Category: Childhood Obesity

Fed Up

“If a foreign nation was causing our children to become obese, that’s going to affect their health and hurt their happiness, cause them to be depressed, have poor self-esteem—if a foreign nation were doing that to our children, we’d probably go to war. We would defend our families. So why do we accept this from our own country?” Dr. Harvey Karp This is one of the many quotes from the documentary ‘’Fed Up, It was one of my favorites and one that made me reflect on how easily we can be manipulated.

Fed Up, is directed by Stephanie Soechtig and narrated by Katie Couric, It focuses on the growing link between sugar consumption and the obesity epidemic. According to Couric, ‘’Many people believe that kids are overweight for two reasons: increase of appetite and lack of exercise,’’ By doing so the producers are able to convince the viewer that this is not the case through rhetoric, which is the ability to find the best available means of persuasion for a given audience. The documentary first premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2014 and was received with both admiration and criticism for its portrayal of the obesity epidemic and ‘’Big food’’ in America. Fed Up is a documentary that lights the truth about the food industry and the rapidly growing epidemic in the United States that holds great exigency and needs to be solved without further ado.

Soechtig and Couric are able to easily connect with their audience not only by using digital technology but also by using reasoning and logic into their arguments, otherwise known as logos. Logos allows the writer to back up their claim about the food industry being corrupted and leading to the rising numbers of the obesity epidemic in America. This augment stems from the fact that the food industry just like any other company that is trying to make a profit, is in it for the income. How the food industries are able to make that profit by misleading their consumers through their marketing and advertising techniques.

The food industry by hiding the truth is able to build a good base of loyal customers who are unknowingly destroying their health by consuming the products and therefore benefiting the companies to make a profit. The United States Department of Agriculture decided that schools’ meals must offer vegetables and fruits to students. With this initiative the congress complied that two tablespoons of tomato sauce would be a sufficient amount, leading pizza to be known as the favorite vegetable to consume during lunch break. This led health advocates to believe that “schools are just 7-11s with books.’’ In an interview, former President Bill Clinton believed that we would be able to cure 70-80 percent of the problem if schools prepared the food (meals) themselves.’’

Just like magic marketing and advertainment are convincing us to do almost everything. McDonald’s in one of the examples presented in the documentary, promotes their food by introducing toys that look appealing to toddlers and younger kids and making them one of the least healthy groups of children in American History. Dr. David Ludwig, a professor in Pediatrics at Harvard Medical University says that “a calorie in is a calorie out” is a false statement. He continues by stating that “210 calories in almonds is a lot different than 210 calories in a soda. This states the fact that even though different foods may have the same calorie count it doesn’t necessarily mean that they have the same benefits or that our digestive system may digest them the same way.

While the food industry is harming our health through its false and targeted advertising, they have made an effort to help decrease the causes. Michelle Obama joined the food industry for a strong reason: to limit the calories placed in foods. This just makes it clearer that health should be our top priority in today’s world. Throughout the documentary we see health put in front by the producer, however, logos is not the only way that the producer and narrator are using to grab the viewer’s attention, We see clear examples of ethos as well. Ethos is a rhetorical device that includes any content in an argument that is meant to appeal to ethics.

In using ethos Soechtig and Couric are making the audience believe their own trustworthiness. They are able to use figures and facts to back up their claims. In the documentary, we see Couric state that: “More and more people began exercising, more and more waistlines grew out of control. Between 1980 and 2000, fitness club memberships more than doubled across the United States. During that same time, the obesity rate also doubled. A decade later, two out of every three Americans were either overweight or obese. So how is it possible… that the enormous rise of the fitness revolution almost exactly mirrored the rise in obesity rates.’’ Furthermore, they continue to discuss how sugar affects our brains. Couric continues to give examples and explain that in a recent study, 43 cocaine-addicted laboratory rats were given the choice of cocaine or sugar water over a 15-day period. Forty out of the 43 chose sugar. In another study, rats on a sugar water diet exhibited telltale signs of addiction, binging, craving, and withdrawal when the sugar was taken away. Food addiction is a real thing. It’s not a metaphor. It’s a biological fact. Studies show that your brain lights up with sugar just like it does with cocaine or heroin. In fact, sugar is eight times more addictive than cocaine. So, if you start your baby early on addictive highly sugary foods, they’re going to become addicted. By far the most shocking statistic of all is that in the 1980s there weren’t a lot of cases of type 2 diabetes, but today numbers show us otherwise, more than 57,600 cases in America. The facts that are being gathered and presented are making the audience pay more attention.

Introduction

Parents set the example for the kids. Who does not set an example for their kids? Growing up, I looked up to my mom and dad, who does not look upon their parents and how they do everything? Are they clean? Are they messy? This is why adults are always asked to look at what they do because that is what they are role modeling towards the kids with them. I wanted to be just like them and do everything they did. If my dad was eating a big hamburger from Burger King, I wanted one too. If my mom went to the gym, I also wanted to join her. Its being able to follow your parents footsteps.

Parents set the example for their children throughout their life. Will they eat healthy if their parents do? Yes, if the mom and dad start eating healthy, later their children will follow along there footsteps. Kids are carbon copies of their parents.

Parents are adults and adults are smart enough to know how to read nutrition labels. They know that fast food is not a good choice but they continue to make that choice because fast food is easy and cheap, however it is not worth the risk of heart disease and obesity in the future that they will have to carry on in the future. It is important to think ahead before the wrong decision is made about one’s diet.

Parents are role models and they can help prevent their children from being obese. They don’t need to be fed chubby fingers off a McDonalds Happy Meal for their kids to stop eating fast food, parents can simply just set a good example, by having cheat days, tiny bit of unhealthy food, exercising and doing all the good stuff that can become a habit for your child. Healthier the parents are living off from, would cause their kids to know how to be healthy and set a positive experience in their adulthood as well so they will not regret when they develop diseases when they become older and older.

Summary of paper

“Chubby” is often used as a word to describe “cute” children, but maybe it should start being used to describe “unhealthy” children. Many people blame fast food companies for their own health problems; many blame themselves; some even blame the government. Consequently, a public health group in California asked for the government to declare childhood obesity a state of emergency. I believe that this argument has many sides, and everyone is to blame, some more than others. Parents play the biggest part in this issue. Parents are the most to blame for childhood obesity because parents set the eating patterns for young children, are examples for their children in what they do, and do not always have the time for healthy food.

When a child is young, parents will give him or her certain foods, and the children will tend to like them from there on. This can either help or hinder the child’s life. If the parent gives the child healthy or correctly measured meal servings, they have a better chance of a healthy lifestyle later in life. For example, eating apple slices with peanut butter can be a healthy and well rounded snack, if portions are correct. On the other hand, if a parent feeds their child unhealthy foods, or incorrect portions of a meal, they will have a higher chance of an unhealthy lifestyle. Having fresh fruits or vegetables as a snack is much healthier than having processed, packaged bags of air and chips, like supposedly healthy Sun Chips. Therefore, giving a child healthy foods when young can shape their lifestyle into a healthy one.

The incidences of childhood overweight and obesity has increased substantially and with them the prevalence of the psychiatric health problems that are included in it. So, it Is better to be prepared beforehand rather than regret later on. Besides biological factors, familial interactions and parental behavioral patterns may influence children’s weight development. One factor called longitudinal investigation of children at overweight risk could help to detect significant risk and protective factors. If there are issues at home like domestic abuse or vise versa, that sort of problems do cause problems with the child’s behabiour and weight.

The study I was looking at was aiming to describe infants’ weight development over time and identify risk and protective factors for the incidence of childhood obesity.

Study design

The study is based on cross sectional study, while on developmental and health-psychological models, the study was considering measurements at three levels: the child, the mom and dadand parent–child-relationship. The major points was to evaluate the psychological, social, and behavioral situation of the parents as well as the physical of the child. Parents were interviewed, filled in questionnaires, and take part in tasks with their child in a feeding and in a playing situation that was held in their research laboratory while they had to the quality of these video-taped parent–child interactions while it is satsifed and analysised by the researchers.

Study population

The population of the study, they ended up presenting “the protocol of a prospective longitudinal study” in which the researchers investigate the families with children aged from 6 months to 47 months. In half of the families at least one parent is obese (risk group), in the other half both parents are normal weight (control group) of the study.

Outcomes

The strength and weaknesses, are quite evident in the article. Strengths of the presented study are the prospective longitudinal design, the multi-informant approach, including the fathers, and the observation of parent-child interaction. A limitation is the variation in children’s age. They do not know if they are actually the age they are been told.

