Childhood Obesity - Contemporary Issues - Annotated Bibliography Example

 Cameron, Noël, N. G. Norgan, and G. T. H. Ellison. 2006.Childhood obesity: contemporary issues. Boca Raton, FL: Taylor & Francis. In this study, Cameron et al. analyze the issues surrounding obesity which is posing as a threat to the future health and well being of people (more specifically of children). The authors discuss the biological and social issues that are connected to the aetiology of childhood obesity. The authors described the determinants that are leading t childhood obesity and discussed the factors resulting in the prevalence of this problem. Finally, the authors provide literature reviews on the possible prevention and treatment of childhood obesity. This study is useful in the research area of childhood obesity as it describes the various issues that are promoting obesity among children. This research paper also provides way to further research by giving an account of the limitations in the field. This paper by Cameron et al., is a perfect research in the area and does not lack in identifying the key issues. This study is of immense importance for researchers who want to get full grasp on obesity related issues on children. Lobstein, T., and S. Dibb. 2005. "Evidence of a possible link between obesogenic food advertising and child overweight". Obesity Reviews. 6 (3): 203-208. In this study, Lobstein and Dibb focus their attention on analyzing the effects of food advertisement on childhood obesity. This study provides much information on the nature of advertisements and measures the associated relationship between advertisement and obesity trends. The author concludes that the advertisements, indeed, have an impact on the obesogenic food consumption but denies the notion that it is the sole cause of childhood obesity. The study is particularly useful in understanding the trends and effects of food advertisements on eating and dietary habits of children. The study uses data from various countries and provides a useful analysis in this regard. The major weakness of this study is that it uses approximate figures for all countries, whereas, one country may have different levels of exposure than the others. Hence, the number of unhealthy food commercials watched by children may vary from one country to the other which is not considered in the original study. Regardless of this weakness, this article provides a good understanding f the relationship between unhealthy food consumption and advertisements. Hancox B. 2006. “Growing ‘Couch Potatoes’: Television, Computers and Childhood Obesity: A response to Gard (2004)” Children Issues: Journal of the Children's Issues Centre, Vol. 9, No. 1, 2005: 32-36 In this study, Hancox denies the claims of studies that show a weak relationship between obesity epidemic and electronic media. In this study, the author does not only discuss the effects of television but also incorporates studies on video games, computers, DVD players etc. The author proves his claim using existing literature and concludes that electronic media is harming the physical activeness and social interactions of children. The information provided in this article is of paramount importance to give clear background information of the relationship between obesity and electronic media. The research is useful to start a debate on the role that electronic media is playing in the prevalent obesity epidemic. In conclusion, if not complete, this study is still a good source of information to begin a research and provides different ways to view this issue. This article provides the background of the problem and end up opening questions about the future of children who are spending a greater part of their day watching TV or using some other kind of electronic media. Arterburn D. E., 2006. “Obesity in children.” BMJ Clinical Evidence 05:325. http://clinicalevidence.bmj.com/ (last accessed 24 August 2010) In this study, Arterburn reviewed a number of studies and articles to analyze the effectiveness of interventions against obesity in children. The article summarizes main points from different studies and includes statistical data to prove its claims. This article provides ample research material by summarizing the research papers which are relevant. This study provides useful information on the effects of obesity and children’s health. However, it fails to distribute equal space to discuss each intervention and its effects. The study is useful in understanding the efficiency of interventions like behavioural interventions, diet, multifactorial interventions, and physical activity, which are of particular importance when researching the cures for obesity. The study provides valid sources to prove the claims, hence may be appreciated for its reliability. We can say that, even if it does not incorporate the matter in detail, it does provide an overview of the interventions and their relative importance in the fight against childhood obesity. Whitaker, R C, J A Wright, M S Pepe, K D Seidel, and W H Dietz. 1997. "Predicting Obesity in Young Adulthood from Childhood and Parental Obesity". The New England Journal of Medicine. 337 (13): 869. In this study, Whitaker et al. focus on the issues that lead to young adulthood obesity. The two main areas of concern, in this research paper, are childhood obesity and parental obesity. The study achieves its claim that adult obesity is related to childhood and parental obesity. This study is useful for the researchers as it provides theoretical justifications as well as statistical data. The study is important for the childhood obesity research as it provides account of the long lasting effects of childhood. Hence, it opens a new research area, that is, to measure the degree of obesity prevalence among people who are obese for one reason or the other. The study is concise as compared to the topics discussed. It requires more evidences to produce reliable results either by taking a greater number of samples from different backgrounds or by analyzing the biological reasons behind increased weight. This study, still, carries an important position in obesity research as it contains very useful information on parental obesity and its consequences on children’s obesity prevalence. Wang Y, and T Lobstein. 2006. "Worldwide trends in childhood overweight and obesity". International Journal of Pediatric Obesity : IJPO : an Official Journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity. 1 (1): 11-25. In this study, Wang and Lobstein provided the trends of obesity in different countries. Authors used relevant reliable material to address the obesity issue in detail. The authors have drawn up a conclusion, based on these increasing trends of obesity, that obesity is a growing epidemic in children and it requires proper steps to be managed. The paper contains data on prevalence of overweight up to 18 years in people from different countries. The paper includes information on industrialized countries and obesity issues and compares this data with lower income countries’ obesity prevalence data. This article is useful as it provides a new way of analyzing obesity prevalence, that is, due to the income levels of people. This article is an excellent source of information for obesity related statistics country wise. This study is also important for the understanding of the relationship between income levels and obesity issue. Hence, this paper helps greatly in broadening the research scope and incorporating a distinct concept related to obesity prevalence. Read More