Category: Childhood Obesity

Elementary school students today are diverse by race, culture, and background. The student population includes non-Hispanic white, black, Asian, Pacific Islander, Hispanic, and other races. They represent different linguistic, social, and cultural groups. However, there is a problem that unites all of them. It is childhood obesity, and it should be systematically addressed because it may cause other illnesses.

Overweight schoolchildren often suffer from chronic diseases and sleep disorders. Obesity negatively affects the psychological condition and leads to isolation or depression (Harb, 2012). This illness should not be associated with a specific race as it is a common issue. Although, racial oppression can cause psychological problems leading to overeating. Being overweight in elementary school is often the result of poor eating habits and a sedentary lifestyle, but it can also be caused by endocrine system diseases (Hutchinson & Calland, 2011; Le Grange & Lock, 2011). Scientists claim that early intervention may help to prevent the onset or alter the course of illness (Schmidt, Brown, McClelland, Glennon & Mountford., 2016, p. 374). It means that a systematic approach is required (Knightsmith, 2015). Schools should take the leadership role in educating students by applying certain policies and cooperating with parents. Sometimes the cause for illness is the lack of parental attention (Teens referred to hospital, 2015).

The mission of the school is to educate students, and it should teach how to lead a healthy lifestyle (Knightsmith, 2015). Nutrition lessons should go hand in hand with promoting an active way of life in and out of school. Healthy school food would provoke healthier eating habits. At this point, ethical dilemmas arise. At the age of four to eleven, children are vulnerable, so schools should address the obesity issue correctly. For instance, they can provide anonymous apprehensible information on

BMI (body mass index). Thus keeping children informed and maintaining their psychological condition stable. Also, informing parents about health issues of a child should be a legal school obligation.

Needless to say that childhood obesity is the epidemic caused by public health, social, and economic factors. The number of children suffering from this illness is increasing, and it is unlikely that it would be reversed without school contribution. Bearing in mind that obesity may result in other eating or health disorders it is crucial to address this problem immediately.

References

Harb, C. (2012). Child eating disorders on the rise. Web.

Hutchinson, N., & Calland, C. (2011). Body image in the primary school. New York, NY: Taylor & Francis.

Knightsmith, P. (2015). Self-harm and eating disorders in schools: A guide to whole-school strategies and practical support. London, UK: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Le Grange, D., & Lock, J. (2011). Eating disorders in children and adolescents: A clinical handbook. New York, NY: Guilford Press.

Schmidt, U., Brown, A., McClelland, J., Glennon, D., & Mountford, V. A. (2016). Will a comprehensive, person-centered, team-based early intervention approach to first episode illness improve outcomes in eating disorders? International Journal of Eating Disorders, 49(4), 374377.

Teens referred to hospital for eating disorders hits high. (2015). Web.

The United States of America is one of the wealthiest countries in the world. As Francis Scott Key said, “The land of the free home of the brave,” ever since we exonerate that phrase. Many rejoice in all the good in this country, but thousands of people blindside the skyrocketing obesity epidemic. This problem has been growing, and people seem to have a lot to say about obesity, but there is not much action being taken. There are numerous amounts of diseases that are a consequence of obesity, these diseases alone are not as deadly, but being overweight makes them more rigorous.

Mental illness is another factor that can be caused due to obesity. There are many ways to prevent this rising problem among Americans, such as encouraging eating habits from a young age. Engraving good eating habits can lead to a healthy lifestyle. This may seem easy to do, but there are many setbacks that, include monetary issues and the effortless access to unhealthy food. Schools also play an important role in this as well they are supposed to provide high-quality physical activity to children across the nation. This helps many children get the daily physical activity that allows them to create a healthy lifestyle.

According to WebMD, obesity means that your BMI is 30 percent or higher. BMI stands for body mass index; this is a way to measure a person’s body fat. This measurement requires your height and weight; many believe that this is an indirect measurement. (Quinn, Elizabeth) On the other hand, it has been found to be reliable. Determining your BMI is a simple calculation that can help you see what disease you could be prone to. (Captcha) Research shows that your BMI can predict your “morbidity and mortality that are due to numerous chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and stroke “. (Ian Jansen) This indicates how severe obesity is; it’s the result of many contributing factors; for instance, behavior includes the following physical activity, eating habits, inactivity, medication, and other factors. (“Health Risks Linked to Obesity.”)

This problem is greatly affecting children not only in North America but nationally as well. In a scholarly article by Deckelbaum, Richard J., “Approximately 22 million children under five years of age are overweight across the World.” This quote exemplifies how far this problem has grown and that it is affecting people all over the world, and children are obese before the age of 5. Here in the United States, obesity has been a problem for the last three decades, and it has doubled since. (Deckelbaum, Richard J)

It has also been studied that this number is also doubling around the world; it is also common in developing countries and developing nations. Since the 1970s, the obesity problem has arisen in the United States, and as stated before, it continues to increase tremendously. The CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) has shown data from studies that demonstrate how much obesity continues to affect our country. In the year 2015-2016, one in five children and teens from ages six to nineteen years old were obese in the United States. (“Healthy Schools.”) This is a wake-up call for many; we can have children before even starting school struggle with diseases due to obesity.

Furthermore, as many know, obesity can lead to severe diseases. It also happens to have immediate and long-term effects on children, which then carry on to adulthood. This has a great effect on instruction because children who are overweight are more likely to be bullied, and it then leads to depression. (“Healthy Schools.”) It also makes children not want to participate because of their weight, and they are potentially afraid that they will be teased if they can not complete a task due to their weight.

Children not only suffer from depression but also become socially isolated, which creates low self-esteem. (“Healthy Schools) It is highly common to be obese as an adult if you suffer from childhood obesity; this comes with a higher risk such as developing the following diseases; type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. All of these diseases are deadly; in fact, being overweight increases your blood pressure, which means you are at risk of having a stroke. According to OAC (Obesity et al.), in the united states, more than 795,000 people have a stroke every year.

This indicates how deadly a stroke can be 130,000 Americans die because of a stroke, it also happens to fall under the number one leading cause of death, heart disease, and it can eventually disable if you suffer a stroke. (“Obesity and Stroke”). Another disease that happens due to obesity is type 2 diabetes; there are many factors that play a role in developing type 2 diabetes, such as race, age, family history, and so forth. The most common way to develop type 2 diabetes is when someone becomes overweight. Lastly, I found this very interesting I was not aware that obesity can lead to cancer.

Being overweight does not necessarily mean that you’ll develop cancer; it just increases your chances compared to someone who is living a healthy lifestyle. (“Does Obesity Cause Cancer?”) The risk of developing cancer can be reduced tremendously by just losing weight and making healthier choices. Cancer is a deadly disease, and it connects to obesity when there is an excess amount of fat in the body. (Captcha) There was a study that showed that This causes your body to send out unnecessary signals through your, causing cell division more often than the adequate amount, which then leads to tumors and then comes the deadly disease. (Does Obesity Cause Cancer?”) The most common types of cancer caused by obesity in women are breast cancer which only results after menopause. For men, the most common is bowel cancer.

Insights from Research

The following article focuses on the effects of obesity and the prognosis of breast cancer. The connection between obesity and breast cancer is also emphasized; the BMI (body mass index) of the patients was used to find and help women treat early-stage breast cancer. The research showed that for patients who had a BMI of 30 or higher, their cancer was more advanced and less likely to be treated. This study helped, and I learned that obesity can cause cancer, and women who are overweight or obese are more prone to breast cancer.

The journal focuses on the obesity epidemic and the statistic that demonstrates how much this problem has grown. According to the article, 22 million children are overweight worldwide, and the worst part is that they are under the age of 5. This all comes down to their dietary lifestyle and the amount of physical activity they are engaging in. The article states that when a child is obese, they are more likely to become obese adults.

Due to the number of children being affected by obesity, Type 2 diabetes has become dominant in obese children and adolescents. The article also demonstrates how obesity has increased in us over the past decades. The increase has been all across the board; it has affected different races and ethnic groups. Some are affected more than others. This journal helped me learn how out of hand this issue has grown and how there are children in developing countries who are obese. It emphasizes how obesity is affecting many worldwide.

This article helped me in various ways, such as what BMI (body mass index) is and how it is helpful to us. If your BMI is 30 or higher, you are prone to diseases such as heart strokes, Diabetes, and High blood pressure, and it can even be linked to cancer. It also shows how just because someone is obese, you are not going to have all these diseases that’s when your family history plays a role. The extra weight that you may have will most likely be linked to high cholesterol and high blood pressure. It is also very common for overweight and obese people. I also learned that certain types of cancers have been linked to obesity.

