Childhood Obesity Problem - Essay Example

National Health Issue: Childhood Obesity Part I: Research Report Definition Obesity is defined as excessive body fat (Alexander-Mott & Lumsden, 1994). Childhood obesity is defined as occurring when children are “well above the normal weight for his or her age and height” (Mayo Clinic, 2012). Scientists typically command a more technical definition of childhood obesity and prefer to rely on body mass index (BMI) to9 measure height and weight alignment against age (Must & Anderson, 2009). As a national health issue, childhood obesity is best defined as especially abnormal weight relative to a child’s age or height. Prevalence of Childhood Obesity Childhood obesity and overweight children are characterized as “epidemic in North America and internationaly” (Deckelbaum & Williams, 2001, p. 239). The number of children satisfying the definition of obesity has increased significantly. For example, information released from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that in the US the number of obese children between ages 6 and 19 increased from 4-5% in 1963-1970 to 15% in 1999-2000 (Korbonits, 2008). The CDC (2012) reports that 17% or 12.5 million children and adolescents in the US between the ages of 2 and 19 “are obese.” In addition, the numbers of obese children in the US have tripled since the 1980s. Childhood obesity differs according to ethnic and racial distinctions. For example, between 2007 and 2008, data suggested that Hispanic boys between the ages of 2 and 19 were far “more likely to be obese than non-Hispanic white boys” (CDC, 2012). The data from 2007-2008 also revealed that non-Hispanic black girls were far more “likely to be obese than non-Hispanic white girls” (CDC, 2012). The CDC (n.d.) reports that 1 out of every 3 children are either obese or overweight before attaining the age of 5. Moreover, approximately 3.7 million or 1/3 of children from low-income families between ages 2 and 4 were either overweight or obese (CDC, n.d.). Childhood obesity is therefore prevalent in the US. Causes of Childhood Obesity According to Korbonits (2008) only between 1 and 2 percent of obese children suffer obesity as a result of an inherited gene. Obesity in children for the most part is more frequently caused by a number of interacting factors that “increase food intake and decrease energy expenditure” (Korbonits, 2008, p. 88). According to Davies, Fitzgerald and Mousouli (2007) both the quality and availability of food has changed during the latter parts of the 1900s to the extent that both food and drinks are dense in energy, come in larger portions, marketing of food and drinks has intensified and more and more Americans eat away from the home. Urbanization has also contributed to the propensity for obesity as walking in cities has been characterized as too dangerous (Davies, et. al., 2007). People in general have become more sedentary and as a result there is far less physical activities (Davies, et. al., 2007). Eating and lifestyle patterns and choices are typically cultural in nature in that children often inherit these choices and patterns within their respective cultures. Thus cultural influences help to explain why Hispanic boys and black girls in the US are more likely to be obese (Sundquist & Winkleby, 2000). Feeding habits beginning in infancy is said to be linked to the development of childhood obesity (Harder, Bergmann, Kallischnigg & Plagemann, 2005). A lack of physical activity is also linked to childhood obesity. In fact, Kimm, Glynn, Obarzaneck and Kriska (2005) reports that individuals who are more active are more able to effectively control their weight by developing muscles and decreasing body fat. However, children today tend to reduce the level of physical activities by the time they start high school (Kimm et. al., 2005). Health Risk Factors Attributed to Obesity Roberts and Hoffman (2008) reported that childhood obesity is associated with academic underperformance, psychological and physical health problems including hyperlidemia which generally refers to high cholesterol levels. Moreover, childhood obesity increases the risk of adult obesity. In this regard, what may only appear to be short-term social and health problems in childhood can become long-term social and health problems (Roberts & Hoffman, 2008). Childhood obesity has double risks for children. Not only are obese children susceptible to the same health risks that obese adults face, but obese children also confront special health risks associated with the fact that children are still growing and developing (Daniels, 2006). Moreover, contrary to popular belief, obese children are also susceptible to heart attacks as obesity is generally associated with high blood pressure and hypertension, key contributors to heart attack (Daniels, 2006). Today children are increasingly experiencing high blood pressure and hypertension, both of which are associated with childhood obesity (Munthell, et.al., 2004). Children suffering from hypertension as a result of obesity are said to have the most serious form of “left ventricular hypertrophy” (Daniels, 2006, p. 50). Left ventricular hypertrophy is the most frequent side effect of obesity in children causing children to be more vulnerable to cardiovascular disease later on (Daniels, 2006). Obesity is also linked to atherosclerosis/hardening of the arteries which occurs when fat lines the arteries and turns into plaque which can usually result in cardiac