Data collection

At each assessment point, the study was to assess data on three levels: the child, the parents, and the family/environment. On the level of the child, they collect data regarding their physical and development by using age appropriate tests and procedures. On the level of the parents, they assess physical variables as well as their psychological situation. For this purpose, parents are interviewed and they fill in questionnaires while they are recorded. On the level of the family, they are asked to measure parents’ interaction with the child in a play and a feeding situation which is video-taped in our research laboratory which is after analysised

There are also limitations to the study. First, the children in the sample are not all of the same age – they are between 6 and 47 months at the first assessment point. Therefore, it was a neeed to take age into account when interpreting the results. Second, the families of the risk group are recruited because they have at least one obese parent for instance, it could be the mother or the father who is obese, both parents could be obese, or one of them overweight, Depending on the resulting distribution of subgroups, the sample size might be too small to test for all subgroup differences. Third, prior research has identified a number of barriers in recruiting families for obesity clinical trials and willingness to participate in obesity studies seems to be low and different numbers. Therefore, it is challenging to avoid a self- selection bias.

Results

In conclusion, it is apparent that children are vulnerable in the nutritional aspect amid the lack of guidance and support from their parents and the family they are in. However, although this complication is inevitable, there are still solutions which can be implemented, and with monitoring and reinforcement, this difficulty should no longer be a problem in the near future. My question was whether having an obese parents causes their child to be obese, and it turns out to be correct. All the articles and studies I have read and searched indicate that parents are to be blamed, no one else.

Obesity is one of the leading chronic diseases throughout the world. Obesity is the leading cause of United States mortality, disability, morbidity, and last but not least healthcare costs adding up to billions of dollars in preventable spending each year. Obesity in scientific terms is having an excess amount of adipose tissue. Adipose tissue also known as fatty tissue is a connective tissue that consists of mainly fat cells. The adipose tissue secretes a number of products, such as metabolites, and lipids. Excess amounts of these products can lead to insulin resistance, which can later on lead to type 2 diabetes. However, this is not the main concern; obesity is a disease that not only affects the adult population but the child population as well. Around 17 percent of children are considered obese putting them at high risk for a range of health problems. The percentage of children with obesity in the United States has astonishingly tripped since the 1970s. About 1 in 5 children between the ages of 6 and 19 has obesity. Obesity is identified by BMI (body mass index).

BMI is often used as a screening tool for measuring overweight and obesity. BMI percentile is usually measured when it comes to children and young adults. Children with a BMI at or above the 85th percentile and less than the 95th percentile are considered overweight. Children with a percentile higher than 95 are considered obese. Childhood obesity in most cases is due to overeating and under-exercising. However, there are many more factors that come into play to increase the risk of having obesity. One of the many reasons is closely related to a child’s diet. Unhealthy food options and regular consumption of high-calorie foods, like fast food, and baked goods can cause weight gain, which eventually leads to obesity. Short sleep duration, eating and physical activity behaviors, community and neighborhood, and metabolism are all causes of obesity.

Obesity has become a problem at such an early age for children. It’s an important public health priority that needs to be addressed because many people are taking this very lightly and saying “It’s okay children don’t know any better”, but these people don’t realize by saying this, they’re only making matters worse and letting children make a habit of eating foods that cause obesity. It has become so easy now for parents to just buy their children ready-made food and pack it for lunch, it’s so easy now for parents to just give their children lunch money and say “You can buy something for yourself at school”. Children are buying chips and sodas and having them for lunch. Parents are somewhere running away from their responsibilities or are either too busy to cook for their children. Therefore kids are adapting and getting used to these junk foods and it’s become very addicting. Once a child has started it becomes very hard for them to stop. If we go around asking children from ages 6-19 what they like to eat the majority of these children will say chips, sodas, candies, and other junk food they are so used to eating. Since there is a fast food restaurant at most corners of any block it has become very accessible.

Due to this fact, parents often become lazy and decide to buy their children food from restaurants like McDonalds, Burger King, Taco Bell, or Wendy’s. Another thing with fast food is that it is cheaper compared to other restaurants. The second of the many reasons is the lack of physical activity, ever since computers, and television have come into our lives children consider to stay inside instead of taking part in outdoor physical activity. Physical activity was seen as a form of entertainment for some people. However, with the world making technological advances day by day, they are slowly taking over children’s lives. A computer or television becomes a child’s entertainment. The environment that a child is around contributes to obesity. If a child is around bags of chips, pizza, and candy bars, the child will most likely indulge in these foods instead of fruits and vegetables. The third reason is genetics, If a child is born into a family of overweight people, he or she is most likely already predisposed to obesity. In addition, of course, medical conditions have an effect on a child’s weight. Not common but there are genetic diseases and hormonal diseases that can predispose child obesity. This includes hypothyroidism, which is when the thyroid gland does not release enough hormones to control metabolism. With all of these, there come many results with childhood obesity. Children with obesity are at higher risk of health conditions that deeply affect physical health.

Children who are obese often suffer asthma, sleep apnea, severe joint problems because they have a great amount of weight to carry around, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. There are emotional consequences that occur with being obese. Children who are obese are often bullied and teased for their disorder. In the end, childhood obesity leads to obesity in adulthood. Which directly correlates with heart disease, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and different types of cancer. Childhood obesity also varies among ethnicities. The prevalence of obesity is higher among Hispanics at a rate of 21.9 percent compared to blacks and whites (19.5% and 14.7%). Treatment of childhood obesity directly correlates with adulthood obesity itself. A healthy approach to eating can turn things around for a child who is obese, when grocery shopping choosing fruits and vegetables can be a smarter alternative as compared to convenience food.

Limiting sweetened beverages and fast food consumption plays a positive role in weight loss. In addition, a critical part of achieving and maintaining a healthy weight, especially for children is more physical activities. Finding activities of a child’s interest and limiting computer time emphasizes physical activity. There are also medications that can be prescribed to some adolescents as part of a weight loss plan. However, going down this path of medications is questionable due to the long-term effects of medication which are still unknown. But as we all know medications of any sort will have side effects and shouldn’t be a first step or first option to early childhood obesity. If all things fail, then weight loss surgery may be the way to go. Weight loss surgery is not a miracle cure as many may imagine it being, because it does not guarantee weight loss for a long period of time. Reducing sugar-sweetened beverage consumption has become a major healthcare concern because of strong evidence that it can and in fact, does increase the risk of obesity. From 2009 to 2010 the average child in the United States consumed about 155 calories from sugar-sweetened beverages in just one day. About 42 percent of children drank soda in just one week. Since there was a dramatic increase in sugar-sweetened beverage consumption, something had to be done as quickly as possible.

Due to the success that was seen from tobacco taxation public health, experts had then concluded that there should be an excise tax on all sugar-sweetened beverages to reduce overall consumption of these sweetened beverages. Most states in the United States have sales tax on their beverages but that has no impact on consumers buying it whatsoever. Excise tax has a greater shelf price so consumers think twice before buying the product. From 2013 to 2014, many states had pushed for a sugar-sweetened beverage tax. However, one of the strongest efforts came from Berkeley, California in November of 2014 they had become the first and only US jurisdiction to pass a sugar-sweetened beverage excise tax for public health purposes. They charged a $0.01 per ounce tax on all of the sugar-sweetened beverages which included soda, energy drinks, fruit-flavored water, coffee, and tea. On a community level, to prevent childhood obesity parents of the community can get together and hold a town meeting that shines a light on the complications of childhood obesity.

Parents can address the changes they would want to see in their child’s school. One major change that needs to be made in schools is the type of snacks that are being offered in vending machines for children. If parents can come together and make this change happen it can have an overall positive effect and can definitely show a decrease in childhood obesity. Because when children are hungry they sometimes don’t care about what is being given and eat anything which is being offered to them. Learning starts from school, just like children learn different subjects such as math, reading, and writing these children will start eating healthy if the school is also teaching them and giving them healthy food alternatives compared to the junk food being given today in schools. Changing up the snacks in vending machines, instead of chips these vending machines can include packets of sliced apples, bananas, granola bars, orange juice, apple juice, flavored yogurts, packets with mixed fruits such as blueberries, strawberries, instant oatmeals, and dried fruits. We can monitor the effectiveness of these healthy snacks and ensure that the children are eating them along with buying them by placing a designated worker who will monitor and also help the kids with the vending machine.

