Childhood Obesity in London - Essay Example

Childhood Obesity in London Introduction The increasing prevalence of child obesity has become a serious health issue in the United Kingdom. The country’s health sector is struggling to address the issues associated with unhealthy diet practices and lifestyle habits. The increasing rate of this disorder costs huge amounts in healthcare spending. Empirical evidences suggest that obese children are more likely to become obese adults and this feature adds to the severity of this disorder. Studies reveal that obese children are affected by a range of emotional as well as psychological problems. In addition, child obesity tends to develop life threatening conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Although genetic factors may contribute to this order, sedentary lifestyle is the major cause worsening the rate of child obesity. This paper will specifically analyze the issue of child obesity in the London borough of Lewisham. Child obesity There is no globally accepted definition for child obesity and hence researchers and healthcare professionals try to assess child obesity in terms of published guidelines of body mass index. As Ferry (n.d) points out, some professionals consider child obesity as a condition where a child’s body weight is 20% more than actually needed height according to BMI criteria, or body fat percentage is 25% above in boys and 32% above in girls. The condition of child obesity is defined as “the presence of excessive accumulations of adipose tissue that interfere with child health and well-being” (Simonton, 2007, p. 62). Medical journals and other healthcare surveys have repeatedly mentioned child obesity as one of the most life threatening disorders in the United Kingdom and other economically developed countries. According to a recent national survey report (as cited in Kellow, n.d), nearly 25 percent boys and 33 percent girls in UK are obese or overweight. It is predicted that these figures would be doubled over the next decade unless the UK healthcare authorities took some strong and thoughtful initiatives to curb the issue. As obese children are more likely to become obese adults, this eating disorder has a profound effect on a child’s health. Surveys indicate that majority of the parents do not give proper care on their child’s diet habits and this situation deteriorates the issue. Currently, no medications have been approved for treating child obesity and hence diet control and proper lifestyle management are the most effective ways to deal this issue. Healthcare in London While analyzing London’s healthcare sector, it is clears that the city fails to maintain a satisfactory health status or implement healthcare programmes. As per the UK government’s new ‘star rating system’ framed for hospitals, primary care units, and other healthcare services like ambulances; London’s healthcare sector is struggling to deliver effective healthcare services as compared to the rest of the Britain. This rating system points out that London’s ambulance services are worst in the country whereas the city’s hospitals are improving their status at a rate which is equal to half the national average rate (as cited in Dougherty, 2003). In addition, none of the London’s primary care units is given a top rating (ibid). Naturally, London has a poor health status as compared to the rest of the UK. To illustrate, London healthcare data indicate that one of every three pensioners live in poverty (NHS London, 2006). In addition, air quality is very poor in this capital city. In London, wide inequalities exist between different regional groups, ethnic groups, and age groups (ibid). The inefficiency of London health sector is clearly reflected in its child care. Nearly 40% of the children in London are living in poverty. As compared to other cities of England, London has an increased rate of child obesity (NHS London, 2006). The National Child Measurement Programme (as reported by Mayor of London (2011) shows that, in 2009-10 period, 11.6% of children under the age group 4-5 years and 21.8 % of children aged between 10-11 years in London are under the risk of being obese or overweight. This rate is much higher than the national average. The Health Survey for England clearly reflects that nearly 20 percent of children aged 2-15 years old are obese. In addition, the prevalence rate of obesity in London has drastically increased over the period 1995-2010. However, it must be noted that the risk of child obesity has been unequally distributed across the London. Researches indicate that certain ethnic groups are highly vulnerable to child obesity. To illustrate, children from some minority ethnic groups such as Black Caribbean, Black African, and Bangladeshi are more likely to develop child obesity (ibid). In addition, the prevalence of child obesity is more common in boys. The Health Survey for England also predicts that roughly one fourth of young people under the age 20 will develop obesity by 2050. Studies also indicate that the number of fast food outlets operating in London is high. Although children in London have a good perception of their health, they do not change their dietary practices (ibid). Undoubtedly, it can be stated that needs relating to health and healthcare in London have not been sufficiently met. Despite strong positive perceptions of their health, children continue their unhealthy food habits since majority of them are unaware of obesity complications. It seems that London’s healthcare authorities perform poorly in delivering healthcare services to its beneficiaries. Hence, the city’s increased child obesity rate can be attributed to its poorly performing healthcare sector. In short, London’s healthcare sector has to improve its performance in order to maintain the city’s health status at the level of national average. Child obesity in London borough of Lewisham While analysing the prevalence rate of child obesity in London borough of Lewisham, it seems that the rate is much higher than the London average and national