Childhood Obesity

CHILDHOOD OBESITY:
PARENTS EDUCATION

by
Spencer Norman
Exercise Science, Spring 2013, Indiana State University

March 22, 2013

submitted to
Ms. Caitlin Stuckey, Instructor
English 305T – Technical Writing

written for parents FOREWORD This paper is written to address the need for parents to understand how much they play a role in their children’s weight. The purpose is to bring to light the epidemic of childhood obesity and how this is only getting worse. Parents need to understand that they can change their child’s life by watching what they eat, planning physical activity, and taking care of themselves to be that role model to a healthy lifestyle. I plan to be involved heavily in this field of physical fitness later on in my life; I’m concerned about the path that this world is headed down. Parents do not understand that they can affect their kids in a big way. I decided to research this topic because when I get into this field I plan on doing more research about this topic. Once parents understand how to set up a healthy lifestyle for their kids they can change this epidemic and can change how their children’s life for the long run.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
FOREWORD……………………………………………………………………………...………ii
LIST OF FIGURES………………………………………………………………………..……..iv
METHODS AND MATERIALS…………………………………………………………...…….v
ABSTRACT……………………………………………………………………………………...vi
INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………………………...1 Background……………………………………………………………………………….1 Problem…………………………………………………………………………………...1 Recommendation………………………………………………………………………....3 Economics………………………………………………………………………………..4
DISCUSSION…………………………………………………………………………………....5
Distribution……………………………………..………………………………………..5 Pamphlet…………………………………….…..……………………………………….6 Nutrition………………………………………………………………………....6 Physical activity………………………………………………………………....6
CONCLUSION………………………………………………………………………………….7
Executive Summary……………………………………………………………………...7 Recommendations…………………………………………………………………………8 Benefits……………………………………………………………………………………8 Future Developments……………………………………………………...........................9
REFERENCES…......... …………………………………………………………………………10

LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: ………………………………………………………………………………….........2

METHODS AND MATERIALS My research was mostly done through Internet searches. I performed multiple searches over the spring semester 2013. I used EBSCO host through the Indiana State Library, using search words as: “ childhood obesity, parents role in childhood obesity, history of childhood obesity, cost of fighting childhood obesity”. I was able to find multiple sources for each search that I conducted. I have read a book about the culture aspect of obesity, but I did not find it to be to helpful in my research. I have found on source to be extremely helpful during the course of writing this paper. The source was found on EBSCO host and is Physical Activity and Childhood Obesity: Strategies and Solutions for Schools and Parents by Gregory Green, Clarence Riley, and Brenda Hargrove. This journal focuses on the parents’ role in their children’s healthy lifestyle.

ABSTRACT Parents need to understand that in order for their kids to live a healthy lifestyle, they need to be involved with nutrition, physical activity, and limiting sedentary lifestyle. This needs to start at the beginning when the child is born. Childhood obesity has been growing since the turn of the century. Parents do not see the kids as being overweight even though they are over weight. Parents can control their kids nutrient by coming up with a diet and allowing their kids to be involved with the selection. Parents also need to limit their kids in watching TV and playing video games, and get them active because schools don’t do enough physical fitness. They need to continue fitness when their kids get home. Hospitals need to hand out pamphlets when babies are born outlining these different steps in a healthy lifestyle.

INTRODUCTION
Background
Childhood obesity has been on the rise since the turn of the century. With more people having kids, this is part of the reason why the population is overweight. According to Andrews (2010), the percentage of children being obese has more then doubled over the past 25 years. There have been a multitude of attempts to combat this problem, but the ones that worked the best ones that showed the greatest improvement involved the parents’ involvement in their kid’s lifestyle (p. 95). According to Nowicka (2007), This epidemic has become the disease of the century. There has been an increase in overweight children in doctor’s offices (p. 39). Nearly 22 million of children age 5 and under are either obese or overweight (Malecka-Tendera, 2006). Childhood obesity is only getting worse and parents just don’t really understand that they can help change this disease from spreading.

Problem The Child obesity epidemic is only growing. This obesity epidemic starts with their parents. Research has shown that there are a multitude of factors that can lead to child obesity. Some of the major factors are as follows: parental education, parental attitudes and behaviors, parents’ weight, and family socio-economic status. Parents have to understand their role in the health of their children. According to Keane (2012), the most consistent factor in childhood obesity is parental education (p. 1). Children of either gender with mothers that are overweight are more likely to become obese than children with fathers that are overweight. If both parents are normal weight, it can positively effect their children; if parents watch their own weight, it can help their children watch their weight. According to Lemelin, very few parents see their children as being obese (p. 2). According to figure 1below, one can see a parent’s view of their children from being underweight to obese.
Figure 1. Parental recognition of their children’s weight
[pic]
Source: Aston, Donna. Is your child overweight. Fact or fiction. Web. http://www.donnaaston.com/blog/?p=550

Parents do see that their children could be underweight when they really aren’t. This could be one factor why children are obese, because they feed their children food to make them gain weight. But when it comes to being obese, many parents do not see their children being obese. This is one of the reasons why parental education can help control this epidemic. If parents do see their children as being obese, they can change their life around to get at the normal weight for their age. Overall, parents need to understand that they can prevent their children from becoming obese. They need to have better education and understanding on nutrition, physical activity and social activities for their children.