The CDC (center for disease control and Prevention) states that obesity has tripled since the ’70s. The statistics show that 1 in 5 school-age children are obese in America. Obeses has been defined as having excess body fat; this also plays an important role when determining your BMI (body mass index). This article talks about the different factors that play a role in childhood obesity, for example, genetics, metabolism, community, and physical activity. Some of these factors can not be changed, but eating habits and the amount of physical activity can be changed. This article helped me understand the severity of obesity but also helped me understand that everyone plays a part in the development of a child, and there are changes that can be made to reduce the obesity rates.

This journal article talks about how waist circumference and BMI determine obesity-related health risks. They also believed that one was more reliable in predicting health risks, so they tested several participants. To determine which one was the predictor of health risk, they used continuous variables in the same regression. In the end, this showed that waist circumference was the better predictor for comfortability. The article was very helpful because it talked about all the chronic diseases that were linked to obesity. I also learned that another way to determine health risks could be by using the waist circumference, which is the fat around someone’s waist.

Education, Community & Lifestyle

In 2008 the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) estimated the national cost of obesity, which was $147 billion dollars. (Overweight & Obesity.”) This is an incredibly large amount of money that’s being invested into a disease that is contributing to the leading cause of death in America. There are many ways that we can prevent this disease that continues to affect our children, and they will carry that into their adulthood, which comes with many consequences.

Many factors play a role in childhood obesity, such as genetics, metabolism, communities, sleep, eating habits, and physical activity behaviors. (Overweight & Obesity) As many of us are aware, we cannot change genetics; on the other hand, people and the places that surround us can help us obtain a healthy weight. For instance, the communities, media, food, and restaurants have a great influence on what children choose to consume. In fact, students believe it’s easier and cheaper to grab a bag of chips for breakfast from the local gas station rather than a healthy alternative because it costs more.

The changes have to start in the home, school, and communities. These are the places that play the biggest effects on the children. Since children spend the majority of their time at school, that is where they should help them eat more fruits and vegetables. Students should get at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day and be encouraged to consume less food and beverages that are high in sugar. (Healthy Schools) Increasing the intake of physical activity helps maintain children at a healthy weight. In fact, this goes way back to when the child is in the womb. The way a mother takes care of her body physically affects her child in the long run. It is recommended to avoid gaining excess weight, which also helps control Diabetes. (Deckelbaum, Richard J.,) During the child’s infant stage, it is highly recommended to breastfeed until six months; around this age, many parents introduce solid foods to their infants. What they don’t keep in mind is that they should maintain a balanced diet for their child.

This will help them avoid an excess of high-calorie intake, and their weight should be carefully monitored. (Deckelbaum, Richard J.) During a child’s preschool years, that is when they should be introduced to different foods and flavors, but developing healthy food preferences is key because this will engrave healthy eating habits. Parents should monitor a child’s height and weight. This helps prevent adiposity rebound, which can lead to obesity later on. (Deckelbaum, Richard J.) A great way to encourage a healthy lifestyle is by providing a child with nutrition education; beforehand, the parents must be educated on this topic as well.

During their childhood, the parents must still be monitoring the child’s weight since they are growing and in need of lots of different sources of vitamins. Not only should a child be provided nutritional education during their preschool years but during their childhood as well, and physical activity should always be encouraged daily. (Deckelbaum, Richard J.) The Prevention of obesity starts with the choices a pregnant mother makes for their child. After the child is born, there are many factors that will play a role in their life. It’s the parents, community, and school to provide the best they can to help create a healthy lifestyle.

As this Obesity epidemic continues to change many lives in a negative way, there is so much more we can do to help this cause. It’s not an issue that can be taken for granted anymore. Many lives are being taken because of this disease which is tragic, and it is a primary factor for the leading number one leading cause of death in the U.S., which is heart disease. I believe that children should have a longer lifespan, which means that before their conceived, their mothers should prioritize their health because it affects them when they are older. It begins with the mother being educated and then providing that nutritional education to their child.

Not only acquiring that knowledge but also making it a reality, watching a child’s weight, introducing them to fruits and vegetables, and taking them out to play rather than being glued to a screen tv. These small changes make a difference in their life. It helps them live a healthier lifestyle. This then leads to them making healthier life choices when they are on their own; communities and schools play important roles in a child’s life. A community can provide recreational parks for children to play and have fun. Most of all, schools should provide children with daily physical activity that helps maintain a healthy lifestyle.

References:

1. Deckelbaum, Richard J., and Christine L. Williams. “Childhood Obesity: The Health Issue.” The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, Wiley-Blackwell, 17 Sept. 2012.
2. “Health Risks Linked to Obesity.” WebMD, WebMD, www.webmd.com/diet/obesity/obesity-health-risks#1.
3. Ian Janssen, Peter T Katzmarzyk, Robert Ross; Waist circumference and not body mass index explains obesity-related health risk, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Volume 79, Issue 3, 1 March 2004, Pages 379–384

Fostering Unhealthy Habits: Nurturing a Healthy Future

A few months ago, my parents adopted my niece, the one and only granddaughter and niece our family of 7 has ever had. The story of my little niece’s life has so far been a little rough, with the mother out of the picture and my brother in and out of her life, we as a family have joined forces to create an environment where she can grow up healthy and happy. Before she was able to move in with us, she was under the care of her foster family. My parents would visit my niece on the weekends, and the designated place to meet bylaw was in a public place. It first moved from the park to meeting inside a nearby Mcdonalds, Jack in the Box, Carls Jr, you name it. Through weekend interactions, my parents, unmindful, would purchase breakfast meals and drinks for the foster parents and Mia, my niece.

One evening my mom came home and said to my sisters and me, ‘I think Mia might be gaining weight. I don’t know what her foster parents are feeding her, but she looks chubbier.’ Throughout the weekend, we would get picture messages from the foster family showing Mia with pan dulce (Mexican sweet bread), trips to Chuck-e-cheese with cotton candy in hand, and sweet drinks. The feeling of wanting to give her everything was creating unhealthy habits for my little niece. I don’t blame anyone for wanting to spoil her ( I know I do), but I think the unconscious decisions to feed our children what’s available and what we think would make them happy, rather than making a conscious decision to go out of our way to ensure they receive a proper and nutritious filling meal is essential.

From Health Crisis to Socioeconomic Disparities

Childhood obesity defines and consists of all the diseases that relate to being overweight such as hypertension, diabetes, high blood pressure, fatty liver, heart disease, high cholesterol, and more. The national center for health statistics states ‘Hispanics (25.8%) and non-Hispanic blacks (22.0%) had higher obesity prevalence than non-Hispanic whites (14.1%). 18% of children in the United States are affected by childhood obesity.

Seventy-eight million adults and 12 million children are obese.” Researchers have concluded that by 2020 fatty liver disease will be the main leader in liver transplants. A team of researchers from the University of Arizona found that fast food chains in predominantly black neighborhoods were more than 60 percent more likely to advertise to children than in predominantly white neighborhoods. Fast food accounts for roughly 13 percent of the total calories eaten by children and teenagers aged 2 to 18 in the United States. Seventy-nine million people are pre-diabetic.

Parental control refers to the parents’ decisions on what their children can consume and what habits can be developed to ensure that a child grows up healthy. Personally, I grew up in South LA. I still do, but I remember when I was growing up in my low-income family, there were times when buying junk food such as burgers or tacos was sometimes more convenient for parents who were working full times jobs and not earning enough to travel to whole food grocery markets.

I grew up going to a school where my classmates were having Ramen cup noodles for breakfast that a teacher sold from inside her class during a break, eating a bag of hot Cheetos from the corner store as their lunch. Not to mention the quick and cheap McDonald’s, Jack in the Box, and burger king down the block from my middle school, or the ice cream stuck and other vendors that would wait outside our school by the time the bell rang. At every turn, we had people offering us cheap, unhealthy food that we grew up on.

Confronting Culinary Control: Battling Food Industry Influences

The last thing I want to do is blame parents for the lack of knowledge on how to raise a healthy child. Sometimes I blame myself or those around me when I see my little niece eating a happy meal. I feel guilty because I know better than to feed a toddler this junk, but the issue isn’t a micro-household issue but rather a macro-social one.

There are so many large contributors to this issue, and it is not entirely easy to stop ourselves from reaching for the nearest and cheapest item. Through my research, I came across the name of Howard Moskowitz, who holds a Ph.D. in experimental psychology. He has been one of the top researchers for large corporations in dealing with habit-forming foods from pizza, soda, and soup to cereal. Alongside Moskowitz are other food engineers who are paid to construct the most highly addictive form of a product From the taste, smell, and feel of a product.

Their mission is to create a perfect version of where consumers will find it hard to say no to. The tactic is called product optimization. As described, they “alter a litany of variables with the sole intent of finding a perfect version (or versions) of a product.” From my readings, it almost felt like an almost impossible escape. It feels like we have been convinced that we have control over our lives, but in reality, we don’t.

