Overweight in Children and Adolescents - Essay Example

? Journal Article Critiques Journal Article Critiques A study conducted by Guillaume (1999) sought to establish the common grounds associated with the definition of childhood obesity. The study considered various factors that are usually brought within the umbrella of defining childhood obesity. The study involved a survey from 26 countries. Specific information relating to the methods used, the reference materials, and the specific cut-off points were used by the study to establish common linkages in the definition of childhood obesity. The study established that there was significantly high reliance on national surveys and standardized information in the definition of childhood obesity. The study also established that the concepts between childhood obesity varied significantly from one region to another. There seems to be no consensus on the available body of knowledge on the subject of obesity and overweight in children. The study also acknowledges the difficulties involved in reaching an international consensus regarding the terms to be used in the definition of obesity and overweight among children. According to the study, some general terms have been used in the definition although there seems to specific differences even within the common terms. The study cites the example of Body Mass Index (BMI), which is a standard measure of determining obesity. According to the study, this BMI determines the manner in which a particular study explores the levels of obesity within a particular context. The cit-off point in the BMI has often varied from the percentile points of 85th and 97th. The results from this study illustrate clearly the levels of conflict associated with the definition of obesity in children. However, the study seems to develop some points of general consensus between the various issues that tie on the matter of childhood obesity in children. For instance, issues related to the effects of obesity and the risk factors of the problem seem to acquire some form of universal endorsement. In general terms, however, the study situates the definition of obesity within the challenges that relate to weight and the attendant impact on the state of health of the growing children. One notable weakness of the article is that it seems to anchor its assumptions on some of the already known effects of obesity in terms of how it affects the development of children matters. This may not add new knowledge to the nurse practitioner since the common definitions have been overly exhausted by the research arena. Variations in perceptions seem to attach to the specific aspects as included within the general factors of the definition. However, the broad definitions of obesity, according to the terms of this study, coalesce around some common points. Notably, this study comes out strongly by bringing into perspective some of the problematic issues that are related to the definition of obesity in children. It also makes the point about the need for increased research into the manifestation of obesity in children. This point is drawn from a general concern that the traditional definition of obesity has tended to curve out certain demographic factors while ignoring others. For instance, the term obesity has traditionally been associated with certain age brackets, and people of some specific socio-economic statuses. On this score, this study challenges some of these assumptions by providing or suggesting an expansion on the frame of reference within which alternative and more comprehensive definitions of childhood obesity could be understood. Therefore, the article becomes an important mind opener and prepares the nurse practitioner for further research into the area of concern. The study conducted by Kumar (2012) sought to explore the prevalence, manifestation, interventions, and common challenges associated with obesity in children. The study identifies childhood obesity as a crisis of public health around the world. The study observes that the prevalence of childhood obesity has been on the rise in the recent past. According to this study, the primary cause of childhood obesity is the imbalances in the intake and utilization of calories. Further, this study splits the causes of obesity into three broad categories of environmental, genetic, and behavioural. This study also explores the various consequences of obesity in children. These consequences are split into social health physical and psychological. Basically, this study sought to explore the causes, effects, and the intervention strategies that have been used or are being used to combat the challenge of obesity in children. This study enlisted various online resources and databases to build the kind of literature that attended to the subject of obesity in children. Community based, hospital-based, and family-based interventions have been explored in this study for the purpose of determining the scope of the challenge. This study established that financial challenges and socio-cultural issues such as stigmatization are some of the dominant challenges of the problem of obesity. The study explores the role of the government in controlling, managing, preventing, and treating childhood obesity. The government involvement is usually considered from the policy point of view. Education and proper diet are some of other interventionist strategies that are explored in this study. Matters of lifestyle such as enhancing the environment to increase children’s physical activities are equally explored. The study established that only 16% of past