Bio-Psychosocial Approach upon Childhood Obesity - Essay Example

Bio-Psychosocial Approach upon Childhood Obesity Name of Student Student Number Institution Course Code Name of Lecturer Date of Submission Introduction This essay critically looks into the childhood obesity influences using bio-psychosocial approach. In this regard, the aspect of childhood obesity will clearly evaluate the process of upbringing an infant with respect to breastfeeding and the eventual introduction of complimentary feeding at a later age after birth. The analysis will entail assessing the behaviours and traits of the mothers as they raise the child in his early days; this has influences on growth, development and the eventual health status. According to Taylor (2012), the approach views the health of an individual as being influenced and established by biological, psychological and social factors, with illness being a result of the interplay of these factors. Generally, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that five hundred million individuals globally are obese and 1.5 billion are overweight among them 43 million children under the age of five (WHO, 2011). Obesity refers to the excessive accumulation of fats and is related to serious health risks like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, various cancers, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, gall stones and various health issues (Marieb and Hoehn, 2010; Kopelman, 2006). Childhood obesity can be well illustrated with the evaluation of breastfeeding and the advantages associated with it; alongside the consequential weaning process and the right time to start the process. Weaning refers to the introduction of complimentary foods alongside breastfeeding to an infant when the breast milk alone is not sufficient to meet the nutritional requirements of the baby (Anderson et al., 2001). Subsequently, the growth and development of infants in their early lives calls for healthy feeding which breast milk, which has been proven to meet the nutritional standards necessary for growth and development of a human being. One notable trait of the breast milk is its ability to constantly change its composition and meet the changing needs of the newborn (Poskitt and Edmunds, 2008). It contains the exact combination of proteins, fats, mineral salts, vitamins sugars and enzymes necessary for the human baby at various stages of his growth and development. Consequently, the composition is known to offer the young baby protection from disease attack, while at the same time promoting the immune system. Exclusive breastfeeding of infants as directed by health practitioners would see the reduction of a myriad of diseases like respiratory infections, obesity, ear infections, eczema, digestive problems and gastroenteritis (Chantry, Howard and Auinger, 2006). Consequently, babies with proper breastfeeding are known to have 15-30% chance reduction of being overweight and a 4% decrease in the risk of getting obese for every month of breastfeeding till the age of nine months (WHO, 2011). This is clear that childhood obesity has direct correlation to maternal feeding habits of his early stages. Obesity can be termed as a chronic multifunctional disorder brought about by the combination of both genetic and environmental factors. According to Poskitt and Edmunds (2008), obesity refers to the accumulation of excess amounts of fats, while overweight refers to excess amount of body weight that may arise from muscles, bones and body waters. In respect to bio-psychosocial approach of childhood obesity, this refers to the biological aspect whereby introduction of early weaning leads to higher risk of gaining unhealthy weight. Timely weaning is usually associated with a lot of psychological and social factors. Psychological factors have to do with the attitudes, beliefs, knowledge and confidence among mothers in regard to breastfeeding and introducing complimentary feeding (Poskitt and Edmunds, 2008). Finally, the social factors have to do with demographic background where the baby is born and brought up, family members and friends. In the recent dispensation, it is clear than any time in the life of humanity that negative consequences in our health result from given personal behaviours. For example, an overweight individual must have heard that being overweight is tantamount to one’s health (Debell, 2007). Considering the bio-psychosocial model, it is clear to state that there exist a number of biological variables causing such behaviours like genetic variables, psychological variables like enduring stress and social variables like socioeconomic factor. Talking of the psychological aspect of the context of this essay, there is a field of psychology worth noting, health psychology. This model follows health psychology and examines both psychological and social factors promoting health, prevention and treatment of diseases as well as the assessment and change of health policies to favour our health care system (Taylor, 2012). Health psychology is one field of applied psychology that has interests in both embracing issues concerning health enhancement and prevention, as well as building up interventions so as to help mothers maintain and improve the health of their babies. This is a strategic measure towards mitigating the effects of unhealthy eating habits that bring about health problems. Social psychology makes its contribution in respect to related issues and focuses on the social influences from the bio-psychosocial model factors (Donatelle, 2008). Talking of social influences, this regards to the manner interaction with others can lead to change of an individual’s attitudes, values, beliefs and behaviours. Mothers’ interaction with others has a profound