The children are bound to eat whatever is offered in the vending machines. Just like those children who usually do not eat junk food but are hungry and see a vending machine that offers junk food and end up eating it, just like that we plan on having the same idea. Children who eat junk food on a regular will start eating healthy snacks when they’re hungry and have no other option available for them. In addition, obesity is associated with higher healthcare costs. A total of 14.1 billion dollars is the total of additional prescription drugs, emergency room, and outpatient visits costs annually. Also, a child who is obese and continues to gain weight has a medical cost that is 19,000 dollars higher compared to a normal-weight child. As seen, obesity not only has an effect on the physical aspect of a being but financially as well. Any positive movement towards preventing obesity is very beneficial. America’s economy is not at its best right now and most individuals try to do their best to save money. This taxation can help prevent obesity and save people a lot of money. However, another step that can be taken is to start awareness campaigns. The more people become aware of the results of obesity, the more precautions they are most likely to take. As much as technology has a positive effect, it has a negative effect as well. Computers and televisions cause children to become inactive. Limiting computer and television time can also put an end to obesity.

Childhood obesity is a serious epidemic in the United States, with obesity comes physical effects, psychological effects, and long-term effects. Childhood obesity can lead to obesity in adulthood, which predisposes an individual to many healthcare problems. The problems include diabetes, adulthood obesity, heart disease, and deterioration of bone structure. Getting childhood obesity under control can be beneficial for future generations and for this generation as well. I hope this health issue is resolved as soon as possible for anyone going through childhood obesity is a major risk. Therefore, If everyone as a community can do their part we can prevent obesity in children, we can prevent children at a young age so they don’t end up adapting to these junk foods at such an early age by changing the snacks in the vending machines. Although this may seem like such a small thing to do, it is actually a major cause of obesity just like we are working on preventing children from smoking in schools, our local communities, and in school youth organizations. A similar approach is needed for preventing childhood obesity, schools need to stop selling and filling up their vending machines with only junk food and have healthy alternatives. They also need to increase the amount of physical activity being performed in schools, instead of having a gym once a week they should make it mandatory to have a gym every day for at least 30 minutes.

Obesity in children at such a young age is a huge and alarming public health problem, which needs to be stopped. Many other countries have smaller serving sizes in restaurants and fast food restaurants but in the United States, we have the largest serving sizes which needs to stop. Restaurant owners and fast food restaurants need to stop advertising new deals each and every day. For them it’s business but for people, it’s their life. They advertise new drinks every other day, buy one get one free offer, and free refills, why do we need refills? Why do we need bigger serving sizes for sodas for just a few pennies more? This needs to be addressed and should be stopped as quickly as possible. People look at these advertisements and fall for them. If we can stop obesity in young ages ranging from 6-19 and if we can help children adapt to a healthier lifestyle starting at a young age we can stop obesity overall and decrease the numbers of people who have obesity of all ages in the United States.

Over the past two decades, the number of obese or overweight children has doubled in number due to a number of factors (especially with technological advances on the rise). A child is considered overweight or obese when they have accumulated weight/fat that may have a negative effect on the child’s health either soon in their teenage or adult life. Not only does it have a negative effect on their health but also on the child’s social life among his/her peers. Despite it being associated with wealthy middle-class children, we can see now that even in low-income families too.

Causes and contributing factors

• The excessive consumption of unhealthy and sugary foods – These foods contain a lot of sugar and rarely contain any nutritional value. Many have hidden sugars such as fruit juice and parents issue them out thinking that they are good for their children;
• Lack of physical activity – with the rise of technology, children are better entertained by their smartphones and are therefore less prone to do something active. With the rise of crime and child abduction many parents prevent their children from playing outside. This intern encourages children to remain indoors;
• Family Habits – The eating patterns of your family may be unhealthy especially if the parents are overweight themselves. If this is the case then they may be less concerned with maintaining the health of their children;
• Culture – In countries such as South Africa young children are encouraged to eat as much as they would like (overeat). This is due to the belief that a fat or ‘chubby’ child is a healthy and happy child;
• Genetics – In special cases, the child may contract a rare gene disorder from their parents or grandparents which makes them more susceptible to obesity;
• Portion sizes have increased;
• The Families Income – Unfortunately these days it is more expensive to eat healthy due to the increase in prices of food. Many citizens in South Africa earn a small income and so they don’t consider whether the food they are buying is good for their children or not. They only consider the price of the food and many unhealthy and additive dense foods are quite cheap;
• Lack of education – Many people aren’t educated on how to eat or how to maintain a healthy diet especially the parents and older generation. This gap in their knowledge will affect their kids.

To summarise:

• The cost of (unhealthy) food has decreased;
• Portion sizes have increased – People are eating more;
• The use of cars has increased – Drive thru’s provide fast food faster and more convenient and people are walking less resulting in less physical activity and exercise;
• Physical education has been reduced in the school curriculum – Again less exercise equals unfit children;
• Cultural beliefs – in many cultures a fat or chubby child is a healthy one;
• Children spending more money at the tuck shop – encouraging the consumption of convenience food.

Technology has had a hand in this

Due to technological advancements, the mass production of food has never been more efficient and cheaper. This of course comes at a cost.

• Convenience food – The number of McDonald’s branches in South Africa has over the past decade. Fast food has never been healthy as it is high in salt, sugar and contain many unhealthy additives and stabilizers. However fast food is convenient especially for households where the parent/s are always busy and don’t have time to cook a meal at home. Convince foods are also not as costly and time consuming as home cooked meals.
• Marketing – We are continuously bombarded by flashy adverts and tempting promotions on offer. At Steers if you purchase a burger using their wacky Wednesday special you are immediately given a free burger. This is attracting to people as it is ‘guaranteed’ to save you money. The truth of the matter is if you are given the option to buy ‘good’ tasting food at a lower cost than normal, you are bound to buy it.
• Processed foods – Because of our disastrous economy many mothers or fathers will choose convenient food as a means to feed their families. This brings us to processed foods and I am not just talking about viennas and polony. This list includes foods such as potato crisps and high sugar content fruit juices. Due to factories employing less people and more machines processed foods are being produced faster and faster there for they are readily available at all kinds of stores worldwide. Many of these foods contain all kinds of unhealthy stabilizers, additives and preservatives not to mention loads upon loads of glucose and sodium which young children consume all the time.
• Social media – Younger and younger children are logging into social media these days I would be surprised if 13 years old did not already have their own Instagram accounts. Alongside the dangers of social media such as cyberbullying comes…..influencers! These are people who are usually followed by many people and endorse or promote a certain product for a company. This can range from clothes to edible products. It almost works the same way as adverts on TV and on the radio. Because many people favour the influencer, they want to replicate their lifestyles and so young teenagers usually follow this trend.

Health Risks

Although these health risks develop during childhood, they only become visible when in adulthood. The early signs of these problems are commonly found in Children. Potential health issues for obese children are:

Long term:

• Type 2 diabetes – it increases risk of kidney disease, blindness and strokes
• Bulimia or binge eating (eating disorders)
• Orthopedic disorders – Problems regarding foot structure
• Liver issues e.g. Fatty Liver
• Blocked airways in the chest wall can cause breathlessness during exercise (Respiratory disorders)
• Sleep Apnoea – a condition that causes difficulty breathing when one is sleeping. It also causes snoring and poor sleep which can contribute to poor concentration during the day
• Cardiomyopathy – caused when the heart muscle needs extra time to pump blood resulting in the heart muscle developing an issue
• Heart disease – It is easier to develop high cholesterol, high blood pressure and suffer a stroke when you are overweight.

Short term:

• Joint stress – extra weight will put a strain on joints especially on the knees and hips. This makes it difficult to move and exercise efficiently.
• If one is overweight and pregnant then they are at a greater risk of pregnancy complications.

And remember: Obesity in childhood results in obesity in adulthood

Mental health issues related to obesity

Food has always been associated with nurture and care. Therefore during periods of distress and pain many turn to food as a form of self-medication. During the menstrual period, many young women indulge in carbohydrate-heavy foods known as “comfort food”. We use food to feel better and fight negative feelings which could lead to overeating and a frequent bad diet which could result in obesity.

Studies have found that depression has a correlation with depression. It’s a vicious cycle as depression usually results in an unsuccessful bid to lose weight. Meanwhile a successful weightless result in a reduction of depression. In 2008 a study found that women who have low self-esteem or body image tend to gain weight.

In addition to anxiety and depression, a study also found that 32.6% of patients who suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) have obesity which builds on the fact that there is a strong relationship between obesity and PTSD.