We don’t hold control over the process of how our food Is created, we thoughtlessly consume it without question, and living in a city, it feels almost impossible not to find a fast food joint at every corner. So although I’ve sat and blamed myself or others for what I thought of as negligence from my parents, it isn’t. It’s what we are being drowned in, living in a fast food-filled society is what 75% of us live in.

The solution to the problem can be solved by raising the prices of these fast food meals and snacks and by imposing taxes on soda, candy, and other processed foods. By creating it harder and pricier to have access to these meals, it will prevent people from buying them. There are solutions to this issue, but it needs to become a right to prevent these large corporations from making a buck off helpless and naive individuals.

References:

1.Source: National Center for Health Statistics. “Prevalence of Obesity Among Adults and Youth: United States, 2015–2016.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, URL: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db288.pdf

2.Source: Ogden, C. L., Carroll, M. D., Lawman, H. G., et al. “Trends in Obesity Prevalence Among Children and Adolescents in the United States, 1988-1994 Through 2013-2014.” JAMA, 315(21), 2292-2299, URL: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2526638

3.Source: Lesser, L. I., Zimmerman, F. J., & Cohen, D. A. “Characteristics of Fast Food Restaurants in Four New Jersey Cities: A Cross-Sectional Study.” Environmental Health, 5(1), 1-9, URL: https://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1476-069X-5-18

4.Source: Moss, M. “The Extraordinary Science of Addictive Junk Food.” The New York Times, 20 February 2013, URL: https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/24/magazine/the-extraordinary-science-of-junk-food.html

5.Source: Brownell, K. D., Farley, T., Willett, W. C., et al. “The Public Health and Economic Benefits of Taxing Sugar-Sweetened Beverages.” New England Journal of Medicine, 361(16), 1599-1605, URL: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMhpr0905723

 

Understanding Factors Behind Latino Childhood Obesity

Kornides’s article, Factors Associated with Obesity in Latin Children: A Review of the Literature, was an article addressing the issue of the rise in obesity of Latino children in America. The author referred to several possible causes of Latino childhood obesity; Diet, activity, genetics, environment, and acculturation. These five contributions to obesity can be compared to other ethnicities and cultures with differing conclusions. Kornides used 24 research articles drawn together to complete his study. Some articles were more creditable than others but came to the same results.

Childhood weight gain is directly correlated to decreased activity, increased calorie intake, and deficient knowledge. It was found that parental support in physical activity was less in children with obesity than in normal-weight children (Kornides, 2011). Mirza’s study found that obese Hispanic children were less likely to meet physical requirements than obese white children (2004). Digital distractions in the home are also a rising concern because it is taking the children away from staying active. Many children have access to video games, TV shows, and other electronic devices that promote a sedentary lifestyle.

Diet is a major contributor that can be modified to fix the issue. It was found that children who drink low-fat milk have a higher BMI than children who would drink whole milk. Those of Mexican descent eat more low-density foods than other ethnicities, so they do not receive the proper nutrition. Hispanic mothers used ice cream, sweets, and fruit as a method of bribes as positive reinforcement, says Sherry (Kornides, 2011). This is counter-interactive because they are saying that if they do something, then they are allowed to eat more junk food.

Genetics found that child obesity can be correlated to the parents if the parents also suffer from obesity themselves or have other family members that are obese. Environmental category can be related to the education level of the parents, it has been shown to negatively affect a child’s BMI. Many children suffering from obesity come from deficient knowledge of the parents and family members on proper food intake. Acculturation found that children with obesity are normally born within the united states. Those who immigrate to the united states have no or limited correlation with acculturation and obesity (Kornides, 2011).

The Socioecological Model

In the world of public health, there is a concept called the socioecological model. This model has five tiers; the individual level, interpersonal level, community level, organizational level, and structural level. Each level contributes to how public health is perceived and treated in society. The levels work together to satisfy the public needs of individuals, communities, countries and worldwide. The model shows how one of these levels can significantly affect the others. By working together to protect as small as the individual level to something as large as societal.

References:

1.Kornides, M. L. (2011). Factors Associated with Obesity in Latin Children: A Review of the Literature. Journal of Obesity, 2011, Article ID 619414. doi:10.1155/2011/619414

2.Mirza, N. M., Palmer, M. G., & Sinclair, K. B. (2004). Energy expenditure and physical activity of obese children. Public Health, 118(5), 363-370. doi:10.1016/j.puhe.2003.10.008

3.Sherry, B., McDivitt, J., Birch, L. L., Cook, F. H., Sanders, S., Prish, J. L., & Francis, L. A. (2004). Attitudes, practices, and concerns about child feeding and child weight status among socioeconomically diverse white, Hispanic, and African-American mothers. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 104(2), 215-221. doi:10.1016/j.jada.2003.11.006

Understanding the Complex Factors Behind Obesity

Obesity is defined as a metabolic condition whereby excess fat is deposited under tissues, and it can be caused by an amalgamation of psychological, ecological, and/or medical factors. This medical disorder is among the visible but ignored public health complications. This is likely to have health complications such as cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, and type2diabetes which affect people regardless of age, gender, or socio-economic group. This research intends to examine obesity as a psychological disorder. Other factors that lead to the occurrence of obesity are also discussed.

The development of obesity was associated with factors such as the consumption of foods that are dense in fats, carbohydrates and low physical activity. The research established that the occurrence of obesity among school kids is very high, and therefore, there is a need for planning effective interventions to reduce obesity among school kids and maintain healthy lifestyles. Puhl&Heuer (2009) argue that currently, people are facing different psychological issues. This could be a result of the environment they coexist or other factors. Psychological issues are varied, but in the world, there are those that are common among many counties, including the United States.

Psychological disorder is an emotional dysfunction in an individual and is normally associated with a state of distress or impairment that can be viewed as a cultural misfit in society. In this paper, obesity, as a psychological disorder/issue, is explained. Obesity/metabolic syndrome is a health condition where individuals have excess body fat accumulation to levels that are disastrous to one’s normal body functioning and may lead to other complications such as heart conditions, depression, and diabetes, among other conditions and diseases in the body. It was classified as a disease by the American Medical Association amid controversy.

Normally, Body mass index (BMI) is the most basic indicator used to determine if a person has normal or abnormal weight. In this case, a person’s weight is divided by the height’s square. Persons in the range of 25kg/m2 -30kg/m2 are considered to be obese(Puhl&Heuer, 2009). Other ways to measure obesity are waist-to-hip ratio, waist circumference, and bioelectrical impedance. In the world today, people with obesity are many compared to those with underweight, and this phenomenon is dependent on the age of an individual. The rates increase as a person ages as well.

In the US, the rates of obesity have been rising steadily since 1960, and it has now been one of the leading health issues that have annually led to an estimated close to 130,000 deaths. This is a worrying trend across the globe. According to James & Leach &Kalamara&Shayeghi (2001), personality can be termed as a vibrant organization within those psychophysical systems that govern their individualities, behavior, and thoughts. Genetics has greatly influenced the impact of obesity on children born to obese parents.

However, it can be deduced that obesity is not a preset condition, but chances are high because parents can greatly influence their eating habits, and how they feed their children might increase the chances of activating hormones that can predispose their children to that condition. Genetic components increase susceptibility to weight gain. Some processed foodstuff that is designed to help people quench their hunger instantly could also raise their chances of being obese.

These foods are meant to last longer on the shelves and are relatively cheap, and have a sweet taste. This will make people gain instant energy and therefore gain weight due to high sugar levels. According to Puhl& Brownell(2001), high-sugar and high-fat junk foods are likely to stimulate the reward center of one’s brain. Junk foods are really addictive to individuals, and these people easily fail to control their eating behavior. This leads to the huge consumption of junk foods. In return, these people are constantly gaining weight leading to obesity. Some marketing agencies use tactics that are unethical to drive up the uptake of their products.

Some of their products sometimes might not be healthy products. These marketing agencies also make or imply assertions that might be misleading. Some of these products target children who have no information about the effects and hence lack informed decisions on these products that they consume. In return, they gain weight due to a certain level of consumption. Medical prescriptions can also promote weight gain. This is common, where it reduces the number of calories burned in the body. Some medications can also increase the level of appetite in the body leading to too much consumption of food.

The body has leptin hormone, which is also known as a starvation hormone. This plays a vital role in controlling appetite levels. It is normally produced by fat cells. Leptin levels tend to be high in people with obesity. This will constantly give them an appetite for food. On the other hand, in healthy people, high leptin levels are linked to reduced appetite hence reduced consumption of foods. The availability of food has also influenced obesity levels in the world. Junk food is getting constant display and marketing. Food shops have displayed tempting foods in order to capture attention. This junk food is always cheaper and unhealthy. People living in poor neighborhoods can’t afford expensive healthy foods and hence resort to the consumption of these foods(Wolf &Colditz,1998).