and recent studies on obesity in many parts of the world focussed on children. The study also established that early childhood and adolescence were the major ages that informed the interest of past researchers. A customized quality assessment instrument showed that the quality of the studies were generally high but required some incorporation of revised methodological approaches in order to achieve the modern thresholds of quality. There is also need for the future studies to focus more on the manifestation of the challenge of diabetes and overweight among children. Direct measures of adiposity in children, selection measures among them and other issues that relate to the challenges of the problem could be explored for the purposes of exploring the relationship that exists and the scenarios for the future with regard to the challenge of obesity. It would also help to incorporate studies in some of the most appropriate intervention strategies in regions that seem to be out of the normal trajectory of studies on obesity and overweight among children. The study also recommended the need to examine the risk factors of obesity and overweight in children in the vulnerable regions. This particular aspect of research could involve a comparative study between the circumpolar regions and other parts that form the mainstream of current studies. Notable strength of the study is the incorporation of multiple strategies to examine the existing trends and variations in the study of obesity across various geographical regions. This study was generally resourceful in the context of expanding the understanding of the challenge of obesity across various places of the globe. An analytical study by Daniels, et al seeks an in depth understanding of the risk factors associated with obesity among children. There are various extreme health risks such as type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, and dyslipidaemia. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is undoubtedly becoming a major cause of mortality worldwide. CVD is a reflective result of unmonitored gain in body weight and limited attempts at attaining corrective balance. As discussed by Daniels, et al, obesity results from “pathological derangement in the feedback between energy intake and expenditure” (2005, p.1). Arguably, many definitions of childhood obesity are based on the ideology of BMI. As much BMI is very relevant in seeking to understand the cause of obesity, it is an imperfect approximation of excess adiposity, which results from an excessive number and even size of white adipose cells. The relationship between adiposity and obesity, aside from being a result of genetics and partly the environment also closely relates with chromosome variation and carbohydrate intake. This study further identifies intrauterine influences as an important factor for analysis. There is an undeviating connection between weight at birth and BMI attained later in life. Daniels, et al discuss that pathological repercussions of unrestrained increase in fat deposits in children involves a number of organ systems. Because of this gain in body weight, there is disproportionate production of insulin, which has been associated with increase in blood pressure and dyslipidaemia. There is relatively limited statistical information about the effects of obesity in children, but largely the detrimental effects of overweight among children are similar to those among adults. The risk of CVD among children and the youth is greatly dependent on metabolic syndrome. The research exhaustively zeros in on countering the effects of metabolic syndrome. Treatment of obesity in children is arguably the most dependable way by which obesity in adults can be addressed. Both population and individual oriented approaches are applicable. With better dietary administration and involvement in physical activities, obesity among children can be successfully counteracted. It is important to understand the long-term implications of the change in diet especially for children. It is important to put in consideration factors such as the severity of obesity and risk factor assessment. This will help in determining over what periods obesity especially among children can be successfully treated, which is overwhelmingly important for nursing practitioners. Weight management among especially children will largely depend on age and the rate at which they are gaining weight. However, the study fails to consider that individual children in speciality is a major point of consideration since statistical studies have shown that response to procedural approaches or even prescription remedies can vary among individuals. The study is strong in that it shows in detail the causes of obesity in children and even adults. The study also analyses in relative detail the similarities between the causes of obesity in children and in adults, with explanations on effects of obesity and ways by which to treat obesity in children. The research is exhaustive in terms of its structure and ease of navigation. References .Daniels, S., Arnett, D., Eckel, R., Gidding, S., Hayman, L., Kumanyika, S., Robinson, T., Scott, B., Jeor, S. & Williams, C. (2005). Overweight in Children and Adolescents. Pathophysiology, Consequences, Prevention, and Treatment. American Health Association, 111, 1999-2012 Guillaume, M. (1999). Defining Obesity in Childhood: Current Practice. American Journal for Clinical Nutrition. 70 (1), 1265-1305. Kumar, A. (2012). Factors Associated With Obesity in Children. International Journal of Human Sciences, 9 (2), 805-814. Read More