Going back to depression and anxiety it was found through a study the patients with anxiety usually eat compulsively and excessively which contributes to obesity. Depressed patients have also found that their appetites increase and depression results in a lack of physical activities. All this contributes to obesity.

Many students either in high school or university are more under pressure to do well these days. The pressure channels its way into anxiety which has resulted in some people developing the night-eating syndrome. We have all had that one busy day where we skipped breakfast and took an energy bar to school then we have a sports match after school then dance practice until 7pm. We still have homework to complete which results in only eating a heavy meal at 10pm. The heavy consumption of kilojoules at a late hour could cause insomnia and your busy schedule disrupts your daily diet.

From 1971 until 1984 Michel Foucault was the working as the Chair of the History of Systems of Thought at the College de France (Ransom, 1997). Marginalized and underprivileged groups were the focus of plenty of theoretical work done by Foucault, the history of social and medical sciences as well as its implications on those groups was of a distinctive presence in his work (Henderson, 2015). Foucault’s initial work is affected by Marx and existentialism (Henderson, 2015). Existentialism is the theory of the individual’s well and freedom determining their being and evolution (Henderson, 2015). Foucault’s background and a handful of events in his life had a clear implication on his work and point of view (Henderson, 2015). Although authority is often linked with repressiveness and capitalism (Ransom, 1997). Foucault linked authority with knowledge and productiveness (Henderson, 2015). Foucault is interested in the medium of linguistics as a means of comprehending the universe; therefore, Foucault is considered a poststructuralist (Henderson, 2015). Words create the reality of our social lives by illustrating it; this supports the poststructuralism statement (Tonkiss, 1998). In Foucault’s later work, he showed curiosity in Governmentality and its applications, as well as subjunctive citizenship (Foucault, 1980). Foucault saw Governmentality as an art that consists of strategically planned practices and knowing how to govern (Foucault, 1977). Governmentality to Foucault was about the physical force affecting individuals as in protection, Foucault’s way of understanding Governmentality originated in the nineteenth century (Foucault, 1980). Foucault discovered the possibility of over-governing (Henderson, 2015). However, Neo-liberalism endorses less government involvement and promotes self-governance regarding healthy lifestyle choices (Henderson et al., 2009). Liberalism was the primary form of governance in Western countries (Henderson, 2015). Foucault was often intrigued when social phenomena turned out to be made into a problem (Henderson, 2015).

Based on the apparent epidemic of obesity, growing attention has been paid to childhood obesity as a social and health problem (Henderson, 2015). Chronic disease goes hand in hand with obesity, both have a prolonged impact on the economy and public health (Boero, 2007; Mitchell and McTigue, 2007). The impact of obesity and chronic disease on the quality of individual lives has led media and academic literature to call obesity an epidemic (Boero, 2007; Mitchell and McTigue 2007). “Obesity: Preventing and Managing the Global Epidemic.” is a 1998 World Health Organization (WHO) report that describes above healthy Body Mass Index (BMI) as an epidemic (Mitchell and McTigue, 2007). When WHO labeled their report about obesity with “epidemic,” they might have started the Linguistic description of obesity as an epidemic (Mitchell and McTigue, 2007). Childhood obesity is often defined as trouble with parental or self-discipline in media (Henderson et al., 2009; Saguy & Almeling 2008). Disregarding the influence of the social context, mass media draws attention from the multipart social problem to an ethical matter, supporting the individualization of obesity (Saguy & Almeling, 2008). Individualizing obesity means blaming individuals less for their obesity and this, in turn, redirects the guilt to social influences, businesses, and governments (Henderson, 2015). Mass media created a connection between habits and materiality to obesity, and this in turn made childhood obesity a purely medical phenomenon (Boero, 2007). The connection mass media created between adapting to inadequate lifestyle choices or genetic composition permitted medical interventions such as invasive interventions to drastic measures (Boero, 2007). Children can be seen in two different situations when it comes to being obese (Henderson et al., 2009). In one case, children could influence their guardians and compel them to adhere to their poor food choices (Henderson et al., 2009). In the other case, children are naïve and immature beings and need to be preserved from the media and market (Henderson et al., 2009). Parental responsibility is a key factor in controlling the childhood obesity epidemic (Henderson et al., 2009). The growth of childhood obesity discourse can be discovered through Governmentality where lifestyle choices can affect in the growth of childhood obesity (Henderson et al., 2009). Governmentality is a way to see who has the most influence in the growth of childhood obesity whether it is parents, the marketing and advertising, or the government (Henderson et al., 2009). Discovering childhood obesity and its governance in a theoretical frame and application has several strong points (Henderson, 2015). Governmental wisdom is a way to explain the policy’s feedback, which endorses individualism over systematic solutions on the public level (Henderson, 2015; Powell, & Gard, 2015). Governmental wisdom defenses restrained healthcare resources and blamed the decrease of other chronic disease risk factors (Henderson, 2015; Powell, & Gard, 2015).

Discovering childhood obesity discourse has its limitations when using theoretic perception (Henderson, 2015). However, disparities in the structure are disregarded in this perception, and therefore it is inadequate from the point of view of critical theorists (Henderson, 2015). Disparities are arising from gender, class, and parental capability to fulfill policy essentials (Henderson, 2015). The perception of Foucault evaluates good parenting and its illustrations (Henderson, 2015). However, Foucault also evaluates the influence of parents failing to encounter parenting standards; Foucault’s opinions are not successful in discovering that marginalized females are failing to meet those standards (Henderson, 2015). Parenting standards often disregard restricted cultural and physical resources in the parenting medium (Henderson, 2015). Negotiating decent parenting standards is usually a must for younger and economically less fortunate single mothers (Henderson, 2015). Young and economically less fortunate single mothers’ negotiation is mostly influenced by cultural capital limitations and limited physical and economic resources (Henderson, 2015). In argument, Foucault is linked with a group of theorists who consider the human body as passive (Henderson, 2015; Crossley, 1996). A subsequent criticism defines the theoretic tension between having the freedom to act or passively living in it; this concept does not necessarily conflict with Foucault’s point of view (Henderson, 2015; Crossley, 1996). The idea of the body being passive is argued, that individuals can act regarding their bodies and weight (Henderson, 2015; Crossley, 1996). Childhood and parents empowerment programs that encourage healthy lifestyle choices do have such arguments of body passiveness and acting upon obesity (Henderson, 2015).

Foucault saw Governmentality as an art that includes strategically planned practices and knowledge of governing, which outline the governed individuals’ role. Neo-liberalism was then derived from Governmentality, where less power was imposed. Governance became indirect, and the public also became more health-conscious and aware. Healthcare professionals view childhood obesity as a sophisticated phenomenon that needs to be dedicated and special attention. In early childhood, most children will not have much of a choice in what is put on their plates. However, the complexity of decision-making develops in childhood. This does not mean that children should change their lifestyle choices, especially in the presence of childhood obesity. This epidemic, the presence of Neo-liberalism, is not improving the situation, and perhaps more restrictions to control this epidemic are needed.

The word Obesity in a dictionary is defined as having excess body fat. Obesity many times is overlooked or joked about due to people not researching how obesity is a very important health issue that is only increasing. Obesity to me is more than a word. During High School and Middle School, everybody always joked about obesity and other health issues. But one day I and my friends saw a kid get bullied because of his weight, and nobody except me was curious because this was one of my first days in High School. He later became more introverted and seemed to not want to have friends. This brought me to the question How does Child Obesity affect you mentally in the future?

To understand the mental effects of childhood obesity in the future we must first tackle the definition of Child Obesity. Child Obesity is a condition in which a child is significantly overweight for his or her age and height. Unfortunately, obesity begins at a young age most of the time. This makes it much more difficult for kids especially to get rid of obesity because they grow up obese. From an article titled Childhood obesity The report presented by NHANES for the year 2007-2008 estimated that 16.9% of children and adolescents in the age group of 2-19 years were obese. Examination Survey. These are alarming rates and at the moment are only going up. Before researching about childhood obesity this information seemed to be fake but after opening my eyes and observing my surroundings on tv and in newspapers these numbers only seemed right. We are surrounded by a society where junk food is the most popular type of food and video games are taking over. So in today’s society why are we being surrounded by so many things that lead to obesity?