Personality Theories and Societal Influences on Obesity

Additionally, lack of proper and accurate information, especially on feeding, can be dangerous to human health. This is evident in people who lack a good guide on what and when to consume. They are likely to abuse food, and in return, they get punished. Incorrect information on nutrition can lead to unhealthy eating habits and poor health in general. News outlets such as blog posts should never distort or misinterpret or depend on outdated outcomes of logical studies.

According to Freud’s Theory, personality is dependent on a number of factors that range from instinctual drives such as food, aggression, sex, and unconscious processes. Early childhood influences more so from the folks. Personality development relies on the chemistry of predisposition at the onset of life. Parental conduct is crucial to abnormal and normal development. Some of the parenting practices at birth can play a vital role in a child’s personality even as they grow old. It is evident that some traits are carried on in the life cycle of an individual.

The parental upbringing of children can also facilitate or increase the chances of it being transferred from generation to generation (Puhl& Brownell,2001). Allport’s theory of personality underlines the exclusivity of a person and their inner motivational processes and cognitive. These processes are important in an impetus in behavioral growth. This could be skills or habits (Puhl&Heuer,2009). He later concluded that personality is a biological process and is determined when one is born, but it is molded by the immediate environment where one exists. So if an individual is given a poor environment or that environment that is not considered as good in the development of their personality, they are likely to have a personality that is negative.

Children who are born into a family that has experienced obese, they are likely to acquire the condition as well. Cattell argued that personality cannot be fully and satisfactorily understood by considering only two or three scopes of behavior. He advocated for consideration of a couple of behaviors for one to completely create a clear perspective of someone’s personality. So, for instance, you cannot exhaustively use one trait that is evident in a person to completely tell about their personality.

Cattell based his research on a number of sources in order to explain personality exhaustively. Through this, he was able to draw a distinction between inborn and surface characteristics. Surface traits can be effortlessly identifiable, whilst source traits cannot be noted so easily. They are likely to trigger a number of different traits of behavior. He concluded that source traits are key in determining a personality compared to surface traits.

Just like any source trait, obesity cannot be explained by what other people see, but it has a hidden character that compels individuals to exhibit this phenomenon. Eysenck came up with a theory in an attempt to give more information on personality, and some of the research he conducted aided his theory. His argument was based on biological factors and how they are key in shaping a personality of an individual. He holds that individuals are able to inherit some form of nervous structures that affect their ability to appreciate new concepts and acclimatize to environments(Puhl&Heuer, 2009). In his position at Maudsley psychiatric hospital in the UK, he was able to interact with patients receiving handling for neurotic disorders. He learned that the answers the soldiers were giving were almost linked up. He referred to this as first-order personality traits.

Later he discovered that their conduct could be represented by two scopes; extroversion, introversion, and stability or neuroticism. Extroversion occurs when individuals are bored and excited easily. They are careless but optimistic, whilst introversion is where people known as introverts are not so active and are always pessimistic. He called these second-order personality traits. All these traits can be linked to some biological causes, and personality can be attained if one has a balance between self-consciousness and excitation of the automatic nervous system (Wolf &Colditz, 1998). Social classes play a vital role in the general well-being of people. People in the developed world found that high social class was less likely to be obese.

In this case, the US and Japan being developed countries, those in high social classes are less likely to be obsessed compared to Those that are placed lowly in society. In the emerging world, women, men, and children from great social classes are observed to have greater instances of obesity (Wolf &Colditz, 1998). This is due to the fact that in developed countries, it is believed that the wealthy can afford nutritious food and they keep watch on their weight, whilst those in developing countries are pressured by economic and other factors to consume any food and have less time to do exercises. When one is stressed causes, the brain releases a hormone called cortisol which increases a person’s appetite. This will make a person find consolation in food as stress bites on.

Societal Attitudes, Cultural Perceptions, and Supporting Individuals with Obesity

Stress has the tendency to influence food liking. In most cases, foods that are rich in fat and sugar are preferred as a quick fix. These foods hinder brain activity that is involved in the processing of stress and anxiety. Stress has also led to a loss of sleep (Puhl&Heuer, 2009). The brain is always preoccupied. This will make people add weight, and if not checked on time, they end up being obese. In the US and China, people tend to eat more when they face stress. According to Wolf &Colditz(1998), when people listen or pay attention to external motivation, they tend to ignore internal urges. So if people are provided with food or see it on display, they might not necessarily feel the hunger; they will consume it. In this case, the availability of food did give them the urge to eat. This is a common practice.

This might be the case in America and Japan. The US has a higher rate of obese cases compared to Japan. This lower rate of obesity may be because the Japanese are much more physically active than Americans. Although, it cannot be proved whether the Japanese are more actively engaged with gym work compared to Americans more than Americans. On the other hand, most Japanese prefer walking, unlike Americans, who prefer using their vehicles to walk.

Walking is considered a worthy exercise that helps cut extra fats in the body(Puhl&Heuer, 2009). Food in Japan is more expensive compared to food in the United States. People in Japan are likely to consume less food because of its cost compared to Americans, who have food at a relatively low price. Therefore Japanese have less food to consume; hence they are able to keep a slim body figure, unlike Americans, who will have all the food they want at a relatively low price. Thus, low rates of obesity in Japan compared to America(Puhl&Heuer, 2009). In some countries, what is considered abnormal and unhealthy contains an evident cultural component.

For instance, in the United States of America, obesity is considered an element that is normal in one’s life; no one is to be compromised based on this, unlike in other countries where this is considered a real life-threatening illness that has to be treated(Wolf &Colditz, 1998). Obesity from childhood may lead to the rise of stern health problems, such as high blood pressure, hormonal disparities, and adult cardiovascular complications.

It is never easy for care providers and families to have no clear option for handling childhood obesity. Other kids are born having difficulties and possibly severe outcomes. However, families and care providers are advised to help reduce weight, and it is suggested that medical practitioners and families attempt to reduce weight by observing home-based cures before the treatment of medications. Family-oriented treatment alternatives are treatment and lifestyle changes for the whole family(Wolf &Colditz, 1998). Communities have different perceptions about obese people, and judgments placed on these people that are affected by obesity.

Some people consider extra fat as a way of storing extra energy. Obese individuals are theorized to be metabolically ‘thrifty, thus saving energy in periods of plenty of food. The outcomes indicate that body sizes are viewed to replicate personality traits. In return, this increases the possibility as well as energy storage and social selection might have a role in shaping obesity’s biology(Puhl&Heuer, 2009). Just like any medical condition, obesity should be considered a medical condition. People suffering from this condition need our love and support in managing this condition.

Some mockery and look down upon will make these people feel less part of us. They may end up contemplating suicide(Puhl&Heuer, 2009). In conclusion, obesity is one of the medical conditions that the world has not come to terms too. Some see it as a normal condition that is a result of a lifestyle or bad eating habits: however, people eat. Health providers should ensure proper information is available to the public in order to facilitate proper family upbringing. However, people should be advised on how best to maintain a good lifestyle and proper diet, and also observe regular exercise can also help reduce or cut the extra fat in the body.

References:

1.Puhl, R. M., & Heuer, C. A. (2009). The stigma of obesity: A review and update. Obesity, 17(5), 941-964.

2.James, W. P. T., Leach, R., Kalamara, E., & Shayeghi, M. (2001). The worldwide obesity epidemic. Obesity Research, 9(S11), 228S-233S.

3.Puhl, R. M., & Brownell, K. D. (2001). Bias, discrimination, and obesity. Obesity Research, 9(12), 788-805.

4.Wolf, A. M., & Colditz, G. A. (1998). Current estimates of the economic cost of obesity in the United States. Obesity Research, 6(2), 97-106.

Fast-Food Restaurants and Youth Obesity: Examining the Link

Youth obesity is a significant problem in the United States that is increasingly drawing attention from citizens and policymakers. Some estimates show that children age 10 to 17 have an obesity rate of around 15.3% (NSCH 2018). Children who struggle with obesity are more likely to develop a myriad of severe physical and mental health problems, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, musculoskeletal disorders, depression, anxiety, and some types of cancer (CDC, 2016).

These health problems represent negative externalities on the economy as a whole since these issues increase healthcare costs and reduce workforce productivity (Bhattacharya et al., 2005). While rational adults are assumed to be capable of making health-related decisions for themselves, children often still lack the capacity to assess long-term risk. Thus, policy action to protect children is justified in reducing youth obesity.