average. As of 2009-10 period, approximately 12% of children aged 4-5 years and 22.1% of children aged 10-11 years were obese (Lewisham Strategic Partnership, n. d). The Health Survey for England indicate that there were 8,573 obese children in the borough of Lewisham; among these, 2,595 children fell under the age group 1-4 (ibid). The National Children Measurement Programme’s local analysis results argue that ethnicity does not have a notable influence on child obesity prevalence in the borough of Lewisham. In contrast, prevalence of child obesity is greatly connected to socio-economic status with increased prevalence rate is observed in more deprived areas. However, it is identified that the link between child obesity and deprivation constitutes only 3.3% of the total variation (ibid). In addition, territorial differences also do not affect child obesity; the prevalence rate and risk rate are equally scattered throughout this borough. NCMP studies reveal that eligibility for free school meals (FSM) can have a crucial role in determining the child obesity prevalence rate (ibid). The prevalence rate of child obesity increases with children’s level of eligibility for FSM. As per 2009 data, nearly a quarter of all pupils in the borough of Lewisham were eligible for FSM; this rate is slightly higher (0.1%) than national average (ibid). As part of dealing with this issue, the London borough of Lewisham loses huge amounts of money. Hence, the authorities are forced to cut down its spending for other productive purposes and this situation would negatively affect the overall development of the region. Psychological studies indicate that majority of the obese or overweight children in the borough of Lewisham are very sensitive to daily life issues. In short, this problem adversely impacts the region’s cultural, social, and economic growth to a great extent. Lewisham healthcare authorities have identified child obesity as a potential health issue. Hence, the Commissioning Strategic Plan for Lewisham 2009-15 gives particular focus to reducing child obesity in the area. Surveys show that local people in the borough of Lewisham have identified the significance of curbing child obesity. This situation greatly assists the borough authorities to frame and execute effective prevention strategies. Currently, healthcare authorities seek the assistance of other social interests groups and organisation to minimise impacts of this eating disorder. Lewisham’s child obesity reduction policy specifically focuses on ‘obesity prevention, treatment, and management’. Local strategies developed by the Lewisham Strategic Partnership for the purpose of reducing the child obesity level include the Lewisham Food Strategy, Sustainable Community Strategy, Physical Activity Plan, Regeneration and Planning Strategy, and Open Space Strategy (Lewisham Strategic Partnership, n.d). The borough’s strategic plan for curbing this disorder is centred on five key themes such as “the healthy growth and development of children, promoting healthier food choices, building physical activity into our lives, creating incentives for better health, and personalised advice and support for individuals who already have weight problems” (ibid). Constraints to London healthcare Financial instability seems to be one of the major constraints relating to healthcare in London. This issue prevents the city’s healthcare sector from effectively implementing planned healthcare initiatives. Many of the hospitals in London are facing financial pressures as a result of numerous reasons, particularly the recent global recession. To illustrate, the South London Healthcare, which was formed by an integration of three hospital units, currently faces the threat of insolvency. Jeffreys and Triggle (2012) report that the South London Healthcare made an agreement with a private finance initiative (PFI) mainly to develop its infrastructural facilities and run daily operations more effectively. As a result of this PFI scheme, the firm is currently spending nearly 14% of its revenues for repaying the debt; and although the organisation acquired annual turnover of £424 million in 2011, it incurred £69 in deficit (ibid). In addition, nursing staff shortage is another major constraint to London’s health sector development. Reports indicate that staff shortage is increasingly becoming a threat to patient safety. An NHS report indicates that it is possible to save at least 500 lives every year by simply employing sufficient staff and improving the availability of diagnostic scans (Nursing Times.net, 2011). The recent global recession forced the London health sector to cut down the number of staff, and this policy fuelled the staff shortage issue in the city. Today, the UK government adopts rather hostile approach to immigrant employees and hence the London healthcare does not have the option to hire skilled and experienced staff from foreign countries. Issues at the local level It seems that the staff shortage problem affects more locally since local hospitals have less access to qualified and efficient staff. Since this issue is very common in the borough of Lewisham, the situation worsens the region’s health status. Since the London borough of Lewisham is an agglomeration of numerous cultures, the area contains different ethnic groups and people from all over the world. Under such an environment, a healthcare provider cannot effectively meet the entire needs and requirements of target audience. Therefore, cultural diversity appears to be a factor that impedes the development of local level healthcares. In addition, lack of co-operation from local people also becomes an impediment to the borough’s healthcare improvement. It is evident that even well structured public sector programmes cannot meet its goals unless the beneficiaries are co-operative. Since majority of the region’s people including children are much aware of their health, they do not comply with plans and programmes implemented by the Lewisham’s local healthcare authority. Hence, this situation makes it difficult