One article from American Psychological Association titled The Impact of Food Advertising on Childhood Obesity tackles the question of why children are becoming obese at such a young age. From this article, studies have shown that the rates of childhood obesity have almost tripled over the last quarter century and about 20% of the youth in the United States are now overweight even in Pre-School overweight rates are increasing at an alarming speed. One of the big causes of adults staying obese is caused with never being able to lose weight and maybe even gaining weight. The prevention efforts in childhood obesity have to be mainly focused on not becoming obese. Research has shown a connection between advertising and children can be a cause of childhood obesity because advertising for non-nutritious food has been increasing over the last decade. This information should change how we look at obesity in general. We all probably thought that adults were obese due to the fact they didn’t want to take care of their bodies. But it makes sense that they are obese probably because they were obese as a child. This article made me think about how difficult it is to finally overcome the challenge of losing weight and what the main causes people stay obese from a child.

As I thought about my initial question, this made me wonder how child obesity could later change a person mentally. Thinking it would help me connect obesity and its mental health effects. An article from 2013 titled Child Obesity from The Gale Encyclopedia of Public Health (Davidson) outlines the causes of obesity and also the symptoms of obesity. This article lists many causes of obesity, but where it begins is the most important. Studies show that beginning weight control at a younger age will most likely carry out into adulthood. Also being overweight at a younger age can cause bullying to happen and lower self-esteem and later depression and lead to three times the chances of having several mental health effects in the future such as depression, diabetes, and increased anxiety or stress. This can be noticed a lot in High School. There is bullying about weight, and the ones getting bullied usually end up being introverted and not wanting to make friends. This has definitely changed how I examine obesity, obesity to me is not just a random thing people make jokes about but a disorder that can lead to many mental health effects in the future. What relationship do one of the major mental health problems, depression and obesity have?

Well, this can be seen in an article from 2014 Depression and obesity in the U.S. adult household population which connects how obesity is evidently a cause of depression and how many people suffer from obesity and depression. This article states that 43% of adults that were dealing with depression were obese as well compared to the other 33 % of adults without depression. And women were more likely to be affected by obesity from depression than men and this information was consistent through all ages. In this article as the severity of depression increased and more people are being affected by depression were increasing the obesity rate in these people was also increasing. This made me think that the real problem was that people would become depressed and then later would become obese due to the effect of depression. But then the same article stated that obesity and depression can be a bidirectional relationship. Meaning that Obesity can cause depression and vice versa. But this is only one of the many mental health effects obesity causes. This proved to me that depression can be a cause of obesity but obesity can cause more mental health effects such as hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia, among other medical conditions, threatening to shorten the longevity of the American populace by as much as 5 years. Why or how can it be to prevent Obesity or stop being obese?

In an article titled Developing Mental Toughness For Permanent Weight Loss, we will understand how losing weight isn’t as easy as it may look sometimes. Losing weight isn’t just having a good diet and exercising hard. Studies have shown the main reason losing can be so hard is because of mental toughness. In the article “Especially in today’s stressful society, you must be mentally tough”. We are not mentally tough because in today’s society we are surrounded by people and food temptations everywhere we go. This showed me that to lose weight mental toughness is needed and when we are affected mentally by obesity it can lead to many other mental health effects that we might never be able to overcome. But what is the best way to overcome mental toughness and overcome obesity or other mental health effects?

Now when we hear obesity we think of being overweight. But we never think about how somebody is going through obesity mentally. We might joke about their weight or how they look. But we never think of how it began and how they might end up in the future because they are obese. Now I definitely am looking at obesity as one of the biggest problems in the United States and is only increasing. I learned that the one kid I saw people making fun of in High School is going through so many problems and that is why he is obese, and I will now always stay by his side because he wants to change but is depressed. How has our society changed so much over the past decades? And what will it take as a society to change again?

Works Cited

1. Davidson, Tish, editor. ‘Child Obesity.’ Gale Virtual Reference Library, Gale Encyclopedia of Public Health, 2013, go.galegroup.com. Accessed 21 Feb. 2019.
2. Karnik, Samira, and Amar Kanekar, editors. ‘Childhood Obesity: A Global Public Health Crisis.’ Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, International Journal of Preventive Medicine, 3 Jan. 2012, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3278864/. Accessed 21 Feb. 2019.
3. LA, Pratt, and Brody DJ. ‘Depression and obesity in the U.S. adult household population.’ Www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, Oct. 2014, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25321386. Accessed 21 Feb. 2019.
4. Banas, Jeffrey. ‘Developing Mental Toughness for Permanent Weight Loss.’
5. Www.boxingscene.com, BoxingScene.com, www.boxingscene.com/weight-loss/42232.php.

Introduction

Obesity is the second leading cause of preventable death worldwide 1

In Canada, 13% of children between the ages of 5-17 are obese with another 20% overweight 1

• Obesity is responsible for an increased risk of developing chronic diseases such as cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and respiratory disturbances 3
• Due to factors such as socioeconomic status, and physical, and emotional health.
• Registered Kinesiologists can influence change by prescribing exercise.

Recommendation

It is recommended that the Government of Ontario provide additional funding to Registered Kinesiologists in a family health clinic, specifically working alongside obese children.

• These children are referred to exercise programs to help educate, prevent, treat, and manage chronic disease and improve their quality of life. (1.11, 1.12, 1.2, 1.4)

Evidence Amount of sedentary behavior relates to increased obesity risk 4

• 7% of Canadian youth met the recommended 60 minutes of Moderate to Vigorous activity per day 4
• Children who exercised for 55 minutes/day were found to be at lower risk for obesity 3

The Canadian Government spends between $4.6 billion and $7.1 billion on obesity annually at 1

• Individuals with obesity require more time with healthcare professionals and healthcare costs increase. Kinesiologists can be a cheaper alternative for family health clinics.
• With aerobic exercise programs, patients can reduce and prevent the severity of obesity, eat healthier, and can lose weight 2
• Referral programs right after family clinic appointments can help enrollment 2

Implications (Cons & Inaction)

A Kinesiologist is a newer health profession and not as common for rehabilitation

• Some Family Health Clinics may not hire a kinesiologist. A nutritionist might be more advantageous to support obesity. It is more cost-effective to hire a Kinesiologist rather than a physiotherapist.

As the population rises in a technological era obesity in children will only increase

• The increase in obesity will increase the prevalence of chronic diseases 3
• In Canada, there are 23 children obesity management plans 2
• ·With more Kinesiologists available there will be more current management and can provide Ontario’s youth with more assistance.

References

1. Canada, Parliament, Senate. Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology. (2016). Report on obesity in Canada: a whole-of-society approach for a healthier Canada.
2. Kuhle, S., Doucette, R., Piccinini-Vallis, H., & Kirk, S. F. L. (2015). Successful childhood obesity management in primary care in Canada: What are the odds? Peerj, 3, e1327. doi:10.7717/peerj.1327
3. Peirson, L., et al. (2015) Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Children and Youth: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. CMAJ Open, 3(1), 35-46. doi:10.9778/cmajo.20140047.
4. Colley, R. C., Carson, V., Garriguet, D., Janssen, I., Roberts, C., & Tremblay, M. S. (2017). Physical activity of Canadian children and youth, 2007 to 2015. Statistics Canada, 28(10), 8-16.
5. Childhood obesity. (n.d.) Retrieved September 20, 2019, from https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/childhood-obesity/childhood- obesity.html

Thinking of an epidemic, AIDS, Ebola and all kinds of incurable and widespread diseases will usually be the first examples that come to people’s mind. Yet obesity has become the “new epidemic” that has infected countless numbers of people from different countries, races, and social classes. Currently, the group of people that is in the most danger of obesity is children and adolescents ranging between the ages of 2 and 19. In the past quarter century, the number of overweight children has grown from one in twenty to nearly one in five, infecting 12.7 million, or 16.9 percent of the young population (Karson). Governments and parents are struggling with the cause and prevention of this ‘new epidemic’, at the same time eager to find a solution. As a result, new ways to lose weight are developed every day from low-fat milk to fat-burning exercise, however, kids are still getting bigger and sicker.

Childhood obesity has now become a pressing public health challenge with many probable causes and no specific solution. If left untreated childhood obesity can cause serious damage both physically and mentally. There are many misconceptions surrounding the issue of childhood obesity. Understanding these misconceptions will help in solving the real problem behind obesity. One common misconception of obesity is that it is directly related to the increasing amount of fat in people’s bodies. For children and teenagers, gaining a substantial amount of fat and weight is not completely bad. This group of individuals must gain weight as they grow. Having an adequate amount of fat during early antenatal development is critically important for the maximum growth of key organs. Throughout the growth period in which an infant becomes an adolescent, the differences between healthy weight gains and unhealthy weight gains should be keenly observed. It therefore follows that the onset of obesity will require the expert eye of a pediatrician or family physician. A five-pound weight gain in one five-year-old child may be healthier for one, but not for another child of the same age (Moglia). Fat is important for children’s early development, whereas an excessive amount is problematic.