Available evidence suggests that there is a link between diet and levels of childhood obesity (Fryar et al., 2018). Often, fast-food chain restaurants are blamed for youth obesity. Despite public-relations campaigns, these restaurants, such as McDonald’s, Burger King, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut, have an extremely negative reputation among health-conscious consumers (Downs, 2013). The food served at these restaurants is typically high in sodium, fat, and sugar. Still, fast food is a popular option in the US, with about 36.6% of American adults eating it every day (Fryar et al., 2018). Perhaps due to their convenience and low prices, fast-food restaurants continue to thrive. This short paper will estimate the effects of the number of fast-food restaurants per capita on youth obesity.

Literature Review

There is mixed evidence about the relationship between fast-food restaurants and obesity. Adults who consume fast food regularly tend to have much higher daily caloric intake (Bowman et al., 2003). Some studies show that exposure to advertising for fast-food restaurants can lead to increases in childhood obesity (Chou et al., 2008). Plus, there is research that suggests a school’s proximity to certain restaurants can drive trends in childhood obesity (Davis et al., 2009). With students located close to fast-food restaurants are, on average heavier than students with less direct access to these establishments.

Nevertheless, other research about policy measures designed to curtail fast-food consumption has yielded more negative results. One study found efforts to pass zoning laws limiting fast food in California had failed to have its intended effect of reducing weight (Strum et al., 2009). Another policy lever that some jurisdictions employ is raising taxes on fast food. Studies show that these taxes are rarely effective in improving obesity outcomes unless the tax is raised to extremely high rates (Franck et al., 2013). These studies suggest that altering the number of fast-food restaurants in a particular area may not improve youth obesity. Since there is some ambiguity regarding this question, more research is necessary.

Empirical Model

The multiple linear regression model will estimate the effects of fast-food restaurant prevalence on youth obesity. That model is the following:

Obesity= α+β_1 Fastfood+β_2 Income+β_3 Uninsured+β_4 Region+β_5 Poverty+u

The obesity rate measure used in this model is the proportion of children ages 10-17 who are obese, according to the NSCH. In order to measure fast-food prevalence, this paper takes the number of fast-food restaurants per 10,000 people in each state and Washington, DC. Moreover, income is measured as the median income in each state, and poverty is the proportion of the population below the federal poverty line. Plus, the uninsured variable refers to the proportion of children under 19 in each state who lack health insurance. The region variable refers to the geographic part of the country where each state is located.

Data

The dependent variable in this model is youth obesity. It will be measured using state-level data from the 2018 survey by The National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH). This survey asks parents or caregivers to report their child’s height and weight in order to produce a measurement of body mass index (BMI). The children’s ages vary from 10-17 in the dataset. If a child has a BMI at or above the 95th percentile of their age and sex distribution, they are classified as obese. This data can be found online at https://www.childhealthdata.org/learn-about-the-nsch/NSCH.

The independent variable for this study is the number of fast-food restaurants per 10,000 people in each state plus Washington, DC. This will measure the prevalence of fast-food restaurants in different areas of the US. The data is from the year 2018, and it comes from the database Datafiniti which measures business activity in each state and records the number of each type of restaurant. They also list the 20 most common fast-food restaurants in the US, based on the number of locations each operates. This list includes Subway, McDonald’s, Burger King, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Wendy’s, Domino’s, KFC, Dairy Queen, Arby’s, Sonic, Hardee’s, Jimmy John’s, Jack in the Box, Chick-Fil-A, Chipotle, Panda Express, Carl’s Jr, Five Guys, and Whataburger. However, these restaurants only account for around 78.3% of total fast-food listings in the nation. The other restaurants included in the dataset are smaller regional chains. This information can be found at https://datafiniti.co/fast-food-restaurants-america/.

Control variables such as state poverty rate, median income, and proportion of youths lacking health insurance were found for 2018 by the Kaiser Family Foundation. The URL to their website is https://www.kff.org/statedata/.

Table 1. Descriptive Statistics

1. Variable Mean (St. dev) Minimum value Maximum value % youth obesity, aged 10-17 14.68 (3.25) 8.7 25.4
2. Number of fast-food restaurants per 10,000 people 3.99 (.99) 1.9 6.3
3. Median income 60,237.31 (10,257.51) 43,469 82,372
4. Poverty rate 12.84 (2.96) 7 20 % uninsured youth 4.45 (2.13) 1 11
5. West (excluded) 0.25 (0.44) 0 1
6. South 0.33 (0.48) 0 1
7. Midwest 0.24 (0.43) 0 1
8. Northeast 0.18 (0.39) 0 1

Table 1. shows the various measures of obesity, income, poverty, and insurance. It includes the mean, maximum, and minimum number of fast-food restaurants per capita. Vermont has the fewest number of fast-food restaurants (1.9), followed closely by New Jersey (2.0) and New York (2.1). Alabama leads the country in terms of fast-food restaurants, with 6.3 of them for every 10,000 people. Surprisingly, Mississippi, which has the highest rate of youth obesity at 25.4%, has relatively few fast-food restaurants at only 2.1 per 10,000 people. While healthier Utah, with the lowest youth obesity rate in the country, has 3.6 fast-food restaurants per 10,000 people, placing it close to the mean of 3.99.

Empirical Results

The results found in Table 2. come to a somewhat startling and unexpected conclusion about the link between fast-food restaurants and youth obesity. A higher prevalence of fast-food restaurants seems to have an effect on decreasing youth obesity. The coefficient that describes the relationship between the number of fast-food restaurants and obesity is actually negative. An increase of 1 fast-food restaurant per 10,000 people in a state is predicted to result in an estimated reduction of youth obesity by .734% (p-valueTable 2). Regression Analysis

Poverty rate, region, and median income all have significant effects as well. States with high poverty tend to have high youth obesity (p-valueConclusions and Policy Implications.

The results of this research yielded the opposite result of what might be intuitive. The prevalence of fast-food restaurants in a given state seems to have an effect on decreasing the rate of youth obesity rather than increasing it. Therefore, it would seem policies that aim to tax or regulate the number of fast-food restaurants in a given area might actually produce the unintended result of increasing youth obesity.

Focusing government policy on the reduction of poverty may be the most useful option in fighting childhood obesity. Perhaps these restaurants’ food is not as bad for people’s health as commonly thought. Alternatively, maybe people in areas with a higher concentration of fast-food restaurants are making other healthy choices in their diet or exercise regime that offset the harmful effects of fast food.

However, there are serious limitations to this study that might challenge this policy conclusion. For one, this study measures the number of fast-food restaurants in each state per capita. It does not measure how often people eat at these establishments. Therefore, this raises the possibility that perhaps two states could have the same number of restaurants per capita, but one state’s population simply eats at these locations more. Plus, there might be a difference in the size of restaurants in different states. In some states, fast-food restaurants may be larger and designed to serve more people, leading to more people in that state eating fast food, even if they have the same number of restaurants.

Moreover, there might be a difference in the kind of fast-food restaurants available in different states. This dataset treats all fast-food restaurants the same, and as a result, may be missing some essential differences amongst the health effects of various fast-food options. Accordingly, this might lead to a slightly altered policy conclusion that categorically supporting or opposing fast food is a bad idea. Perhaps states should support healthier fast-food options.

References:

1.NSCH 2018 (National Survey of Children’s Health, 2018)

2.CDC, 2016 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2016)

3.Bhattacharya et al., 2005 (Bhattacharya, J., Bundorf, K. M., & Pace, N. M. (2005). Does health insurance make you fat? NBER Working Paper No. 11529)

4.Fryar et al., 2018 (Fryar, C. D., Hughes, J. P., Herrick, K. A., & Ahluwalia, N. (2018). Fast food consumption among adults in the United States, 2013-2016. NCHS Data Brief, No. 322)

5.Downs, 2013 (Downs, J. S., Loewenstein, G., & Wisdom, J. (2010). Strategies for promoting healthier food choices. American Economic Review, 100(2), 45-50)

6.Bowman et al., 2003 (Bowman, S. A., Gortmaker, S. L., Ebbeling, C. B., Pereira, M. A., & Ludwig, D. S. (2004). Effects of fast-food consumption on energy intake and diet quality among children in a national household survey. Pediatrics, 113(1), 112-118)

7.Chou et al., 2008 (Chou, S. Y., Rashad, I., & Grossman, M. (2008). Fast‐food restaurant advertising on television and its influence on childhood obesity. Journal of Law and Economics, 51(4), 599-618)

8.Davis et al., 2009 (Davis, B., Carpenter, C., & Procter, K. (2011). Proximity of fast-food restaurants to schools and adolescent obesity. American Journal of Public Health, 101(9), 1961-1968)

