Who Is to Blame for Child Obesity in the United States - Essay Example

Who is to blame for child obesity in the United s. School: Class: Professor: Abstract: The lifestyle of a child is largely influenced by family behavior and social circle. Disordered eating behavior and sedentary lifestyle are major causes of childhood obesity. The family setting is the most influential cause of childhood obesity in the United States. The family of a child plays a fundamental role in the development of eating pattern and physical activity of a child. If various amendments can be brought in the family setting, the US residents can combat against morbidity and mortality posed by childhood obesity. Who is to blame for child obesity in the United States. 22 million children are overweight worldwide. In the United States, cases of childhood obesity have doubled during the past few years and this is an alarming condition due to the morbidity and mortality related consequences of childhood obesity. It is due to obesity that diabetes type 2 is now a major type of diabetes, diagnosed in children. Childhood obesity is an independent risk factor for premature cardiovascular diseases like atherosclerosis, dyslipidemia, and elevated blood pressure (Deckelbaum & Williams, 2001). Childhood itself is a critical age group in which appropriate eating habits, if developed, can prevent co-morbids in adult life so attention should be paid to reduce childhood obesity. Eating behavior and social environment of children determine their health and hence are major contributors in childhood obesity. Eating behavior of a child is largely influenced by the eating habits of a family, culture of the state, sensory inputs and genetic predispositions (Gibson et al 2012). Development of childhood obesity can be stopped through psychological interventions that includes family training and dealing with the child through the psychological aspects of overeating. Through psychology, positive changes can be implanted in eating behavior of a child so that early morbidity and mortality can be arrested. Moreover, childhood obesity poses serious psychological issues to a suffering child, so these can be dealt if one is aware about psychology and its relation to childhood obesity. Inappropriate eating habits, sedentary lifestyle of children, inadequate health education, and lack of awareness about balanced diet among parents, are all major contributors in the development of childhood obesity but, the family setting is the most influential cause of childhood obesity. Over consumption of nutrients by the mother during prenatal life of a child contributes to childhood obesity, the reason being the development of excess adipocytes in the body of a baby; Long life is the unique character of adipocytes; adipocytes never die, they got shrink in response to weight reducing measures. Birth weight is significantly associated with childhood obesity (Ebbeling , Pawlak & Ludwig, 2002). The dietary habit of a child in his or her post natal life starts with milk. Breast feeding is always superior to formula milk feed. Beside its nutritious value, breast milk is known to develop increased acceptance of milk by the child and determines preference for the food in later stages of life (Ebbeling et al., 2002). One of the leading causes of childhood obesity in the United States is formula milk feeding for infants. Family environment plays a major role in the development of energy consumption and expenditure pattern of a child. The eating habits of a child are majorly influenced in early post-weaning phase of life. Exposure of different foods in the immediate post- weaning phase develops child’s taste for the food and child is attracted psychologically more towards the available food in his or her surroundings. Hence it is better for parents to offer healthy and nutritious foods to a child. Food acceptance by the child is dependent upon the patterns of eating in a family. Psychologically, a child is neophobic but a child comes to like and eat something which he has not consumed before if it is presented again and again. Hence liking and eating of a child depends upon the type of food available in the surroundings ( Birch & Fisher, 1998). Observation of children related to the eating pattern in their social circle also determines their eating behavior. If the families are more attracted towards fast food chains and consume large amount of fats and carbohydrates, it is likely that the developing child would crave for the same behavior. The developing child learns the same and after some time the child behaves in a manner so as to refuse eating vegetables and fresh fruits. Trend of over consumption of fats, soft drinks, and carbohydrate has endangered the health of children. Due to busy life schedule in the US and many other developed countries, a family rarely gathers at lunch and dinner table and so parents are unable to keep a check and balance of the child’s food intake. This further