Many variables specific to each individual should be considered when diagnosing obesity in children. Another explanation of childhood is even further from the truth. In this case, the cause of obesity is classified into two categories: having a voracious appetite and lack of exercise. In other words, the universal solution to childhood obesity, or even obesity, in general, is to eat less and exercise more. This simple way of looking at the problem is equivalent to putting more weight on the shoulders of obese children. It makes one conclude that obesity is led by laziness, unambitiousness, and lack will willpower. In fact, burning a twenty-ounce coke requires a child to bike for an hour and fifteen minutes, one cookie equals approximately twenty minutes of jogging and one medium french fry corresponds with an hour and twelve minutes of swimming (Juna). It is obvious that children are not going to exercise their way out of obesity, considering how time-consuming it could be. One failure generated by this explanation is the energy-balancing ideology that has been pushed on overweight children. It entails calculating calories in and calories out. Coupled with high-intensity daily exercise has become the norm to the weight loss journey yet not much difference is made. Moreover, obesity is showing up in infants that are only six months old, who cannot be expected to go on a diet or do exercise (Moglia).

Among the many causes of childhood obesity, energy balance is the most obvious, but definitely not the most notable one. Identifying the primary cause of obesity requires in-depth research beyond what meets the eye. Exercise alone without a proper diet cannot solve the epidemic of obesity in children. Examining where children consume the most food, the school cafeteria is definitely at the top of the list. Karson points out that “an estimated 55 million American children attend elementary or secondary school, where they spend, on average, six hours a day. Most will eat at least one meal at school, along with snacks” (Karson). It is evident that schools are responsible for a crucial role in children’s diet; however, most of them fail to provide students with a healthy and balanced meal.

Alternatively, children who eat lunch at school are being provided high-calorie food with little nutrients. French fries, cheeseburgers, pizzas chips are some of the most popular lunch items found in schools all across America. Schanzenbach and Diane Whitmore did research on elementary school-aged students from different races and income levels regarding their nutrition intake and obesity rate compared to whether or not they eat at school. The result suggested that children who eat school lunches consume an extra 60 or so calories per day, in the most extreme cases school lunches could add 120 extra calories to students’ diet (Schanzenbach). From the statistics of the research, Schanzenbach also addressed the relationship between weight and calorie intake, she claims that as few as 40 additional calories per day could increase obesity rates among children by two percent while school lunch could potentially double or even triple that number. Based on the research data, Schanzenbach concludes that students who eat school lunches gain more weight after starting school than students who “brown bag” their lunches (Schanzenbach). It is clear that schools are unable to create a healthy environment for students, instead add more calories to students’ diet, accelerating the obesity rate. Food processing companies have also been in the limelight in contributing to childhood obesity. Besides trying to sell processed food to children through school, the food industry also grasps every opportunity to market its brand and target children for unhealthy products.

According to the Interagency Working Group on Foods Marketed to Children “children and adolescents see roughly four thousand televised food commercials each year. Nearly 98 percent of these ads feature fast foods or processed foods high in sugar, fat, and salt” (Karson). Considering the astonishing amount of advertisements for unhealthy food watched by children, it is nearly unavoidable. Food commercials are seen everywhere and are designed to be specifically appealing to young kids. Children are therefore always surrounded by these food adverts both at school, at home, and along their roads. Making a good food choice therefore becomes a big problem for these kids. Karson points out that “the Coca-Cola Company spent close to $3.5 billion in advertising on average each year, over $2 billion is aimed directly at the nation’s youth. On top of this, the fast-food industry spends more than $5 million every day marketing its food to children and teens” (Karson). The financial commitment and giant quantity show that big food makers are deliberately trying to maximize the influence of their food products on the young generation for their own interest. The advertising budget of food companies is used to pay for high-priced celebrity endorsements or collaborate with social media platforms.

Through radio, magazines, celebrity endorsements, toys, collectibles, clothing, contests, and games children are continuously exposed to countless food ads. Those ads may contain their favorite cartoon media characters, such as SpongeBob or Shrek, and brand mascots, such as Tony the Tiger, might be emblazoned on the packaging of many sugary cereals and unhealthy snack food to further sway children’s preferences (Karson). Target what kids are most attracted to and use them as mediums of advertisement which is crossing the line. Researchers at the University of Madison-Wisconsin and the University of Michigan confirm that “children as young as two and three started to recognize brands. Preschoolers recognize brand names and symbols, and they are increasingly willing and able to make judgments about products and people based on associations with those brands” (Dell’Antonia). This sophisticated, relentless, and aggressive way of marketing junk food to children is immoral. The consequence of immersing kids in junk food shapes the way they think about food. When they become adults, their shopping patterns will remain basically the same. The stimulation created in the form of advertisements will leave us with one of the greatest public health at our time. The reason why children should be kept away from processed food is that processed food is usually high in sugar.

More specifically added sugar that was put in foods during preparation or processing or added to foods at the table, most commonly found on the food label as high fructose syrup (Ervin). The difference between added sugar and natural sugar is that natural sugar found mainly in fruits or nuts is always consumed along with fiber. Because of the fiber contained, food will not be absorbed so easily and blood sugar will rise lower and for longer. On the other hand, when drinking a can of Coke which does not have any fiber it is absorbed immediately through the portal system to the liver. Therefore, the liver will experience a big sugar rush which leaves it no choice but to turn the added sugar into fat using insulin hormone. This concept emphasizes the consumption of natural sugars to added sugars, reducing added sugars in children’s diets would be a revolutionary step in lowering the childhood obesity rate. Added sugar not only transform into fat after entering children’s body, but it is also highly addictive. A high level of insulin hormone will block the brain from the signal of satiety, advising children to always come back for more (Karson). According to researchers at Princeton University “when the animals ingest large amounts of sugar, their brains undergo changes similar to the changes in the brains of people who abuse illegal drugs like cocaine and heroin” (Black). Scientific research and biological facts have proven that food can be made hyper-palatable using added sugar. This method attracts teenagers the same way drugs control users by abducting their brains. The addictive nature of added sugar has changed the diet of children and adolescents fundamentally in a harmful way.

The World Health Organization recommended that ten percent of people’s daily diet should be sugar. Yet Ervin’s data regarding consumption of added sugar among boys and girls aged from two years old to nineteen years old suggested that “Boys consumed an average of 16.3% of their calories from added sugars, while girls consumed an average of 15.5% of their calories from added sugars. And the percent of calories contributed by added sugars increased linearly with age for boys and girls”(Ervin). The territory of sugar has on children and adolescents’ daily diet is expanding along with their age as they have been exposed to more processed and nutrition-empty food. Furthermore, the added sugar in the three meals of a typical high school student measured to be forty-one tablespoons. Whereas the American Heart Association’s daily allowance of sugar is only six to nine tablespoons (Ervin). Childhood obesity doesn’t happen in one meal, it happens in a thousand. Whereas sugar is with every meal, added to children’s diet in a quantity way above what is necessary or the standard guideline. Sugar is not only one of the main causes of childhood obesity but also the driving force of many health issues such as chronic and metabolic diseases as an aftershock of obesity. According to the CDC, “chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes and heart disease are now the leading cause of death and disability in the United States, expected to soon overtake smoking as the leading cause of preventable death” (Karson). The prevalence of obesity also comes with the rise of diabetes, it is scary to think teenagers could be the patient of such a life-threatening disease. Type 2 diabetes used to be called adult-onset diabetes, unheard of among teenagers, diagnosed primarily in middle-aged, overweight adults.

Today teenagers represent a full third of all new cases. Thirty years ago cases of Type 2 diabetes among adolescents were zero, along with the proliferation of obesity, in 2010 fifty-seven thousand six hundred and thirty-eight cases were identified (Karson). The hazard of obesity is quickly encroaching on the health of children and adolescents at a very young age, ruining children’s lives in an unstoppable manner. More and more children and adolescents have become victim of diabetes and other chronic diseases, and most of them fail to realize these diseases comes hand in hand with severe disorders that could destroy children’s future. Robert H. Lustig a pediatric endocrinologist and an expert on childhood obesity observes that “childhood obesity is like what happens if suddenly a massive number of young children started chain smoking. At first, the public health impact is hardly visible to most people. But years later it would translate into emphysema, heart disease, strokes, and cancer, all of which have a huge effect on life expectancy” (Karson). People should not wait to see the disadvantages before they start acting. Being able to recognize the ultimate damage childhood obesity have on children and what is behind the added weight will help people understand how children’s entire life could be changed by being obese.