9.Strum et al., 2009 (Strum, R., Powell, L. M., Chaloupka, F. J., & Chriqui, J. F. (2009). Can zoning policy address public health concerns? The effect of fast food restrictions on obesity rates. Health Affairs, 28(6), w1068-w1077)

10.Franck et al., 2013 (Franck, C., Grandi, S. M., & Eisenberg, M. J. (2013). Taxing junk food to counter obesity. American Journal of Public Health, 103(11), 1949-1953)

With social-economic development,India moved away from childhood malnutrition and towards the better health and food security, this resulted in reduced number of underweight, malnourished, and stunted-wasted children. With changing lifestyle and food habits there is a spike in overweight and obesity not onlyin adults but also among children. With high prevalence India ranked third in the childhood obesity after the USA and China. 1, 2

Abnormal or excessive fat accumulation results in to overweight and obesity. This present a greater risk to health. Obesity can be measured using body mass index (BMI) which is calculated using person’s weight in kilograms divided by square of his or her height in meters. BMI of more or equal to 30 kg/m2is considered as obese whereas BMI of more or equal to 25 is defined as overweight. 1, 2

Both overweight and obesity are the risk factors for the development of chronic diseases including diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and cancer. Initially obesity was considered the problem of developed countries, but now due to changing the life style, it has become the problem of low- and middle-income countries mainly in the urban populations. 1

Several programs are running to combat malnutrition in India, however India has developed another problem as obesity. Previous data by National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4) have documented the doubling of the obese people in India. This also highlighted the point of increasing the obesity among the urban population as compared to rural settings. 2

In India nutritional status varies significantly from region to region and childhood malnutrition varies between 20 to 80 % region to region but interestingly there is a rising of prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity in some parts.3 In present study we tried to find out the prevalence of overweight and obesity of school going children of Chandimandir area.

Three hundred and ninety six school going children having age between 12-14 years from a school of Chandimandir were studied.To capture the demographic and lifestyle data a pre-designed questionnaire based on Global school-based student health survey4was used. It was a cross-sectional single centre study conductedon January 2019.

A prior permission to conduct this study was secured from the Govt. Education Dept. and the school authorities. An informed and written consent was also secured from the participating students and their parents. For this study only the children in the age group of 12 to 14 years were taken and students withsevere and chronic illness and who were unwilling toparticipatewere excluded.

To calculate the body mass index (BMI) height and weight of the subjects was recorded using the digital weighing machine and meter tape.All the subjects were interviewed to record theage, sex, food habits, skipping breakfast, TV watching time, time spent on videogames and social media, time spent on physical activities and games.

Based on the recorded subjects were classified as regularly eating or not eating breakfast, skipping breakfast or average breakfast in a week. Children indulge in physical activity for sixty minutes (moderate to vigorous) per day classified as physically active. Moderate activity included brisk walking, dancing, household chores and vigorous exercise includes running, fast cycling, fast swimming, moving heavy load, playing football etc. 5

BMI was calculated according to the WHO child growth reference and a set of thresholds based on single standard deviation spacing was used in the study. BMI = Weight (Kg)/Height2 (m2) (weight in kilograms is divided by square of weight in meter)

Subjects were grouped as Underweight (18.5), Normal (18.5 and 24.9), Overweight (25 and 29.9) and Obese (30 and 39.9). Recorded data was analyzed using IBM SPSS ver. 20 software and Microsoft Excel. Data is expressed as number and percentage. The risk factors were assessed by using Chi-square test. P value of We included 396 subject of either sex between 12 to 14 years of age. Subjects weredivided in to four groups as normal, underweight, overweight and obese based on their BMI. Results showed that prevalence of obesity and overweight was 5% and 8% respectively which shows over all prevalence of 13%.

Similar reports were generated by the Vairagade et al6 and Tapnikar et al7; as per these studies among school children of Aurangabad combined prevalence was 10% (overweight:7%; obesity:3%) which was closer to ours and slightly higher in a study in Nagpur i.e. a combined prevalence of 14% (overweight:12%; obesity:2%). Our results resonate with the study by Jcob et al in which WHO growth reference charts, 2007 was used like ours but sample size was only 150. In Kerala it was 10.7% (overweight: 7.56%; obesity: 3.10%) respectively though the school children belonged to rural area of Kerala unlike ours. 8Bhargava et al concluded that in the hill states of India prevalence of overall overweight and obesity was 15.6 % which is higher than our result. 9

On analysis of age wise distribution of BMI in our study prevalence of 12 % overweight and 8 % obesity was found to be highest in 14 year of school children and similar findings were observed by Kavitha et al in their study at Gulbarga where prevalence of overweight and obesity were more among 15 years students followed by 14 year age group of children.10

We also found that there is higher prevalence of overweight and obesity i.e. 9% and 6% respectively among girls than those of boys i.e. 7% and 4% respectively. Which is in agreement to finding of Jacobet al, among rural children of Kerala where more girls were found to be overweight (9.09%) than boys (5.96%). But in terms of obesity unlike our findings boys were more obese (3.35%) than girls (2.85%).8Jagadesan et al also conclude that prevalence of overweight and obesity were more among females with 17.74% and 6.45% respectively compared to males (4.55% and 1.44% respectively) and gender was significantly associated with overweight and obesity unlike in current study. 11

Major factors and behaviors responsible for overweight and obesity are unhealthy food habits and lack of physical activity. These risk behaviors among overweight and obese children were compared with non-obese children. In our study we found the association between fast food eating and obesity significant (pAnother common observation among obese subjects was skipping of breakfast, our findings are similar to Thompson et al who observed a high prevalence of both overweight (41%, including 15% who were obese) and breakfast skipping (68%) and on multivariate analysis found that more frequent breakfast skipping was associated with greater odds of overweight. 13With easy availability of modern electronic media and gadgets, children spends more time around them instead of actual physical activity, which are now regarded as the most modifiable risk factors of childhood obesity. We also observed that around 55% of both obese and non-obese children were used to TV watching and videogames and association of TV viewing and obesity was not found significant. (P=0.0956, P>0.05). Similar findings were reported by Saha from Mehsana, Gujarat.

Obesity is a critical medical issue that is normal among youngsters and teenagers in Western nations. Being obese is the basis of diabetes at a young age and enhances the threat of cardiovascular sickness in adulthood. Earlier avoidance of fatness decreases the probability of serious diseases in adulthood. Nurses can assist the guardian and children by giving nutritional counsel. They also can help by offering them diminishing caloric intake, boost bodily movements and, through weight management programs. Nurses moves ought to consistently make an entire family approach since it is trying for obese kids to adjust their dietary or physical propensities if not maintained by their families. Nurses work with all individuals from the multidisciplinary group intending to youth weight as it is a major medical problem with long-standing morbidities.

Role of a Nurse

The nurse takes part in a major role in actualizing effectual school-based obesity anticipation involvement & additionally can convey fatness control programs. Nurse ought to urge families to participate in exercise they appreciate and strengthen the medical advantages of continued physical activity so as to improve the probability that way of life changes will be clung to and co-morbidities prohibited. Such as picking a movement the family appreciates, for example, moving, dancing, field sports, or family walks builds the opportunity of them persevering with it. Joining exercise into everyday schedules, for example, strolling to school or cycling to the shops can make it simpler for families to keep up a level of action.

Changes to nursing since 2000

As nursing started it had almost no to do with official medicinal preparing as well as all to do through your gender and readiness to carry out the responsibility. At the beginning of nursing, ladies took in restorative aptitudes from their moms or other ladies in a similar calling. It wasn’t generally observed as a regarded exchange; however, ladies weren’t generally observed as decent trade, either. Ladies were overseers, so nursing was only an augmentation of what their jobs at home were at any rate. Today, nursing calling has changed radically. There are broad preparing programs, progressively enhanced staff, and a degree of renown related to this territory of the medicinal field that wasn’t there previously.

Time has finished a great deal used for some professional ways, however, the nursing field has perceived uncommon transformation to help the effectiveness of medicinal consideration. There is all the more preparing projects, better emergency clinics, greater obligation, a feeling of family, and an attention on persistent consideration in the treatment business that has spared lives and made ages of devoted medicinal experts.

Patient care is presently a serious factor in the health field for every medicinal expert. The headways in innovation have made a situation that makes quiet consideration increasingly productive and supportive for the patient. Mechanical headways have changed pretty much every industry in the US and the health field is the same. This has helped spare more lives, made certain employments simpler for nurses, and made a superior encounter for patients. The way of life for quiet consideration used to be a disheartening encounter for some patients where medicinal experts weren’t as worried for their pride or suffering difficult medicinal techniques. Fortunately, quiet consideration has become the main need for medicinal experts and has thrived as of late with attendants on the bleeding edges of patient consideration.

