drug therapy of obesity. Wolters Kluwer Health. Retrieved from http://www.uptodate.com/contents/drug-therapy-of-obesity Goran, M. I., Reynolds, K. D & Lindquist, C. H. (1999). Role of physical activity in the prevention of obesity in children, International Journal of Obesity, 23, S18-S33. Guerra, S., Teixeira-Pinto, A., Ribeiro, J. C., Ascensao, A., Magalhaes, J., Andersen, L. B., Duarte, J. A, Mota, J. (2006). Relationship between physical activity and obesity in children and adolescents. The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 46(1), 79-83. Li, S., Zhao, J. H., Luan, J., Ekelund, U., Luben, R. N., Khaw, K., Wareham, N. J & Loos, R. J. F. (n.d). Physical activity attenuates the genetic predisposition to obesity in 20,000 men nd women from EPIC-Norfolk prospective population study. PLoS Medicine. Retrieved from http://www.plosmedicine.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pmed.1000332 Nagai, N & Moritani, T. (2004). Effect of physical activity on autonomic nervous system function in lean and obese children. 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Trost, S. G., Sirard, J. R., Dowda, M., Pfeiffer, K. A & Pate, R. R. (2003). Physical activity in overweight and non-overweight preschool children, International Journal of Obesity, 27(7), 834-839. Vandongen, R., Jenner, D. A., Thompson, C., Taggart, A. C., Spickett, E. E., Burke, V., Beilin, L. J, Milligan, F. A &Dunbar, D. L. (1995). A controlled evaluation of a fitness and nutrition intervention program on cardiovascular health in 10 to 12 year old children. Prev Med, 24, 9-22. Read More