Increasing Levels of Childhood Obesity - Term Paper Example

Increasing levels of childhood obesity, accompanied by increasing levels of incipient Type diabetes, are for many a cause for concern. Is this solely the responsibility of parents, or does the government has a role to play in response? If so, what? Obesity among children is not alone causing worrying the states but being accompanied by increasing levels of incipient Type 1 diabetes, it is a growing concern among many. The point of argument here is whether the control measures are the sole responsibility of parents or the government has a role to play in response. My argument is is in favour of the role of government in response to this issue. Obesity refers to unwanted extra body weight than the calculated body weight for a healthy person. It is calculated on the basis of the BMI (Body Mass Index) by calculating the height to weight ratio defined for all age groups. The reason behind the growing obesity rate is the unhealthy living habits among the Americans. The fast food culture and involvement of the children less in physical activities in the present digital age is the reason responsible for the spread of this epidemic. The seriousness of the matter is that it is not just the obesity problem that is raising concerns, but obesity being the root cause of many other diseases is making the conditions worse. Type 1 diabetes, cholesterol, high blood pressure and heart related diseases come as extra package with the Obesity. The concern in this regard is not of the parents alone, but that of the government too, to ensure healthy living habits and prevent popularity of unhealthy fast food intake among the citizens. Overweight and obesity, offer invitation to more diseases and Type 1 diabetes is one of them. Type 1, diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults and earlier it was known as the juvenile diabetes (American Diabetes Association). Diabetes makes the body to produce less insulin-the hormone that converts the sugar, starch into energy required for daily life as a result energy supply to all body parts to function causes harm. It is true that the eating habit among the children is the result of the parental influence which shape their habits as youths. The choice of infant feeding methods, the type of food they are accessible to and how much time do they spend unsupervised eating out. Sometimes, parents’ themselves show negligence and are not concerned regarding the eating habits of their children. People have got so busy in their lives that for them, buying cheap fast food is much easier than cooking healthy and costly vegetables and grains saving time and money on the cost of their health. If both the parents are working, the family is more likely to cook less and depend on easy to cook fast food recipes or frequently going out for food .Under these circumstances, eating habits are bound to get spoiled among the children. The digital age, popularity of video games, television and computer have engrossed the kids’ attention to such an extent that they are less involved in physical activities and games. The working parents have no time to spend with the kids and sometimes involved in their own busy lives, they seldom monitor their kids’ activities. These circumstances clearly indicate that parents role in the health of the family is the major role. Control of most of these problems is in the hands of the parents themselves. But, the most important of all is the sense of awareness that the government can bring with little efforts and supervision of eating habits in the region. The physical environment and the surroundings are equally responsible for the eating trends in the area. Urban and suburban regions have less space for outdoor recreation , as a result kids don’t have space to indulge in outdoor games. Apart from this, street dogs, neighborhood crime, street traffic have forced children to spend most of their leisure time watching T.V or playing video games. It is estimated that children in America are spending 25 per cent of their waking time watching television and statistically, children spending more time on T.V are likely to be more obese. (The Community Guide, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services.). A recent examination of the Department of Education’s Early Childhood Longitudinal Survey (ECLS-K) found that a one-hour increase in physical education per week resulted in a 0.31 point drop (approximately 1.8%) in body mass index among overweight and at-risk first grade girls. This was all about the causes and culture leading to this problem. Now, apart from parental concern, this problem definitely requires government’s attention and it’s not that government has overlooked the issue. Last three decades the country has witnessed continuous rise in the spread of this epidemic. The state and communities are responding by taking measures to create environment that promotes healthy living and eating habits among the people. However, lack of supervision and proper implementation of various community health programs didn’t give expected results. Replacement of sugar drinks by drinking water can bring substantial decrease in extra calorie intake. State regulation on the advertising and promotion of junk food that attract kids can be highly beneficial for the society. From various sources of study we see that the cause of obesity in the U.S is complex and occurs at social, economic, environmental and individual levels. Policy and environmental approaches that make healthy choices available, affordable, and easy can be used to extend the reach of strategies designed to raise awareness and support people who would like to make healthy lifestyle changes. The Centre for Disease Control and prevention has introduced several programs for the control of obesity rates. CDCs Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity (DNPAO) ,is working to promote healthy nutrition habits and physical activity by various awareness program health surveys and interactive sessions. But, the need of the hour is successful implementation of these programs. Similarly CDCs State-Based Nutrition and Physical Activity Program to Prevent Obesity and Other Chronic Diseases (NPAO) currently funds 25 states to work with partners across multiple settings—such as child care facilities, workplaces (including hospitals), schools, and communities to implement public health programs. Their strategies includes Increase consumption of fruits and vegetables. Increase physical activity. Increase breastfeeding initiation, duration, and exclusivity. Decrease consumption of sugar drinks. Decrease consumption of high-energy-dense foods, which are high in calories (Halting the Epidemic by Making Health Easier At A Glance 2011, CDC). CDCs Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW) State and Territory Initiative is a 2-year cooperative agreement (2010–2012) helps the states and provides them assistance to carry out sustained policies and healthy environment. DNPAO provides program and evaluation assistance to 50 states and 8 U.S. territories to help them implement changes to the social and physical environments that make it easier for people to make healthy choices. DNPAO also provides technical assistance to the CPPW Communities Initiative, which gives direct funding support to selected communities. Apart from these, conducting surveillance and research, helps maintaining records and estimate the effects in the coming years. It also helps proper action according to the requirements in different regions of the state. Working together in partnerships with various NGO’S can also help since they both have common goals. The most important thing is to conduct workshops and awareness programs for the general public so that they are awakened from the negligence towards the harmful effects of unhealthy dietary and living habits. The community programs by the government are truly essential but its either true that awareness and action on the parts of the parents is the key to control this severe epidemic. Parental habits are responsible to a great extent causing increase in obesity rates among children. The policies of the government, and the parental influence can together bring the desired change, negligence on anyone’s part can cause great losses in the years to come. Its high time for action now towards a better tomorrow. At individual level parents’ do have their children’s responsibilities but government’s supervision will ensure implementation of various health programs to bring a noticeable change in the society. Works Cited Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Obesity-At a Glance, n.d., n.page, Web. The Community Guide, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, Web. Enns CW, Mickle SJ, Goldman JD. 2003. Trends in food and nutrient intakes by adolescents in the United States. Family Economics and Nutrition Review 15(2):15-27. IOM (Institute of Medicine). 2005. Preventing Childhood Obesity: Health in the Balance. Washington, DC: National Academy Press. Ewing R, Schmid T, Killingsworth R, Zlot A, Raudenbush S. Relationship Between Urban Sprawl and Physical Activity, Obesity, and Morbidity. The Science of Health Promotion. 2003 Sept/Oct, Vol 18, No 1. 47-57. Hastings, G., Stead, M., and McDermott, L. Review of Research on the Effects of Food Promotion to Children. Glasgow: University of Strathclyde Centre for Social Medicine., 2003. Downloaded from www.foodstandards.gov.uk/healtheireating/promotion/readreview Read More