The nursing calling has come to a far cry and keeps on being a developing field. Truly, it has demonstrated its capacity to adjust to the way of life around it. For medical attendants and patients the same, the advances made have helped the nursing field to go from being one that isn’t loved as being one that earns admiration. The adjustments in preparing, human services setting, developing obligations, nursing society, and patient consideration have spared incalculable lives and helped it become the regarded field that it is today.

Have you ever asked a child what they want to eat for dinner or lunch and their response was a hearty vegetable? Or does that answer usually sound more like pizza or McDonalds? More than fifty percent of commercials or advertisements that children see while watching television or on the internet are food related. Commercials are so influential on children because they target them in particular by the colors and funny advertisements, and catchy jingles. Commercials catch children’s attention without them even noticing, but once they are in a grocery store they recognize them everywhere. I believe that child obesity can be linked to food advertisements, or at least have a big reason on why it is such an epidemic right now. According to The American Psychological Association and The Henry J Kaiser Family Foundation, the more that obesity affects children, the more advertisements they are exposed to because children are no longer outside occupying themselves. Exercise definitely plays a part in this as well, but if they are not keeping themselves preoccupied in a healthy way, and choosing to watch television, they are inevitably going to be exposed to advertisements. People are more likely to find kids watching shows, or videos on the internet with a food advertisement at least every 10 minutes. This epidemic is beginning a never ending cycle of childhood obesity, with little to no healthy outcome. I believe that there is a significant link of food advertisements with childhood obesity, and it needs to come to an end.

Children spend a majority of their time watching television, on the internet, or doing things that require watching advertisements. Researchers have found that more than 50% of advertisements on kid channels are food related and more than 80% of them are of fast food and sugar filled snacks, including candy, unhealthy cereals, and easy foods. There are no advertisements found on kid channels that are showing vegetables or fruits. According to the American psychological association “Other research has found that children who watch more than three hours of television a day are 50 percent more likely to be obese than children who watch fewer than two hours.” (2020) Furthermore, the author explains that children who are watching this much television have so much more exposure to advertisement and it leads to obesity but it becomes a never ending cycle because once they reach this level of weight gain, they are more likely to spend more time watching things that lead to these advertisements. Nowadays, people are more likely to find children using tablets or their parents phones to preoccupy themselves, rather than playing outside and getting exercise. Additionally, I believe that if children spent less time on the internet, or watching television that they have less of a chance of becoming obese because they would be getting more excersize and would not be exposed to as much advertisements leading them to want unhealthy food. Overall, I believe that children do spend too much time watching television requiring them to be susceptible to the advertisements.

Did you know that according to the American Psychological Association children’s shows rarely advertise healthy food choices. The American Psychological Association says that “34 percent for candy and snacks, 28 percent for cereal, 10 percent for fast food, 4 percent for dairy products, 1 percent for fruit juices, and 0 percent for fruits or vegetables.” (2020) Therefore, children don’t come into contact with healthy food choices on their own, unless suggested by someone close to them. If they are to think of something that they would like their parents to get from the store for their breakfast or dinner they are going to think about that catchy commercial that they had seen either that day, rather then remembering that vegetables and fruits are the healthier choice. I believe that on kid television shows, they should promote a healthier diet. Although some make it seem like the cereal that they are promoting is healthy, it fails to mention how much sugar they have pumped into it that makes the kids want to continue to eat it in the first place. People never know how “healthy” a food product really is by watching their advertisements because they are never going to tell them how much sugar is in their product or how many calories are in one serving. Most of the time, one bag or package isn’t one serving but that doesn’t stop anyone from consuming the entire thing. They reel people in by thinking that their product is the healthiest and most convenient product on the shelves and without research, it is easy to believe. In all, food commercials and advertisements are going to lead people to their unhealthy food choices.

Although advertising may take a huge part of childhood obesity today, there is also the obvious statement of why are the children exposed to this much television advertisement in the first place? Well, maybe if the kids weren’t spending so much time watching television and were more active they wouldn’t be in the same health problems that they are now. I believe that is true because according to The Henry J Kaiser Family Foundation, “the prevalence of obesity increased by 2% for each additional hour of television viewed.” (2) If children were to cut down on their watching times they would be more likely to be more active, which would be helping their weight to begin with. The Henry J Kaiser Family Foundation also states that “29% of the cases of obesity could be prevented by reducing television viewing to 0 to 1 hour per week” (2) In other words, if children were to cut the time that they watch television out completely there would be less cases of childhood obesity. I believe that is true for two different reasons. One being that, like I have already said, they would be more active and would be more prone to exercising during physical activity rather than sitting on the couch. Secondly, they would not be exposed to all of the unhealthy food choices that the advertisements have to offer. I know that it is not possible to remove all advertisements from your life, that is nearly impossible to do because you are surrounded by them everywhere that you go. Although, I do believe that you do have the choice to limit yourself to how many you actually come across on a daily basis by cutting the time that you spend on the internet or watching television shows a day at least by half.

The child is not the only person at fault for obesity. Parents have a part of the blame, if not a majority of it since it is something that starts at such a young age. When David Zinczenko had said “Kids taking on McDonald’s this week, suing the company for making them fat. Isn’t that like the middle-aged med suing Porsche for making them get speeding tickets?” (647) it made me start thinking, are the kids really all to blame? I believe that kids at a certain age have no clue what they are getting themselves into. Are they going to watch McDonald’s commercials and want to eat a happy meal? Probably, but who are the ones buying them? Their parents are. They are the ones that should be able to make the healthier decisions for their kids. So, I personally do not agree with Zinczenko, because the grown men speeding in porches know consciously what they are doing. On the other note, the parents allow their children to spend hours watching advertisements, then go out to purchase the unhealthy food that lead to their bad eating habits. Instead of them entertaining their kids in other ways they are allowing television to do it, so advertisements take over.

Overall, I believe that there is a strong link of television and their advertisements to childhood obesity because children are more exposed to the unhealthy food choices that they are watching and their lack of physical exercise because they are watching hours of television a day. Altogether, I agree with The Henry J Kaiser Family Foundation and American Psychological Foundation completely on their correlations as well. Advertisements and the companies who create them know exactly what they are doing, and who their commercials are going to attract. With their catchy jingles and their mascots that kids love so much, it is going to keep the kids wanting more and continuing the cycles of childhood obesity. I believe that we need to put a stop to the amount of television that children watch, and that will limit the amount of advertisement that they see a day. I know that it will not stop obesity completely but if it could help minimize 29% of obesity cases like the Henry J Kaiser Family Foundation says, I think it is worth a shot.

Works Cited

1. “The Impact of Food Advertising on Childhood Obesity.” American Psychological Association, American Psychological Association, 2020, www.apa.org/topics/kids-media/food.
2. The Role of Media in Childhood Obesity, The Henry J Kaiser Family Foundation, Feb. 2004, www.kff.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/the-role-of-media-in-childhood-obesity.pdf.
3. Zinczenko, David. “Don’t Blame the Eater.” They Say I Say, 4th ed., pp. 647–647.

In the current situation, youth heftiness is one most basic issues. Youth heftiness in developed just as developing nations has reached top levels. Overweight and weight is a genuine condition wherein overabundance of muscle versus fat gravely influences the wellbeing and prosperity of children and youthful grown-ups. Corpulence can be caused to anybody for various reasons and can be appeared in changed manners. According to WHO, youth heftiness is a clinical bedlam that influencing children and youngsters. If a youngster or grown-up stores an excess of fat they can be delegated overweight or stout. An indication of youth stoutness is a weight well over the normal for a youngster’s stature and age. Weight Record is estimated by your weight (in kilograms) separated by the square of your stature (in meters) or BMI =kg/m2. Overweight and heftiness are significant hazard factors for an assortment of heart and liver issues, including diabetes, cardiovascular infection, and disease. This issue is influencing all-inclusive in many low and creating countries consistently generally in urban communities. Youth weight is turning out to be regular step by step because of high hazard factors. These days, many eating routine organizations are taking points of interest from individuals’ unfit wellbeing and spreading an off-base feeling of fulfillment. This statement will focus on the main reasons for childhood obesity and analyze the steps taken to mitigate childhood obesity and the challenges encountered by society and obese children.

The rate of incessant illness is heightening substantially more quickly in creating nations than in industrialized nations. A potential rising general medical problem might be the expanding occurrence of youth stoutness in creating nations and the subsequent financial and general wellbeing trouble looked at by these nations sooner rather than later. In an orderly audit helped through an electronic pursuit of the writing from 1950–2007, the writer thought about information from studies on the commonness of overweight, corpulence, and the metabolic disorder among youngsters living in creating nations. The most noteworthy pervasiveness of youth overweight was found in Eastern Europe and the Centre East, while India and Sri Lanka had the least commonness. A couple of studies led in creating nations indicated an extensively high predominance of the metabolic condition among youth. These findings give disturbing information to wellbeing experts and arrangement producers about the degree of these issues in creating nations, a considerable lot of which are yet pondering ailing health and micronutrient deficiencies. Time inclines in youth stoutness and its metabolic outcomes, defined by uniform models, ought to be observed in creating nations so as to acquire helpful bits of knowledge for early-stage and essential avoidance of the up and coming incessant illness plague in such networks.