effect on their breastfeeding and weaning trends. This in respect to what information they share or believe in regarding the feeding of a new born; their belief of what and how to feed the infants goes a long way influencing the overall growth and development of the babies (Alder, et al., 2004). Failure to breastfeed due to psychological stress of the mother or claims of the not getting satisfied by mother’s milk are common habits that may see mothers introducing complimentary foods prior to the recommended age of six months. Further, even after exclusive breastfeeding of six months, the weaning process ought to be such that proper foods are introduced to ensure continued, healthy growth (Arden, 2010). With respect to childhood obesity affecting millions around the world, social psychology approach aims at establishing the social variables leading to obesity. This is mainly in relation to baby-led weaning and the consequent introduction of complementary feeding after some time after birth alongside breastfeeding (Rowan and Harris, 2012). By figuring out the social factors related to applied social psychology issues, programs necessary to deal with health promotion and prevention can be initiated (Poskitt and Edmunds 2008). For example, monitoring programs of infants to ensure baby growth and weight increase is consistent and up to the normal health parameters. The understanding the reason behind the occurrence of a given health problem is crucial in helping prevent and alleviating the same. The understanding of the reasons behind childhood obesity is critical and most important in the coming up with ways to stop and prevent the trend. Health promotion refers to any given effort whose aim is to encourage people to engage in healthy behaviours like having a diet that is healthy and capable of ensuring a healthy weight gain (Maxwell and Slater, 2003). This involves various levels and could possibly involve the effort of a given individual to acquire a healthy lifestyle. Obesity has been termed a major health problem in the industrialised countries, and is becoming a threat also to the developing nations (Wang and Lobstein, 2006). The significant increase in the cases of obesity can be traced to the changing lifestyles and eating habits (Kopelman 2006). The introduction of foods with high calorie processed foods that have been observed to contain saturated fats and cholesterol is dangerous to the health of a baby. Such foods lead to abnormal growth and development of the baby resulting to overweight or obesity at later stage. The infants being born in the 21st century has not been spared by the menace of obesity (Blair et al., 2010). The psychosocial behaviours observed among parents and the weaning timing employed has seen the increase and advancement of traits favouring obesity (Kopelman, 2006). Advice on baby feeding has been misused significantly, with many parents disregarding the health experts’ opinion of the best time for weaning, what quantity to wean and how to go about it (Brown and Lee, 2011). The World Health Organization extended it guideline of infant feeding in 2002 from four to six months (World Health Organization, 2011). In context, this means that the recommended time for initiating supplementary food to infants currently stands at six months. Childhood obesity has its roots to feeding behaviours by mothers after the birth of the baby. Failure to follow the guidelines by health practitioners as directed by World Health Organization (WHO); of breastfeeding up to six months then introduces complimentary feeding alongside breastfeeding to the age of two years or even beyond (World Health Organization, 2006). Baby-led weaning can be termed as a critical process that calls for apt consideration and strict dietary following to ensure the baby gets the necessary nutrients for growth development. Introducing complimentary foods to an infant in the first six months leads to distortion of crucial steps in normal healthy growth (Rowan and Harris, 2012). In the early stages of an infant, the development and release of growth hormones is underway and any distortion towards excessive secretion of the same means elaborate and/or growth even in later life. This results from the initial development of the infants’ disparities in food consumption, feeding patterns and regulation, mechanisms and feeding styles of the mother. According to World Health Organization (WHO, 2011), breastfeeding is a unique way whereby an infant is fed with ideal food necessary for the healthy growth and development of newborns. It can also be termed as an integral part of the process of reproduction having crucial implications for the health of the mothers. Six months of exclusive breastfeeding has been shown with evidence review in respect to population basis as the optimal way of feeding newborns (Poskitt and Edmunds, 2008). Breast milk is known to protect babies from obesity as well as enhancing their health and immunity. From there, the infants ought to be fed with complimentary foods coupled with breastfeeding for an age of up to two years or beyond (World Health Organization, 2011). Studies have indicated that Baby-Led Weaning (BLW) may enhance the eating patterns and lead to a healthier body weight, though the associations cannot be clearly termed as causal. The UK Department of Health recommendation for breastfeeding is exclusive six months of the first months of life (Arden, 2010; Baker et al., 2011). The introduction of foods and/or drinks by mothers to newborns in the first six months is discouraged, and the infant should be fed exclusively on breasts milk till the age of around 26 weeks or six months. The healthy composition of breast milk is highly recommended to help the infant acquire immunity; promote