for the local level health sector to stretch out the planned benefits of its programmes to its target audience. Although UK has trimmed down job opportunities for foreign workers, the country’s workforce still constitutes a notable percent of foreign staff. Employment of foreign staff makes it difficult for Lewisham’s health sector to implement the concept of culturally competent care. In addition, poorly performing hospitals and other healthcare services become a potential barrier to the effective implementation of health policies and programmes. London Health Commission principles The principles advocated by the London Health Commission include “active engagement and inclusion of citizens, communities, and key constituencies; promoting partnership working that is inclusive, sharing, visible, and committed; expanding and sharing information, ideas, and learning about health, the determinants of health and other relevant issues; and commitment to equity and diversity” (London Health Commission, n.d). While evaluating the borough of Lewisham in the context of these principles, it seems that the borough’s local health sector fails to comply with the London Health Commission principle. Firstly, the local health sector struggles to effectively involve its key stakeholders including citizens and communities in planning and delivering various healthcare services. In addition, the local level health sector could not establish effective inter-communication among health service units across the region. Due to lack of shared operations, the Lewisham’s health sector cannot deliver superior quality services to region’s citizens. Furthermore, the local level sector is weaker in handling cultural diversity; and minority ethnic groups often do not get quality healthcare services at affordable rates. Hence, such operational weaknesses contribute to the growth of child obesity in this area. Recommendations Currently, the data indicate that London’s child obesity prevalence is much higher than the national average. Hence, an integrated effort from London healthcare authorities, healthcare providers, citizens, and communities are required to curb the prevalence of child obesity in London. Firstly, the London’s government must give specific focus to its healthcare sector and increase financial packages for the uplift of the city’s overall health status. Such initiatives may assist the London healthcare sector to improve its financial stability and thereby provide its target audience with quality health products and services. Presently, many hospitals in London are being operated under loss due to the impacts of global financial crisis 2008. Those hospitals can improve their operational efficiency if they obtain proper financial assistance from bodies concerned. In addition, the London health sector must immediately resolve its nursing staff shortage issues as this problem has far reaching impacts on the city’s healthcare. It is advisable for the London healthcare authorities to recruit more skilled native staff because this strategy may ensure the healthcare commitment to diversity. Native nurses can more effectively identify the major causes of child obesity and thereby develop potential intervention strategies to curb the issue. Furthermore, the London’s health sector should allow nursing staff to work in convenient schedules so as to reduce nurse shortage issues to a great extent. By recruiting more native employees, the borough of Lewisham can improve public involvement in its healthcare initiatives. It is recommendable for the local level authorities to organise child obesity campaigns in order to enlighten people on the risk factors of eating disorder. Naturally, native staff will be in good contact with local people and hence they can easily convince people regarding the necessity of practicing good dietary habits. Such strategic initiatives would persuade parents to assist their children in practicing healthy food habits and lifestyle. Since children are the major victims of child obesity, it is advisable for the borough authorities to design school based intervention programmes as well. Healthcare bodies should scientifically set healthy food patterns for different age groups and integrate them into the FSL programme. All students under the age 15 must be eligible FSL regardless of their socio-economic position. Such programmes would prevent children from eating too much fatty or other unhealthy foods. In addition, other school based intervention programmes must be conducted to provide students with effective physical education. Good physical education may aid students to identify the necessity of avoiding sedimentary lifestyle. While organising those school based intervention programmes, the Lewisham’s health sector must specifically ensure the support of parents. Finally, the borough’s healthcare authorities should particularly focus on children who are already obese or overweight. The healthcare department has to organise special counselling programmes for those affected children. Moreover, concerned healthcare organisations must make sure that the affected children do not give up their education or abstain from the mainstream of the society. Conclusion From the above discussion, it is obvious that child obesity is a severe issue in London, particularly the London borough of Lewisham. Statistical data clearly indicate that the issue in the borough of Lewisham is much greater than the national average. Financial instability, nursing shortage, poor health services, lack of public co-operation, and cultural diversity become the potential constraints to child obesity intervention and prevention in the borough of Lewisham. Evidently, The London Health Commission’s principles are not properly met in this region. In order to control the disorder in this area, Lewisham’s local level health authorities must organise school based intervention programmes such as child obesity campaigns and physical education. References Dougherty, H., 16 July 2003. 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