leads to the inability of a child to develop a sense of balanced diet and healthy eating. Sedentary lifestyle is a well known cause of adult as well as child obesity. Lack of outdoor games, depending on machines for daily work, busy schedules and lack of interest in body exercise, all have promoted the trend of low expenditure of energy. Television watching and media time are found significantly associated with childhood obesity. It not only abandons the child from physical activity but, also promotes overeating (Ebbeling et al., 2002). Children are more attracted towards high energy diet as they believe that it satisfies their appetite well in comparison to energy diluted diet (Birch & Fisher, 1998). A list of co-morbids are linked with obese children. Obesity in children ultimately leads to low self-esteem, depression, loneliness and sometimes aggressive behavior ( Ebbleing et all., 2002). Anxiety and depression in obese children gives rise to bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa that creates more of a problem for the child. Under the psycho-social effect of obesity, the child is unable to perform well in academics and this may become a very serious cause of failure in his or her career. Raised blood low density lipoprotein level, increased blood coagulation, and endothelial dysfunction predispose obese individuals to premature coronary artery disease (Ebbling et al., 2002) Deckelbaum and Williams reported significant relation between obesity and hepatic steatosis. They also found obesity as a culprit of various orthopedic issues and endocrinological disorders. “Insulin resistance syndrome” is alarmingly on the rise due to extra fat in the body (2001). In order to prevent children from premature death due to obesity, heroic measures should be taken to prevent childhood obesity. Prevention and treatment of childhood obesity demand change in family lifestyle especially in the eating behavior so the child will adopt a healthy lifestyle. Breast milk should be encouraged as a diet for neonates and infants. Weaning should be started with the stress on vegetable and fruits. Moderate quantities of fat and carbohydrate can be incorporated in a child’s diet. Children are usually reluctant to try new foods and hence they should be encouraged to try new foods. Gibson et al found in their study that this attitude makes children try new and healthy food (2012). The child learns everything from its surroundings and so eating habits of all family members matter for the development of a child’s intake habits. Access to fast foods should be limited and healthy balanced diet should be encouraged on lunch and dinner tables. This not only cures the child’s obesity issues but will be beneficial to all family members. Behavior can be incorporated in one’s personality through rewards. Every time the child takes a healthy meal, rewards can be paid to him or her. Reward eating will be appealing for a child and this will bring positive change in the child’s eating behavior( Gibson et al., 2012). Seminars and public awareness campaigns should be designed to promote knowledge regarding balanced diet and its importance in children should be signified. If self monitoring is employed and children are made to learn how to self monitor themselves it will bring a positive long term and stable change in their health. The most important factor to combat childhood obesity is the promotion of physical activity. Outdoor games, running and morning walks can change the picture of the current situation of childhood obesity. This regimen is effectively followed only if the whole family is involved. Bicycle riding is recognized as an important way to stay healthy. Bicycle ride should be encouraged in society. For those suffering from childhood obesity, cognitive behavioral treatment and weight reducing measurements are highly beneficial. Now here is a need to recognize childhood obesity as a major threat to a child’s health and eating habits of young children can be efficiently modified through modification in life style of families and society. Through positive amendments in social eating habits and lifestyles of families, children will be psychologically more attracted towards balanced diet and anti-obesity behavior. References: Deckelbaum, R. J., & Williams C. L. (2001). Childhood obesity: The health issue. Obesity Research, 9(4), 239-243. Gibson, E. L., Kreichauf, S., Wildgruber, A., Vögele, C., Summerbell,C. D., Nixon, C., Moore, H., Douthwaite, W., Manios, Y., &Toy Box-Study Group. (2012). A narrative review of psychological and educational strategies applied to young childrens eating behaviors aimed at reducing obesity risk. Obesity Reviews, 13, 85- 95. Ebbeling, C. B., Pawlak, D.B., & Ludwig, D.S. (2002). Childhood obesity: Public-health crisis, common sense cure. Lancet, 360, 473-82. Birch, L. L., & Fisher, J. O. (1998). Development of Eating Behaviors Among Children and Adolescents. Pediatrics, 101, 539-546. Read More