healthy development of bones, amongst other physiological benefits (Tarini et al., 2006). Breast milk is a whole food that is worth and critical for baby feeding as it enhances the health of the infants. The process of breasts feeding is recommended to be continued alongside complimentary foods up to the second year in life of the baby and beyond (Kramer and Kakuma, 2002). Mothers having difficulties to follow the recommendations ought to be offered critical support. According to Poskitt and Edmunds (2008) improper breast feeding by mothers would result to overweight and obesity at later stages in life. Further, it is recommended for breastfeeding mothers to eat healthy and balanced diets to ensure effective production of a high quality balanced breast milk. Sociological factors affecting eating behaviours are evident even upon children past the age of weaning. Growing children’s behaviours and trends in life are influenced by relatives, friends and school environment in regards to majority of their behaviours and eating habits (Arvedson and Brodsky, 2002). Looking at family based interventions, as well as school based interventions ought to be crucial in directing and modifying health behaviours that relate to healthy eating habits. Family interventions can be considered as crucial successful ways to promote modifications of eating habits due to the commitment attached to the relatives of the infants and children (Taylor, 2012). The family members are committed towards ensuring normal eating habits and offering support to ensure success of realizing proper eating and healthy behaviours. Social learning theory states that people acquire behaviours through the observation and imitation of others (Blair et al., 2010). It is therefore crucial for parents to embrace and practice healthy eating habits of which their children will eventually embrace. There is also need for extra consideration to be placed on the model of window of vulnerability that states the influences parents have in regard to health related issues which are critical in the entire life of a child (Faith et al., 2004). One critical stage in the adolescent stage, vulnerability of young people is high to social influences which may result to various health behaviours and beliefs (Donatelle, 2008). This can be achieved through consistent and guided parenting style that promotes healthy eating habits and behaviours that are crucial so as to safeguard the continuity of healthy behaviours in the years to come. The consistent awareness of healthy eating behaviours ought to be promoted even in the educational curriculum. Educational programmes targeting these issues of overweight, obesity and healthy behaviours to curb the vice are critical for consideration (Taylor, 2012). This also calls for the effective utilization of physical practices in education curricula as well as promoting co-curricular activities in the institutions of learning (Caraher, Crawley and Lloyd, 2009). Consequently, classes that relate to nutrition and health promotion, with the inclusion of extra preferences for engaging in sports that could result to more life benefits by enhancing proper and effective health behaviours ought to introduced. With regard to children in the category of overweight and obese, there is need to secondary and tertiary prevention to rehabilitate their lives. The introduction of apposite programs ought to be initiated to help individuals in the category of overweight and obese (Kopelman, 2006). This is in line towards recovery and achievement of a healthy weight. The programs ought to focus on the enhancement and motivation towards change, initiate sufficient information on how to go about this, in the long run provision of social support. The United Kingdom has been at the forefront to ensure it comes up with strategies and policies favouring the public health nutrition and bring change. In England, choosing a better diet was introduced in 2005 and food matters in 2008. In Scotland, 1996 saw the Scottish diet plan introduced; healthy eating active living plan in 2008 and recipe for success- Scotland’s national food and drink policy (Caraher, Crawley and Lloyd, 2009). In 2003, Wales forwarded food and well being policy and quality of food inn2008. Northern Ireland introduced a food and nutrition strategy of Northern Ireland and eventually the fit futures of 2006. World Health Organization describes obesity as a ‘global epidemic’ due to its increased prevalence in the European region and the world as a whole. Cases of obesity have been on the rise among youngsters particularly adolescents and are termed a major public health concern (WHO, 2011). Obesity brings about long term negative consequences to the health of children and adolescents. Childhood obesity is known to enhance diabetes type II; this has been on the rise among children (WHO, 2006). The increase of type II diabetes cases among children has been worrying and has prompted health practitioners to caution mothers against improper eating behaviours. This calls for preventive measures to counter the effects associated with the lifestyle diseases associated with overweight and obesity (Donatelle, 2008). It is crucial to state that one critical long-term consequence among obese children is its progression to adulthood. The effects will be long-term morbidity and mortality, specifically in the development of chronic illness like cancer, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes type II (WHO, 2006). Obesity among children cannot be termed as ill in the usual sense; rather it is a disparity in the health of the child that calls for management measures within health services (Poskitt and Edmunds, 2008). Childhood obesity calls for critical measures to counter it before progression