Factors Influencing Occurrences of Obesity in Australian Children - Coursework Example

A discussion on Obesity in Australian Children 1.0 Introduction Obesity is a medical condition where one has accumulated excess body fat. In comparative terms, this means that an individual has higher weight that is not medically healthy for his or her height (U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2012). The basis for this disease is the imbalance between energy consumed and that which is expended. Body Mass Index (BMI) concept is used to measure obesity. BMI is difined as “a person’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of his or her height in meter.” A person with BMI greater than or equal to 30 is obese. Obesity during childhood is likely to generate into adulthood obesity in future (Plourde, 2006, p.324). Obesity increases one’s vulnerability to cardiovascular diseses, type 2 diabetes and sleep apnoea among others (World Health Organisation, 2012). Figures by Australian Bureau of Statistics (2009) show that about 600, 000 children aged 5-17 are obese or overweight. The 2007/ 08 National Health Survey indicates that 24.9% of people aged 5-17 is obese or overweight. The purpose of this paper is to explore factors influencing occurrences of health issue in Australia using Biopsychosocial framework of health. To answer this question, the paper focuses on child obesity in Australia as a case example. Moreover, the paper will narrow on socio-cultural and environmental factors. The socio-cultural factors to be discussed include change of lifestyles such as being physically inactive by watching television, overusing of cars and changed eating habits. In the perspective of environmental factors, the paper examines how the built environment is designed such that it does not encourage individuals to expend energy as there are no places for such. These include walk paths, play fields and social centres. 2.0 Child Obesity in Australia According to statistic of 2007/08 by National Health Survey for individuals aged 5-17, 2.8% of boys are considered obese and overweight while 24.0% of girls are equally the same (Australian Department of Health and Ageing, 2010). Moreover, in the National Health Survey 07/08 cited in Australian Bureau of Statistics (2009) it is noted that the number of boys aged 5-17 with obesity doubled. The fraction moved from 5 % in 1995 to 10% in 2007/08. However for the same period, the report indicates that fraction of girls with obesity did not change. According to projections, by 2020, 65 % of young Australians will be obese or overweight (Better Health Channel, 2012, p.1). 3.0 Factors Influencing Occurrence of Child Obesity in Australia The Biopsychosocial Model of Health advocates for holistic approach in understanding health issues. The approach takes into consideration all determinants of health and disease. The concept accepts integration of biological, psychological and social factors in the assessment, prevention and treatment of a disease (Havelka, Lucanin & Lucanin, 2009, p.303). There are myriad of factors that contribute to one being obese. These factors can be best understood through Biopsychosocial framework. Various literatures name factors like sedentary behaviours, dietary intake, and physical inactivity, genes of an individual and socio-economic status among others (Centre for Policy and Nutrition Promotion, 1998, p.16). The worth noting observation is that certain factors are cross cutting and can fall within environmental and social factors. The subsequent sections will narrow down on socio-cultural factors like change in eating habits & physical inactivity and environmental factors like improper urban design and growth of informal settlements. 3.1 Socio-cultural Factors 3.1.1 Change in Eating Habits: “A Junk Food Society” With the modernisation and changing lifestyles, eating habits have also changed. In their bid to save time and have a quick bite, people resort to junk food that are easy and fast to prepare. Blom-Hoffman (2004) notes that poor eating habits based on fast food is one of the major causes of child obesity. Poor diet habits include excessive intake of calorie and fat intake. Obesity is likely to be caused by even consumption of small portions of calories over an extended period of time. Excessive consumption of fats leads to obesity this is especially true if the same is combined with little physical inactivity (Ahmad et al., 2010, p.20). Foods prepared in fast food restaurants have a higher fat and energy contents as compared to food prepared at home. Fast food restaurants are also associated with lower intake of fruits, vegetables and grains and minimal serving of milk. Studies have showed a positive correlation between fast food use among adolescents and a high prevalence rate of obesity among them (Kiess, Marcus & Wabitsch, 2004, p.98). The principal view is that junk food contributes to high energy in yet this energy is not expended. Government of South Australia Department of Health highlights two critical factors (p.1). The first is that people are losing control on what they eat. This is now being determined by manufactures and the persuasive media where Australia ranks high among OECD countries. The next concern in the environment is the large portions of food which Australians are exposed to. Moreover, most of these foods are junk or what is termed as fast foods. Fast food is a common phenomenon in Australia and it is where parents like taking their children for treat. These food outlets are to be found in mainstream restaurants, movie halls, shopping malls and service stations. Taking of huge portions of food translates to too much calories. These calories if they are not burnt down they contribute to obesity (Dixon, 2004, p.7). With these numerous outlets it also means that children lack access to healthy foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables. Closely connected to the two is the kind of adverts that the manufactures of the same engage in. they formulate emotive and appealing adverts that attract children. This means majority of children are likely to be trapped in the chains of consuming junk foods which high in calories (Dixon, 2004, p.10 & 11). 