arrest (Daniels, 2006). Although previously associated with adults who smoke or have high cholesterol, high blood pressure or diabetes, clinical studies have now confirms that atherosclerosis can effect obese children (Daniels, 2006). Heart attack and stroke are progressive health risks. The pathway to stroke and heart attack begins with obesity in children. Increasing rates of childhood obesity indicates that children are not suffering “the adverse effects of cardiovascular disease at a younger age than did previous generations” (Daniels, 2006, p. 51). There are other serious health risks associated with childhood obesity. For instance, Pillitteri (2009) reports that obese children are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Other health risks associated with childhood obesity are asthma and sleep apnea (Hanneline & Meeker, 2009). Obese children also suffer from respiratory difficulties to the extent that they are unable to participate in normal physical activities. This in turn leads to social problems in that other children are reluctant to include these children in social settings. Thus obese children often suffer from low self-esteem and feelings of alienation (Pillitteri, 2009). The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (2010) (OECD) observed that obese children are at an increased risk of suffering “poor health in adolescence and also in adulthood” (p. 64). Obese children, in addition to suffering physical health problems associated with obesity are at an increased risk of suffering social and psychological problems as a result of being obese or even overweight. Essentially, obese children generally suffer a poorer quality of life as a result of the physical and psychological problems associated with obesity (OECD, 2010). Current Attempts to Fight Childhood Obesity The US Department of Health and Human Services (2010) reports that its National Institutes of Health is conducting two large research efforts costing US$72.5 million aimed at countering the national childhood obesity problem. One research program investigates prevent and/or treat childhood obesity. This research is expected to last for at least 7 years. The other research is examining community efforts to reverse and prevent childhood obesity (US Department of Health and Human Services, 2010). With the exception of We Can, there is no national program aimed directly at preventing or reversing childhood obesity in the US. We Can is comprised of national and corporate partnerships and helps American families to form healthy eating and lifestyle habits (McClaskey, 2010). Individual schools have nutrition plans, but beyond that children remain free to choose relatively unhealthy meals. Obviously physical education in US schools is not mandatory throughout all stages of school (McClaskey, 2010). This is unfortunate, because the best way to change lifestyle and eating habits with a view to preventing or reversing childhood obesity is to focus on schools where children spend a great majority of their times (OECD, 2010). Obviously working with families can only be limited to increasing awareness of the health risks associated with childhood obesity and the habits than can be reinforced and formed at home to reverse or prevent childhood obesity. Part II Timeline: Report to Congress Research on childhood obesity reveals that not only is childhood obesity an epidemic in the US, but it is a serious national health problem. For the most part the causes of childhood obesity illustrate that childhood obesity can be prevented and reversed. The research informs that childhood obesity can be reversed and/or prevented by modifying lifestyles and eating/feeding habits. Since children form these eating and lifestyle habits in school and at home, I suggest a program aimed at targeting families and schools. Targeting Families There are a number of ways that families can be motivated to change lifestyles and eating/feeding habits to prevent or reverse activities. I recommend the following steps be taken in order of significance: 1. Public campaigns organized in the form of television and billboard advertisement drawing specific attention to childhood obesity should be conducted. These campaigns should warn of the health risks associated with childhood obesity. This step is premised on the assumption that many families are not aware of the short-term and long-term effects of childhood obesity. Leaflets and brochures warning of the dangers of childhood obesity should be made available at parks, community centers and all places where families or parents frequent. 2. Immediately after and contemporaneous to launching an awareness program, similar public campaigns should also list the steps that can be taken to educate families as to the lifestyle and eating changes that can be implemented to prevent or reverse obesity. By taking this approach, families are given an opportunity to digest both the health risks associated with childhood obesity and how they can fight childhood obesity and save the lives of their own children or improve the quality of their children’s lives. 3. A national nutritional and healthy lifestyle program for all US schools should be implemented alongside the public campaigns targeting families. The national nutritional and healthy lifestyle program should make healthy eating at school and a minimal amount of physical education mandatory in all schools in the US. For instance, energy dense drinks should never be available in schools. Likewise, desserts should consist of fruit and snacks should consist of fruit and vegetables rather than cake, candy or chips. Fries should never be an option for school meals. All meals should be healthy and nutritious. 