Childhood Obesity: Prevention Methods

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Main body
Conclusion
References

Introduction

Dr. Julie Gerberding, Director of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared during a CBS Morning show that the “No.1 health problem” facing the U.S is not SARS or any other fast-spreading disease, but the “epidemic of obesity” that is “unfolding before our very own eyes” (Ruskin). The U.S has been in the throes of a child obesity epidemic since the 1970s (Iom.edu), with the number of obese children increasing by 100% increase between 1980 and 2000 (Med.umich.edu). It is estimated that 25% of children in the U.S. are overweight, out of which 11% are obese (Dehglan et al.). In view of the many disadvantages – especially the risk of contracting Type 2 diabetes (Waters et al.) – a disease affecting more than three-fourth of the obese population in the U.S (Smith, p.15), where a number of victims multiplied 10 times in the last 2 decades (Monaghan) – U.S. policymakers have branded this nation-wide problem as a ‘critical public threat’ (Iom.edu).

Main body

An obese person is an individual who has over-average {+20%} body fat as compared to a person of the same age and height (Med.umich.edu). Public Health researchers and clinicians are unanimous in their recommendation that prevention is the key to reining in the ongoing child obesity epidemic (Dehglan et al.). Therefore, devising and implementing sound and feasible prevention methods has assumed paramount importance. It is very important that all the methods are based on a common platform that recognizes it is impossible to set ideal weights for different age groups; instead, it is more realistic to believe that children should have a healthy weight, viz., the natural weight assumed by the body after being subjected to healthful dietary intakes and a reasonable amount of physical activity (Ces.nesu.edu).

Seven sectors have been identified in the U.S. from which prevention methods of childhood obesity can be launched.

The first sector is the U.S. Federal Government. The first method is to set up an Interdepartmental Task Force (Iom.edu) to organize a complex operation in which various Federal Agencies’ (Koplan et al., p.153) contributions are brought together to form an efficient nurturing environment (Iom.edu). Such an environment fosters all elements of natural growth and evolution on 3 levels – physical, intellectual, and social, leading to enhanced self-respect, body contentment, and confident body perception (Ces.nesu.edu). The second method is to create levels of quality to be accepted as the norm concerning all food and beverage products allowed for sale in schools (Iom.edu). It is recommended to levy a small tax on low nutritional items like confectionery, snacks, and beverages (Dehglan et al.). The third method is to provide Federal funds for state-executed nutrition and physical activity grants with robust assessment components (Iom.edu). The fourth method is to hold a national conference on marketing and advertising techniques aimed at children (Iom.edu). Special focus should be on strategies of junk food giants who have spent millions ever since realizing the huge influence television advertisement has on children, and have succeeded in radically changing the diets of parents and children in the country. Two examples are McDonald’s advertisement director’s motto, “Early to bed/ early to rise/ Advertise/ Advertise/ Advertise,” and Coca-Cola’s shelling out a whopping $ 150 million to Warner Brothers for marketing rights of “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” (Ruskin). The last method is to provide additional funds for research in prevention intervention, experimental manner of acting, and community population; enhancing support for supervision and observation, and conducting periodical evaluations (Iom.edu). Federal agencies have the ability to identify industry stakeholders who are ready to absorb the financial risks of developing new products and services to promote healthier eating habits and physical activity, in the process setting a precedent for other private sector organizations to emulate (Koplan et al., p. 153).

The second sector is Industry and Media (Iom.edu). Both are greatly responsible for the ongoing child obesity epidemic, having capitalized hugely on the classification of children as ‘consumers’ in the U.S. (Ruskin). The first method is to strive towards inventing healthier food and beverages for children (Iom.edu) that comply with the Dietary Guidelines (Smith, p.91). The second method is to print nutrition ‘signposts’ on the packaging of food products, confirming their compliance with Dietary Guidelines – such as the ‘Pick the Tick’ sign program of the Australian National Heart Foundation that set up ‘de facto’ norms of food product formulation – a move that will encourage other food manufacturers to ensure their products comply with the ‘de facto’ norms (Dehglan et al.). The last method is to restrict television advertisements that target children (Dehglan et al.), who is widely perceived as vulnerable victims of advertisements bombarded at them day and night (Ruskin). Sweden set a precedent a decade ago, banning television advertisements targeted at children below 12 years of age (Dehglan et al.).