of diseases associated with increased weight like diabetes type II and hypertension. According to Poskitt and Edmunds (2008), more numbers of children are being identified as having co-morbidities of obesity. The latent consequential medical occurrences of uncontrolled obesity in the case of prevalence in the West today are enormous. This calls upon those involved with looking into the health of children to make sure that there are facilities for children with such conditions and of which are appropriate, as well as effective (Arvedson, and Brodsky, 2002). This calls for enhanced paediatric section in health facilities equipped with necessary capacities to look into cases of childhood obesity and overweight. Nevertheless, there exists no substantive evidence as to suggest that a given facility for children with obesity is superior to another one. There only exist various undertakings to look into prevention of obesity and control for the already obese children (Blair et al., 2010). The measures all target enhancing and improving on health behaviours among children and their caretakers or guardians. A number of factors leading to gaining more weight than normal or being obese arise, and the factors can well be well understood by use of the bio-psychosocial model. One factor prevalent is the biological factor which constitutes genetic susceptibility; enhanced adipose cells which are formed in the course of child growth and development, hormonal imbalance like thyroixine, among others (Marieb and Hoehn, 2010). Consequently, psychological factors have been termed to cause obesity, and these consist of depression and stress. Breastfeeding mothers in vulnerable conditions like stressing and depressing circumstances would not have the capacity to cater or feed the baby appropriately. Some are known to overeat under stress or else eat sweet foods or those with high fat contents (Taylor, 2012). These behaviours tamper with proper healthy practices or eating habits and may cause negative effects among obese prone adolescents. Further, the psychological problems associated with children as well as parents influences eating habits by the individual not being keen on the eating habits (Debell, 2007). This ends up making the individuals resolve to non-proper eating habits tantamount to their health. The same case upon the breast feeding mothers; they are supposed to eat healthy foods prior and upon delivery to ensure sufficient and balanced supply of nutrients to the unborn baby in the womb, and eventual the new born during breastfeeding (Wang and Lobstein, 2006). Stress and depression have been shown to affect the eating habit of an individual and thus meaning a stressed or depressed mother will have unhealthy eating habits affecting the nutrients fed to the infant. The last factor regards to the social factor which is a main focus of social psychology. In regards to obesity, there are many social variables that contribute to one being overweight and obese (Taylor, 2012). Fast foods and high calorie pre-packed foods have become a norm of the lives of many in the 21st century. The media can be termed to influence the level of taking the fast foods with extensive adverts encouraging the consumption of the foods through the use of persuasive messages which can shape behaviours and attitudes (Tarini et al., 2006). This has affected infants in respect to mothers introducing such foods to the babies and bringing about unhealthy eating norms. Another aspect regards the content of caloric intake from the foods which enhances unhealthy body growth. The factor bringing about consumption of foods with high caloric value could be driven by the fact that processed and pre-packed fast foods are cheaper unlike fresh foods (Maxwell and Slater, 2003). Further, social factors can constitute the effects brought up by family and friends interaction causing unhealthy eating habits. As discussed by this essay, the better understanding of biological and social factors related to obesity would help initiate programs focusing on health promotion as well as prevention. The programs could target the enhancement of awareness among mothers on ways and means to permeate and maintain healthy eating, healthy weight, as well as helping the children grow in proper health practices. These in the long run could be beneficial to the overall reduction of obesity rates among young children and adolescents. With certainty, it is clear to note that biological factors are pertinent and crucial in regard to the aspect of obesity. Nevertheless, social factors have a crucial task as well and suitably developed programs aimed at social influences would end up enhancing the help towards the reduction of the cases of obesity and improve behaviour aimed at promoting health. It is evident that infants fed with formula supplements are more vulnerable to gaining weight rapidly unlike breastfed ones (Caraher, Crawley and Lloyd, 2009). This calls for inclusive measures to ensure that breastfeeding is championed for six exclusive months. Mothers are also to be advised to continue with breastfeeding alongside complimentary feeding after six months and can go up to two years of age or even beyond (Brown and Lee, 2011). With proper and effective breastfeeding, followed by effective and timely weaning, there is the realisation of enhanced later satiety responsiveness. This would see the reduction of childhood obesity cases and eventually reduce the cases of lifestyle diseases among children. Reference List Alder, E., Williams, F., Anderson, A., Forsyth, S., Florey, C. and Van der Velde, P. (2004). What Influences the timing of the Introduction of Solid Food to Infants. British Journal of nutrition, 92:527-531. 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