A 2005 study in the New England Journal of Medicine reported that “American children today will be the first generation in two centuries to live sicker and die younger than their parents” (Karson). The immediate effect and future impact of childhood obesity on children and adolescents’ health can be easily ignored or underestimated, yet the long-term disadvantage of obesity for children is compatible with smoking, interfering with their quality of life and their mobility. As a physical condition, obesity not only possesses negative effects on children and adolescents’ health but also poses threats to their mental health no less than physical syndromes. One reason why obesity could cause mental issues is that individuals who are dissatisfied with their bodies are more likely to engage in higher levels of unhealthy eating behaviors (Blanco). Given that overweight teenagers are most likely to demonstrate body dissatisfaction, their mental state is, particularly of concern. Moglia suggests that“those psychosocial problems could lead to poor body image, low self-esteem, social isolation, recurrent anger, early forms of eating disorders, clinical depression, and negatively acting out in school and other social settings” (Moglia).

The mentality of overweight teenagers is put at high risk because of the disappointment they have for themselves and the fat clinging to their bodies. The shame and humiliation they go through are worse than the effect of fat on their biological systems. Childhood obesity is an ongoing battle for all that is involved. Despite feeling hopeless watching the weight stack against children’s health, many people and departments are taking action as a society and improving the condition for better and healthier eating. Robert Woods Johnson’s article confirms that “childhood obesity rates have declined in some cities, counties, and states” after trying to enhance the environment (Johnson). These places have made broad, sweeping changes to make healthy foods available in schools and communities and integrate physical activity into people’s daily lives. Some of their strategies include implementing state-level legislation or local wellness policies to create healthier schools and child-care centers (Johnson). Fresh, healthy, and affordable foods are brought to children as well as their parents. These interventions will help form a long-term healthy lifestyle. There are also revolutionary food fighters, who are not waiting on government action. Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver and football star Steven Gerrard have joined forces with leading figures in health and education to ask the Government to fight obesity through cookery teaching in schools. During Oliver and Gerrard’s campaign, they educated children about what is actually inside the products they eat daily, the toxic effects of sugar, and how to feed kids with real food on a budget (Mandal). The campaigners reason that “Teaching children through the National Curriculum how to prepare nutritious meals for themselves and their families would be an important step in tackling the rising obesity epidemic” (Mandal).

In contrast, without these skills, people are less likely to carry out meaningful control over their diet and food intake and tend to rely on pre-prepared or takeaway foods (Mandal). Impacting knowledge of healthy eating in a nationwide campaign with celebrity influences towards the schools, and families, not only helps obese kids fight their battle but also prevents obesity from occurring. Childhood obesity remains an unsolved puzzle, but many pieces are being found and pieced together to trace some of the leading causes and mental and physical disorders of this public health challenge. Examining the latest research, it is clear that the food industry has placed private profit and special interests ahead of public health. This failure resulted in the incapability to properly modify the school nutrition system and ban junk food advertising to children, jeopardizing their health. Yet between the complexity and health risks of childhood obesity lies some hope, which is generated by activities that strive to build a brighter and greener future for children. Remarkable progress is being made, but there is a long way to go and a lot left to do in order to save children entirely from obesity. What if fast food chains are banned from all public schools? What if every time a celebrity endorsed a soft drink they also have to pitch a vegetable? What if every harmful processed food came with a warning sign from a surgeon general? How many lives of children could be saved?

The public health report

Child obesity is a major public health concern globally. More children are becoming obese or overweight, and this increases their risk of chronic diseases such as type II diabetes, cancer, and heart disease later in adulthood. As a result, governments and health organizations across the world are making efforts to curb and reduce the problem. An investigation of the leading health issues revealed that child obesity is one of the main concerns in the city. Therefore the current paper will focus on child obesity by identifying trends in the city, comparing them with national and global figures, identifying current or existing interventions, and making recommendations.

Child obesity statistics

Childhood obesity is a significant public health in. It is more prevalent in the area than in the entire. The National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) collects data and determines the weight and weight of all children in learning institutions across. It is a reliable source of surveillance information which is vital in helping understand the trends and changes in underweight, recommended weight, overweight, and obesity in children. The most recent data on childhood obesity provided by NCMP is the 20192020 figures. The prevalence is also investigated at the local level. Between 2019 and 2020, approximately 25.5 percent of all year six children (10-11 years) (NHS Digital, 2021). The figure was higher than’s, which was 23 percent (Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, 2021). For the reception group (4-5 years), the obesity rate was 10.3% percent between 2019 and 2020 compared to’s value which was 9.9% (Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, 2021). The figures show that childhood obesity is a serious public health concern that must be addressed to achieve a healthy children population and prevent its adverse outcomes.

Childhood obesity in both and continues to have an upward trend. In the past decade, childhood obesity in the whole of has increased by an estimated 1.9 percent (Greater Authority, 2018). Most boroughs have a prevalence that is more than’s between 2009 and 2021. Boroughs such as Barking and Dagenham had the highest child obesity rates between 2019 and 2020 (Public Health, 2022). Also, they had the highest figures since 20092010 (Public Health, 2018). They recorded a 5.7 growth in the number of children with obesity or who are overweight. However, although most boroughs experienced a surge in childhood obesity rates between 20092010 and 20192020, ten of them experienced a reduction in their figures. Areas such as Fulham and Hammersmith had the largest reduction (6.3 percent) in childhood obesity figures in the past decade (Trust for, 2021). Approximately 40 percent of all children living in qualify as obese or overweight (Greater Authority, 2022). 13.3 percent of all reception children in deprived regions are obese compared to only 6 percent in the least deprived parts (NHS Digital, 2020). Additionally, 27.5 percent of year six children in highly deprived areas suffer from obesity compared to 11.9 percent in the least deprived regions (NHS Digital, 2020). The highest rates are found in areas experiencing the highest level of deprivation, as found in’s health inequalities report.

Existing evidence indicates that boys have a higher risk of becoming obese compared to girls in. experience substantial inequalities, which is why the risk of childhood obesity is highest in areas facing the most deprivation (London.gov., 2011). In addition, children from specific ethnic minority groups face an increased risk of developing obesity or becoming overweight. Such ethnic groups include Black Caribbean, Africans, and people from Bangladesh (London’s Child Obesity Taskforce, 2022). However, according to the National Obesity Observatory, although there exists a relationship between childhood obesity and ethnicity, the correlation is not as strong as the one between the condition and deprivation. Variations in weight between different ethnic groups can be associated with body composition and different physical attributes, including height. It is anticipated that almost a quarter of all young individuals below the age of twenty will be obese by 2050.

The World Health Organization defines childhood obesity as more than 2SD above the growth reference median in individuals between 5-19 years (WHO, 2021). Most people across the world live in areas where obesity and overweight have high mortality compared to underweight. WHO estimates indicate that in 2020, there were 39 million children below the age of five years identified as obese or overweight (WHO, 2021). Moreover, more than 340 million individuals between 5-19 years were either obese or overweight in the 2016 estimates (WHO, 2021). In 2019, approximately 38.2 million kids below five years were diagnosed with either obesity or overweight globally (WHO, 2021). Obesity was considered a problem for developed or wealthy countries in the past. However, currently, it is a significant public health concern in many developing countries, especially in urban areas. Since 2004, the number of children below the age of five years with obesity in Africa has increased by almost 24 percent (WHO, 2021). In Asia, almost 50 percent of all children below five years were obese in 2019 (WHO, 2021). In 1975, the number of children with obesity was just 4 percent globally, and by 2016 the prevalence was more than 18 percent throughout the world. However, compared to, where boys have an elevated risk of obesity, global figures indicate that girls are at a higher risk of obesity or overweight than boys. Although the global prevalence is higher than’s, similar trends are observed. In, and the entire world, childhood obesity prevalence rates continue to increase substantially.

Social determinants of health and child obesity prevalence in London

Existing studies indicate that, at the basic level, obesity is linked to an imbalance in the number of calories consumed and used. When individuals consume more calories than they burn, their risk of becoming obese is high. However, obesity is not all about calories and physical activity levels (London Health Commission, 2012). Many other underlying causes of obesity include economic, social, and cultural factors that determine people’s lifestyles. Childhood obesity is associated with different social determinants of health. Such factors include household income, poverty, parental education, housing, gender, and access to health promotion resources and services (Hu et al., 2021 p.2). Also, other factors such as exposure to increased advertising and availability or access to unhealthy foods are risk factors for childhood obesity.