The third sector is State and City governments. The first method is to enhance and foster programs of physical activities in various communities by capital enhancement schemes and alterations in the statutes enacted by them (Iom.edu). Present funds by State and City governments do not provide schools with sufficient money to find child obesity. As a result, they cut down on budgets for school physical activities, and/or submit to the financial allure of fast food, junk food, and soft drink manufacturers clamoring for a foothold in that very profitable sector (Ruskin). The second method is active, ongoing cooperation with communities to foster partnerships to enhance the availability of healthy food and beverages for children, also making them more easily available (Iom.edu). Just as States are levying excise taxes to increase cigarette prices, so also it should be done as a check against fast food, junk food, and beverages (Koplan et al., p.125). Stringent advertising screening should be implemented for in-school TV programs to avoid blatant infiltrations, such as Channel One’s program that is currently beamed in 12,000 schools, flashing advertisements for Pepsi, M&M’s, Hostess Twinkies, Mountain Dew and Snickers to a vulnerable audience of 8 million schoolchildren (Ruskin). Instead, extension programs on nutrition and physical activity would be ideal substitutes. A unique example is Eugene Field School in Silverton. Its 3^rd-grade students have created a program for local television, showing them as astronauts journeying in space to look for healthy foods, based on which the children then write recipes (Monaghan).

The fourth sector is Health Care Professionals like health practitioners, child nurses, dieticians, and family nurses (Waters et al.). They should regularly examine children, record their body mass index , and give valuable counseling to their parents on rectification measures (Iom.edu). If BMI is found to exceed the 85^th percentile for the child’s sex and age, he or she is in danger of becoming obese. If BMI crosses the 95^th percentile, then the child has crossed the boundary into obesity (Med.umich.edu). However, in view of its inaccurate track record, relying on BMI alone is not advisable; it should be coupled with height and weight measurements as a proper and reliable evaluation method. Health Care Professionals should ensure that their intervention does not harm the child, for example, weight loss diets spawn a weight cycle involving weight loss and weight regain which is bad for health (Cesu.nesu.edu).

The fifth sector is Community and Non-profit entities. They can contribute by making available a combination of favorable situations for healthful eating and physical activity in ongoing as well as fresh community programs (Iom.edu) like parks, walking facilities such as footpaths and trails, cycling facilities such as roads and cycle lanes, and encouraging parents and schools to foster active transportation between homes and schools such as walking, cycling, and bus transportation (Dehglan et al.). Sufficient funds should be allocated to the police so that community police stations can be adequately staffed, thereby ensuring safety in parks and streets for children to play in. This is especially important in communities where a lot of minorities live. For example, children in African American communities find it unsafe to venture out into public parks (Ruskin).

The sixth sector is Educational Authorities , and Schools (Iom.edu). Schools have been recognized as the ideal areas for intervention aimed at encouraging healthy, nutritious diets and physical activity among children (Smith, p.87). The first method is to ensure foods and beverages are of good nutritional quality (Iom.edu). An ideal school lunch should be rich in nutrients, served in pleasing surroundings, and provided 15 to 20 minutes of consumption time (Ces.nesu.edu). The second method is to aggressively promote various forms of physical activity during and after school hours (Iom.edu). Physical education classes must regularly feature in the school curriculum. Children must enjoy physical activity and be able to succeed in at least a few of them (Ces.nesu.edu). The third method is to create, enact and assess the end result of unique pilot programs teaching how physical wellbeing is achieved by healthful eating and regular physical activity (Iom.edu). Schools should conduct weighing and measurement of students only in rare cases to prevent long-term stigmatizing impressions in those students who are bulkier, taller, or shorter than most other students of the same age or in the same class. If needed , intervention should be conducted with the child’s parents, perhaps even referral for diagnosis. Health professionals should assess the childhood obesity prevention program regularly to ensure that the program does not contribute to unintentional condemnation of students, or encourage harmful eating or excessive exercise patterns (Ces.nesu.edu).