4. The national curriculum should also include food/nutrition and healthy lifestyle education. 5. The national curriculum should be consistent with a learning and social environment that supports the lessons learned relative to healthy eating and lifestyles. For example, children should be given more homework and in-school assignments that require conducting activities, and fewer assignments that require they sit at their computers. 6. Once these programs targeting families and schools have been implemented and have been in practice for a period of time, the federal government should consider including childhood obesity under the child endangerment legislation. By taking this approach, parents and guardians who cannot be motivated by awareness to safeguard against the risk of childhood obesity, the prospects of facing criminal charges might act as a more effective reinforcement measure. 7. Since research informs that children from low income families are at greater risk of obesity, it might be worthwhile to limit the kind of food that can be purchased on food stamps. For example, junk food and unhealthy soft drinks should be removed from the permissible foods purchased by virtue of food stamps. Unit 5: Topic via discussion board: Childhood Obesity. Unit 6: Brief Outline via Discussion Board: Part I: Research Report Definition of Childhood Obesity. Causes of Childhood Obesity. Health risks Associated with Childhood Obesity. Current Efforts to Fight Childhood Obesity. Part II: Report to Progress: Ad/publicity programs targeting families to heighten awareness of the health risks associated with childhood obesity. Ad/publicity programs targeting families to educate families on the changes in eating and lifestyle habits that can prevent or reverse childhood obesity. Program implementing changes in US schools relative to the food and drinks available in schools. Program implementing mandatory minimum physical education in US schools. Program implementing mandatory nutrition and lifestyle education in US schools. Modifying food stamps so that junk food and unhealthy drinks cannot be purchased via food stamps. Including childhood obesity under the child endangerment laws. References Alexamder-Mott, L. and Lumsden, D. B. Understanding Eating Disorders: Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Obesity. Philadelphia, PA: Taylor & Francis, 1994. CDC. (2012). “Childhood Obesity Facts.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012. http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/childhood.html (Retrieved May 28th, 2012). CDC. (n.d.). “Factsheet: Obesity Among Low-Income Preschool Children.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/downloads/PedNSSFactSheet.pdf (Retrieved May 28th, 2012). Daniels, S. “The Consequences of Childhood Overweight and Obesity.” Childhood Obesity, Spring 2006, Vol. 16(1): 47-68. Davies, H.; Fitzgerald, H. and Mousouli, V. Obesity in Childhood and Adolescence: Understanding Development and Prevention. Greenwood Publishing Group, 2007. Deckelbaum, R. J. and Williams, C. L. “Childhood Obesity: The Health Issue.” Obesity Research, 2001, Vol. 9: 239-243. Haneline, M. and Meeker, W. Introduction to Public Health for Chiropractors. Jones and Bartlett Learning, 2009. Harder, T.; Bergmann, R.; Kallischnigg, G. and Plagemann, A. “Duration of Breastfeeding and Risk of Overweight: A Meta-Analysis.” American Journal of Epidemiology, 2005, Vol. 162: 397-403. Kimm, S.; Glynn, N.; Obarzaneck, E.; Kriska, A.; et. al. “Relation Between the Changes in Physical Activity and Body-Mass Index During Adolescence: A Multicentre Longitudinal Study.” The Lancet, 2005, Vol. 366 (9482): 301-307. Korbonits, M. Obesity and Metabolism. Basel, Switzerland: S. Karger AG, 2008. Mayo Clinic. “Childhood Obesity.” 2012. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/childhood-obesity/DS00698 (Retrieved May 28th, 2012). McClaskey, E. L. (2010). “A Childhood Obesity Program in Federally Qualified Community Health Centers.” Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved. 2010, Vol. 21: 774-779. Muntner, P.; He, J. and Cutler, J. et. al.“Trends in Blood Pressure Among Children and Adolescents.” JAMA 2004, Vol. 291: 2107-2113. Must, A. and Anderson, S. “Childhood Obesity: Definition, Classification and Assessment.” cited in P. Kopelman; I. Caterson and W. Dietz, (Eds). Clinical Obesity in Adults and Children, Malden, MA: Wiley Blackwell, 2009, Ch. 28. OECD. (2010) Health at a Glance: Europe 2010. OECD Publishing. Pillitteri, A. Maternal and Child Health Nursing. Wolters Kluwer Health, 2009. Roberts, S. and Hoffman, D. “Energy and Substrate Regulation in Obesity.” cited in C. Duggan; J. Watkins and W. Walker. (Eds) Nutrition in Pediatrics: Basic Science, Clinical Applications. PMPH-USA, 2008. Ch. 38. Sundquist, J. and Winkleby, M. “Country of Birth, Acculturation Status and Abdominal Obesity in a Naitonal Sample of Mexican-American Women and Men.” International Journal of Epidemiology, 2000, Vol. 29 (3): 470-477. US Department of Health and Human Services. (2010). “NIH-Funded Studies Aim to Prevent, Treat Childhood Obesity.” NIH News National Institutes of Health. September 9, 2010. http://www.nih.gov/news/health/sep2010/nhlbi-09.htm (Retrieved May 28th, 2012). Read More