3.1.2 Social Isolation and Sedentary Lifestyle With the changing social lifestyles where people are getting more individualistic and socially isolated, children are opting to entertain themselves through televisions, computer and video games. This makes them not to engage in physical activities instead they adopt sedentary lifestyle. National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (2012) note that more than two hours a day of TV viewing on regular basis is linked to overweight and obesity. Other factors that contribute to physical inactivity include relying on cars. Others are modern technology in offices, schools and at home that makes a person not to expend energy. Moreover, children at school do not adequately engage in physical activities. This is because of social pressure and expectation to perform well in school. This makes them spend many hours seated reading books. Since they do not engage in physical activities, they are not able to burn calories and thus, weight gain. To overcome the same, it is recommended that children between the ages of 5-18 should engage in moderate to vigorous physical activity daily (Australia Bureau of Statistics, 2009). Kids who do not engage in physical activities are likely to be overweight and consequently obesity. The argument underlying this is that if one is not able to break down excess calories in the body they are likely to be stored as excess fats in the body. Moreover this is accompanied by increased cholesterol and poor fitness (Australia Bureau of Statistics, 2009). One of the factors that contribute to physical inactivity is the time spent by kid in front of a TV and playing computer games. Research has proven incidence of obesity is highly prevalent in children who watch TV for longer periods than those who watch it for few hours. The reality is grim in Australia. It is observed that 37% of children which account for 974, 000 children do not engage themselves in organised physical activities in 2006 ( 2006 Children Participation in Culture and Leisure Activity Survey cited in Australia Bureau of Statistics, 2009). 3.2 Environmental Factors 3.2.1 Urban Design One environmental factor is poorly designed and built environment. This makes children to be physically inactive (Government of South Australia Department of Health, p.2). As a result of pressure on land and high cost of providing the same, local authorities do not adequately provide venues where people can burn excess calories. For instance most neighbourhoods lack or have inadequate sidewalks since the society has become more motorised than ever. Other areas that that children can utilise in burning out excess fats are equally lacking or limited. These include safe recreation places, parks, trails and affordable gyms (Booth, Pinkston & Poston, 2005, p.110). 3.2.2 Informal Settlements With high number of people living in urban areas, pressure on housing facilities and urban decay, the accompanying result is the growth of informal settlements. The most who find themselves in these zones are the economically deprived citizens or migrants (World Health Organisation, 2005, p.5). The contribution of this phenomenon towards diabetes is that in these zones there are no adequate open spaces for children to play. This means that as result of high densities people are likely to be locked inside their rooms sitting and engaging in unhealthy practices like watching TV for longer hours. Moreover, to reduce the boredom associated with isolation, these people are likely to engage in unhealthy eating habits so that they can keep themselves busy. The consequences are that these consumed calories will not be burned and thus, causing obesity. 4.0 Conclusion The papers aim was to explore causes of obesity in children in Australia using Biopsychosocial framework of health. The emerging theme is that there various contributory factors that are cross cutting in the framework. The paper found out that various social aspects of the society have greatly contributed to child obesity. These include changes in lifestyle where children engage in little physical activity while they engage in sedentary life by watching TV, playing video and computer games and over use of cars. The next is the eating habit as result of the need to have quick bites which are easy to prepare, cheap, sweet and accessible. This makes children accumulate more calories which are not being burnt. On the other hand environmental factors also contribute to the two sides of enabling factors. In first perspective, there are neighbourhoods without playing grounds and walks parks that can facilitate one to engage in physical activities. On the other perspective, the neighbourhoods are dotted with first food joints with aggressive adverts targeting children leading to overconsumption of the same. All of the above findings tie to the fact that at point or at least they contribute to increased intake of calories and reduced burning of the same thereby contributing to overweight and obesity. This sums up the definition that obesity is imbalance between energy consumed and that which is expended leading to accumulation of calories. References Ahmad, Qazi Iqbal et al. (2010). Childhood Obesity: Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Vol. 14 issue no.1, pp. 19-25. Australian Bureau of Statistics (2009). Children who are overweight or obese. 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(2006) Preventing and managing pediatric obesity: Canadian Family Physician: Vol. 52 pp.322 – 328. U.S. National Library of Medicine (May, 2012). Obesity. Retrieved on 5 September, 2012 from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0004552/. World Health Organisation (2005). An analytic and strategic review paper for the knowledge network on urban settings, WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health. Retrieved on 5 September, 2012 from: http://www.who.int/social_determinants/resources/urban_settings.pdf World Health Organisation (2012). Obesity and overweight. Retrieved on 5 September, 2012 from: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs311/en/ Read More