Kids who have corpulence are at the most elevated hazard for other incessant ailments, for example, asthma, rest apnoea, bone, and joint issues, and type 2 diabetes. They likewise have many hazard factors for heart illnesses, for example, hypertension and elevated cholesterol, more than their things. Understudies in creating nations likewise have prepared access to fatty, healthfully inadequate food in cafeterias and inexpensive food shops close to class (Kaushik J S et al,2011). Often, they feel forlornness, sorrow, and low confidence. The absence of consciousness of unfriendly impacts of undesirable sustenance in urban younger students in India may clarify the high admission of dietary fat, prompting a high pervasiveness of heftiness in them (Misra et al,2011). The principal reasons are expanded urbanization, nourishment change, and less physical movement. In addition, forceful network sustenance mediation issues for undernourished kids may expand heftiness. Popkin BM (2001) states that an adjustment in action propensities from open airplay to indoor amusement has likewise been ascribed to an emotional ascent in youngsters’ weight: television watching, phone, and computer games. Varieties in diet and movement designs are fuelling the heftiness pandemic. These quick changes in the various levels and pieces of dietary and movement/latency designs in transitional social orders are identified with a tally of financial and segment alterations.

Youth corpulence is a worldwide issue. In Britain, even more, than a third of youngsters have corpulence issue at elementary school. Getting heftiness at the beginning times increments the different dangers. There are many Financial statuses (SES) and wellbeing impacts of this marvel. In created nations, SES is contrarily connected with youth corpulence, while in creating countries, better-taught kids in tuition-based schools have a significantly higher predominance of overweight and heftiness than those having a place with lower SES (Goyal RK et al,2010). As indicated by Steve Portage (2016), the specialists from the college of Liverpool found that smoking during pregnancy overweight represented an enormous extent about – 40% of the tireless social divergence in youth weight levels. The danger of overweight and stoutness at 11 years old among 12000 kids as per their financial conditions during childbirth. There is an assortment of sustenance-related sociocultural and conventional convictions, for the most part, disregarded down hundreds of years, solidly instilled in moms and grandmas of youngsters dwelling in creating countries. Overweight and hefty young people will in general have poor body certainty and confidence (Lee YS,2006).

Children who have weight are at more danger of developing medical issues than others. Diabetes, coronary illness and asthma are the most significant issues. Type 2 diabetes is a confusion wherein the glucose is not appropriately reabsorbed by the body. Weaning onto strong nourishments before the kid was four months old and nonattendance of breastfeeding (Steve ford,2016). Youngsters and grown-ups with overweight are bound to have type 2 diabetes. Elevated cholesterol and hypertension mean increment the danger of potential heart ailments for hefty youngsters. Nourishments with high fat and salt can prompts increment in the cholesterol and circulatory strain. There are some hazard factors that incorporate dietary examples (sporadic eating designs), dormancy, family exercises (mother’s weight, smoking), birth weight financial status (salary and training), and ethnicity (Hansen K,2006). There are two potential hindrances of coronary illness which are respiratory failure and stroke. Youngsters and adolescents who are fat may likewise have rest apnea. Adolescent’s additional weight can hinder their aviation routes in the neck region. Be that as it may, minors may likewise encounter joint distress, torment, and a constrained scope of overabundance weight movement. As a rule, weight reduction can get a freed of basic issues.

There are three phases of intercession in the treatment of youth obesity:

1. Primordial counteraction: Upkeep of solid weight and normal BMI during adolescence and teenagers;
2. Essential counteraction: The objective is to keep overweight youngsters from getting stout;
3. Auxiliary anticipation: pointed towards the treatment of stoutness to limit pre-morbidities and, if conceivable, turn around overweight and corpulence.

Physical movement is a fundamental part of the recognition and upkeep of stoutness. Preschool youngsters need unstructured exercises and will benefit from open-air play and games such as running, bouncing, and different activities. Then again, instruction for kids and young people requires at any rate an hour of day-by-day physical exercises, including 30 minutes of physical exercises, for example, sports and controlled exercises. You can likewise enable your kid to keep up a solid load by:

1. Protecting the home condition: putting away your home with just sound food so your youngster isn’t compelled to nibble on the unhealthful job;
2. Modeling: Guardians who eat a sound eating regimen and keep up a functioning way of life will set a positive model for their kid;
3. Breaking point screen time to two hours every day (TV, computer, and computer games), do not utilize food as an award for good conduct, scholarly accomplishment, or smart dieting.

Hereditary qualities factors, absence of physical movement, unsanitary eating designs, or a mix of these components are the most widely recognized causes. Just in uncommon cases is the overweight brought about by an ailment, for example, a hormonal issue. Physical assessment and some blood tests can think about an ailment as a reason for corpulence. Through weight issues happen in families, not all youngsters with a family ancestry of corpulence will be overweight. Youngsters whose folks or siblings or sisters are overweight might be at an expanded danger of turning out to be overweight themselves, however, this may be because of basic family examples, for example, eating and working propensities. The general eating routine of the kid and the degree of movement assume a significant job in deciding the heaviness of the kid. Numerous youngsters invest a lot of energy idle today. For instance, the normal kid goes through around four hours staring at the television consistently.

Created nations have watched the most noteworthy rate, paces of childhood weight; however, its predominance is additionally expanding among creating countries (Popkin and Doak, 1998). Contrasted and guys, females are bound to be corpulent due to hormonal contrasts. In the UK, the number of kids who are frequently overweight or stout is rising quite a long time after a year, and the age at which the inception of corpulence happens is decreasing. One out of four kids at age three are overweight or hefty. Most research and arrangements are direly expected to target stoutness avoidances in youngsters age 0-5 years. The early years are a significant second for sound propensities to develop. These incorporate a sound way of life, low admission of low-quality nourishment, and enough rest time-which are all defensive elements against heftiness and can be influenced via overseers in the early years. Since most small kids acquire some sort of childcare, this time is the fundamental objective territory for the decrease of weight and the upkeep of nutritious propensities. An investigation directed by Williams et al (1992) on 3320 youngsters in the age run sorted kids corpulent of their bulk 30% for females. In 1998, the national foundations of wellbeing (NTH) if widespread weight list (BMI) necessity to help researchers in weight estimations.

It has gotten increasingly regular because of the increment in the hazard factor that causes corpulence. Be that as it may, it is conceivable to deal with the issue through sufficient help and direction program by both the guardians and the schools. This developing issue can be explained if society centers around causes, exercising, and right nourishing decisions. Diet companies are taking points of interest of individuals’ undesirable propensities and making a misguided feeling of fulfillment. The ascent in stoutness is a psychological marvel that should be viewed as even more a medical problem than a counter-culture method of life. With a decrease in Weight, our society will turn out to be increasingly included, and the present large individuals will have another feeling of elevated confidence.

References:

1. Freedman DS, Khan LK, Dietz WH, et al. Relationship of childhood obesity to coronary heart disease risk factors in adulthood: The Bogalusa Heart Study. Pediatrics 2001; 100:712–18.
2. Goyal, R. K., Shah, V. N., Saboo, B. D., Phatak, S. R., Shah, N. N., Gohel, M. C., … & Patel, S. S. (2010). Prevalence of overweight and obesity in Indian adolescent school-going children: its relationship with socioeconomic status and associated lifestyle factors. The Journal of the Association of Physicians of India, 58, 151-158.
3. Kaushik, J. S., Narang, M., & Parakh, A. (2011). Fast food consumption in children.
4. Misra, A., & Khurana, L. (2008). Obesity and the metabolic syndrome in developing countries. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 93(11_supplement_1), s9-s30.
5. Popkin, B. M. (2001). The nutrition transition and obesity in the developing world. The Journal of nutrition, 131(3), 871S-873S.
6. Wang Y. Cross-national comparison of childhood obesity: the epidemic and the relationship between obesity and socioeconomic status. Int J Epidemiol 2001; 30:1129–36
7. World Health Organization. Obesity: preventing and managing the global epidemic. (WHO Technical Report Series no. 894). Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization, 2000.
8. Yusuf S, Reddy S, Ounpuu S, et al. Global burden of cardiovascular diseases. Part II. Variations in cardiovascular disease by specific ethnic groups and geographic regions and prevention strategies. Circulation 2001; 104:2855–64.