The seventh sector is Parents and Families (Iom.edu). Parents are well placed to levy the most influence on the dietary and physical activity patterns of their children (Smith, p.92). The first method is by referring to the Food Pyramid to choose the right food for the family (Med.umich.edu). The refrigerator should be stocked with cut-up fruits and vegetables to be eaten as snacks, instead of an assortment of junk food (Rimm et al., p.133). ‘Yellow’ food like pasta, beans, bread, and cereals should not be consumed in large amounts (Smith, p.104). Fast food should never be made a substitute for healthy meals (Rimm et al., p.181). The second method is to educate children about the benefits of a healthy diet (Iom.edu) that includes many types of nutritious food items, eating meals and snacks regularly, always strictly complying with bodily signs denoting hunger or satiety, and eating family meals together (Ces.nesu.edu), following the slogan: ‘Mealtimes should be Family Times’ (Med.umich.edu). The third method is to adopt an active family lifestyle (Iom.edu). Given the tendency of modern children to ‘sit too much and play too little’ (Ruskin), family activities like riding, swimming, walking, and bike riding should be encouraged (Med.umich.edu). Sedentary activities like watching TV, playing video games, and sitting for hours in front of the computer should be reduced to the maximum (Iom.edu). TV watching, in particular, is a great obesity creator as well explained by Mohammad Akter, Executive Director of the American Public Health Association; Akter said Americans are “literally living” themselves sick, and television plays “a large role in this downward spiral” (Ruskin). The fourth method is to adjust the family’s mind frame to the problem. Child obesity creeps up over time and cannot be rectified quickly. Obesity should not be looked upon as the child’s personal problem as the child is part of the family, and his or her problem becomes the family problem that needs the whole family to contribute towards rectifying it (Med.umich.edu). Parents and children should cooperate to alter their diet and exercise patterns together (Rimm et al., p.3). Lastly, parents should be aware that the National Institute for Health is accessible for free expert health advice on child obesity issues on its toll-free number 1-877-946-4627.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it must be admitted that finding a miracle cure for obesity is unlikely in the near future (Smith, p.130). It is important to fight the ongoing child obesity epidemic at all levels because it is easier to implement obesity prevention methods against children rather than against adults (Ruskin). Given the ominous research finding that 70% of obese children develop into obese adults (Dehglan et al.) – because comparative body weight is maintained from childhood through into adulthood with the highly improbable result that the weight of obese children will track in a reverse direction – an all-out fight against the epidemic is the need of the hour. If this is not done speedily, then the foreboding voiced by Dr. Kelvin McKinney, professor at the University of Texas could well come to pass; McKinney said: “If these [child obesity] trends continue, within a few generations, every American will be overweight” (Ruskin).

References

Dehglan Mahshid, Aktar-Danesh Noori, and Merchant Anwar T. “Childhood Obesity, Prevalence & Prevention.” Nutrition Journal. 2005. Web.
“Guidelines for Childhood Prevention Programs: Promoting Healthy Weight in Children.” North Caroline State University. 2003. Web.
Koplan Jeffrey P., Liverman Catharyn T., and Kraak Vivica A. “Preventing Child Obesity: Health in the Balance.” USA: National Academies Press, 2005.
Monaghan, Matt. “Physicians Rush to Keep Pace with Epidemic.” Statesman Journal. 2004. Web.
“Overview of the IOM’s Child Obesity Prevention Study.” Institute of Medicine. 2005. Web.
Rimm Sylvia, and Rimm Eric. “Rescuing the Emotional Lives of Overweight Children: What Our Kids Go Through – And How We Can Help.” USA: Rodale, 2004.
Ruskin, Gary. “The Fast Food Trap: How Commercialism Creates Overweight Children.” Mothering Magazine. 2003. Web.
Smith, Clinton J. “Understanding Childhood Obesity (Understanding Health & Sickness Series).” USA: University Press of Mississippi. 1999.
Waters Elizabeth B., and Baur Louise A. “Childhood Obesity: Modernity’s Scourge.” The Medical Journal of Australia. 2003. Web.
“Your Child: Obesity & Overweight” University of Medicine Health System. 2007. Web.

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Childhood Obesity: Prevention Methods

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