Although living in one of the best cities in terms of economic performance globally, most experience socioeconomic challenges. These results in finding it difficult to make ends meet, afford quality housing, or find decent employment to rise above the poverty line. Consequently, poverty levels are higher than in other parts of. Across different indicators, there is a wide gap between dwellers who are at the low-income level and those who are socioeconomically well-off in the rest of the country. The number of individuals living in poverty has increased with population growth in the past few years. Currently, there are approximately 2.3 million individuals living in. More than 37 percent of the children living in come from households that live below the set poverty line. Although the rate of poverty among children in the city has reduced in the past 15 years, the last three years have experienced an increase, and the rate remains higher than for any other part of. An estimated 300,000 children living in inner are from economically disadvantaged households (Office for National Statistics, 2021). Also, approximately 400,000 children living in outer experience poverty (Office for National Statistics, 2021). Although child poverty levels in the inner have reduced in the past couple of years, they are still significantly higher than in other areas. Two out of every three children from poverty-stricken households are working families (Office for National Statistics, 2021). Although the number of children experiencing material deprivation has reduced, more than one in every eight children in the city is materially deprived (Office for National Statistics, 2021). In addition, at least one in every five children experiences persistent poverty.

Poverty affects even working-class individuals. Approximately 1.4 million individuals in the working-age category live in relative poverty, while one in every seven is persistently poor (Office of National Statistics, 2022). Individuals living in rented houses, the unemployed, and the physically challenged have the highest risk of poverty. According to Office for National Statistics (2011), is the only place in the U.K. where housing costs escalate poverty levels within the pensioner population. However, when housing costs are not considered, the poverty rate is lowest throughout the country. According to Trust for (2022), after housing expenses, 27 percent of the people living in are economically disadvantaged or poor. In addition, 56,000 households in the city live in temporary accommodation. The cost of housing is high when compared to other parts of the U.K. The unemployment rate by the end of 2021 was 5.2 percent, which is higher than the national average of 4.1 (HESA, 2022). Therefore, for every 1,000 individuals living in, 262 are unemployed. In addition, only 1.0 percent of individuals from low-participating neighborhoods are degree students (Higher Education Statistics Agency, 2022). The figure is significantly lower compared to other areas such as North East (22.6 percent) and Yorkshire (18.9 percent) (Office for National Statistics, 2011). Therefore, ethnic minority groups have the lowest education attainment.

Services and healthcare for childhood obesity in London

The NHS Child Health Digital Hub was established to empower parents and caregivers to track their children’s health and growth. It provides a digital ebook, an online version of the health record that parents receive at the birth of their children. The NHS has been ensuring that the service is reaching allers, especially the vulnerable populations in the community. According to the Health Commission (2012), the hub would ensure that boroughs have the data needed to address inequalities by focusing support on the areas that need it most. Also, the city of has implemented breastfeeding initiatives to reduce childhood obesity rates in its boroughs (London’s Child Obesity Taskforce, 2022). Existing evidence indicates that children who are breastfed as recommended are less likely to become obese. However, although it is beneficial, breastfeeding faces some challenges leading to the need for more support for families to initiate and maintain the practice. Women from low-income households or deprived parts of are less likely to initiate and sustain breastfeeding (London’s Child Obesity Taskforce, 2022). Most boroughs have adopted the UNICEF Baby-Friendly Initiative in maternities and community services. Also, healthcare services are improving their support in perinatal and postnatal care.

The local government introduced the Healthy Early Years program to improve children’s health. The initiative supports more than 13,000 children in different early childhood centers by boosting their health as they play and learn. It reinforces healthy behaviors such as healthy eating, engagement in physical activity, and social and psychological health. In addition, the Healthy Schools program was initiated to help school children grow in healthy environments (London’s Child Obesity Taskforce, 2022). More than 2,000 schools are registered under the initiative, and it was well-received in most deprived parts of the city. The initiative promotes children’s health in all areas, including addressing the needs of the disabled and children with different special needs. In 2018, the mayor focused efforts on the Health and Social Care Devolution to enhance the environment around learning institutions. The identified plans and activities to address issues like the food environment, food advertising, and the quality within the schools’ environments. Pilot programs were implemented in neighborhoods experiencing poor health outcomes, such as the highest rates of childhood obesity, and they were successful.

In response to the high obesity rates, the local government established’s Child Obesity Taskforce. The task force’s purpose is to lead efforts to achieve and sustain a healthy weight in all children across. Furthermore, the task force seeks to develop environments that promote the health of all children living in the city and improve how families perceive diet and physical activity (London’s Child Obesity Taskforce, 2022 p.2). The government can risk and prevalence of obesity in the community by doing so’s Child Obesity Taskforce aims to reduce childhood obesity by 50 percent by 2030 (London’s Child Obesity Taskforce, 2022 p.3). Cultural and physical activities are vital in achieving and sustaining a healthy weight in children and adolescents (Lopez, 2007 p.2111).’s local government adopted the Healthy Streets Approach to create an environment that promotes play for both children and families living in. The approach allows families and children to play, walk, and even cycle, thus increasing physical activity levels.

Impact on Urban Health is one of the charities tackling childhood obesity. The organization has implemented a ten-year program to enhance children’s health by addressing obesity (Impact on Urban Health, 2022). The agency works in all the boroughs and pays more attention to areas such as Lambeth and Southwark, which have the highest rates of child obesity. Urban Health works to alter the food environment in areas where families and kids spend time ensuring that healthy eating becomes the easiest choice. In addition, the organization is trying to reduce the unhealthy food that floods the food markets in Lambeth and Southwark (Impact on Urban Healthy, 2022). Additionally, the organization collaborates with’s Child Obesity Taskforce. By doing so, the charity hopes to reduce childhood obesity and encourage other neighborhoods, especially low-income ones, to adopt the strategies. Other charities working to reduce and prevent childhood obesity include Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity and Sustrans.

Nurses play a critical role in health promotion. The WHO explains health promotion as a process to help individuals have more control over and enhance their health (WHO, 2021). One of the essential roles they play is that of an educator. Nursing professionals spend most of their time working with patients and giving guidance on different health matters, including diet and nutrition.

Obesity is defined as excessive body fat that increases your risk of other health problems. A person with a body mass index (BMI) above 30 is considered obese, while a person with a BMI between 25 and 30 is considered overweight. In NSW in 2018, more than 1 in 5 children (24%) aged 5–16 years were overweight or obese, of whom 75% were overweight and 25% were obese. This means about 270,000 NSW children are above a healthy weight. Between 1985 and 2004, the rate of childhood overweight and obesity more than doubled from 11% to 25%. Childhood obesity has reached epidemic levels in developed as well as developing countries.

Overweight and obesity in childhood are known to have significant impacts on both physical and psychological health. Overweight and obese children are likely to stay obese into adulthood and more likely to develop non-communicable diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases at a younger age. The mechanism of obesity development is not fully understood and it is believed to be a disorder with multiple causes. Environmental factors, lifestyle preferences, and cultural environment play pivotal roles in the rising prevalence of obesity worldwide. In general, overweight and obesity are assumed to be the results of an increase in caloric and fat intake.

On the other hand, there is supporting evidence that excessive sugar intake by soft drinks, increased portion size, and steady decline in physical activity have been playing major roles in the rising rates of obesity all around the world. Childhood obesity can profoundly affect children’s physical health, social, and emotional well-being, and self-esteem. It is also associated with poor academic performance and a lower quality of life experienced by the child. Many co-morbid conditions like metabolic, cardiovascular, orthopedic, neurological, hepatic, pulmonary, and renal disorders are also seen in association with childhood obesity. Behaviors can include physical activity, inactivity, dietary patterns, medication use, and other exposures. Additional contributing factors include the food and physical activity environment, education and skills, and food marketing and promotion. These are examples of health risks.

All causes of death (mortality), All causes of death (mortality), High LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, or high levels of triglycerides (Dyslipidemia), and Type 2 diabetes.Coronary heart disease. Stroke, and osteoarthritis (a breakdown of cartilage and bone within a joint). A primary reason that the prevention of obesity is so vital in children is that the likelihood of childhood obesity persisting into adulthood increases as the child ages. My opinion about obesity is the same as any doctor’s, obesity should be taken seriously cause it’s not a matter of how you look it is a matter of life and the human soul.