Recommendation Parents of children who are obese need to understand how big their role is with their children’s weight. Parents need to watch their own weight in order to understand how being healthy can effect their own children. Fast food can be easily obtained, and parents need to regulate their children’s fat intake. According to Green (2012), children are among the highest consumers of sodas. They consume an average of three carbonated beverages a day. Parents can have a role in picking and planning appropriate activities to get active and food choices that are healthier (p. 916). According to Green, if children can help take part in the planning and choosing what activities they want to do, they are more likely to participate. Parents need to limit their children to less then two hours of watching TV per day (p. 916). They can also assist their children in developing a diet that they will use their whole life. Parents can also buy a pedometer to encourage walking, and can make walking a game. The whole family can be involved in physical activity and food choices in order to watch their weight along with their child’s weight. They also need to select healthier food that is low in fat, sugars, sodium, and cholesterol (Green, 2012). According to Green (2012), “parents must view themselves as role models and active decision makers who demonstrate concern and care for the health and well-being of their child”(p. 919).

Economics The economic factors of this epidemic focus on giving people the ability to consume more calories and burn fewer. According to Cawley (2010), there are six main factors that are involved with the Economics of this disease: food prices, agricultural policies, income, maternal employment, technology, and patience. Food prices have declined drastically in the past decades. Research shows that since the decline of food prices, obesity has increased by 41 to 43 percent. Fruit and vegetable prices have raised 17 percent, which studies link to a higher BMI. A higher income can prevent obesity by allowing parents to choice healthier food. When it comes to maternal employment, an increase in a mothers work hours show a 12 to 35 percent rise in childhood obesity. Children with mothers who work are more likely to watch more television. Also mothers who work are less likely to cook meals, and are more likely to get prepared such as fast food. The technology aspect of this study allows more mass preparation allowing kids to eat more in less time (pp. 234-235). With the prices of healthy food going up and “junk food” going down, this is allowing parents to buy unhealthy food. With the society wanting to save money its easier to get the unhealthy food for their family.

DISCUSSION In an effort to combat childhood obesity parents need to be better informed on their role. Childhood obesity can turn around but it starts with their parents. Nutrition plays a big role also in a child’s weight. Fast food is a big factor in a child’s diet. It is readily available and is cheap. The last thing that needs to be done is physical activity. Kids spend most of their time watching TV or playing video games. Kids need more physical activity in their lives rather at school or at home. • Parental Education • Pamphlet
Distribution
The first step in combating childhood obesity is parental education. Understating just what obesity is part of what they need to know. According to Lemelin, a lot of parents are in denial about their kids being overweight. 87% of parents with children that are overweight do not see their kids as being overweight (p. 4). A lot of parents see their kids as being big and strong not overweight. They also see them as a big baby, which in their eyes is being in good health. One way to get information to parents is to have handouts given to them at the time of birth. According to Vaughn, one hospital handed out pamphlets for child at infancy and toddlers and preschoolers. The infancy handout talks about seven different categories. These categories include the following: breastfeeding, being hungry and full signs, solid food, fruit juice, environment, sleep routines and caregivers. The toddlers and preschoolers handout breaks down into two sections: Nutrition and activity (p. 39).

Pamphlet These pamphlets should be handed out when parents have kids at the hospital. With this starting at the beginning, childhood obesity can be stopped. These pamphlets can inform parents what they need to know about nutrition and what they need to about physical activity.
Nutrition
The next step to understand is the nutrition that kids need. As said before, fast food is a big part of a child’s diet. According to Green, a typical child can be exposed to over 30,000 advertisements for fast food annually. Also children in their early teens are the biggest consumers of carbonated sodas. They can drink up to three a day (p. 916). Parents need to watch what their kids are eating. They need to provide healthy diet choices. Letting kids be involved in the process of choosing a healthier diet are more likely to stay on the healthier diet.
Physical activity The last step in combating this ever rising epidemic is being more physical activity. According to Green, children and adolescents spend more then 5 hours a day using media devices. These include TV, computer activates, the Internet and video games. Also they do not get enough physical activity at school. 3.8 percent of elementary schools, 2.1 percent of high school and 7.9 percent of middle schools provide children and adolescence with daily physical activity (p. 917). Limiting TV time or computer time is a start to getting kids outside and active. Schools also need to give more time for physical activity. And once kids get home it’s on their parents to get them staying active.

CONCLUSION
Executive Summary Childhood obesity is a disease that is spreading across the world. And this epidemic starts with the parents; they need to understand their role in their kid’s lifestyle. According to Green (2012), children that are overweight are subject to ridicule from peers. Parents can help plan and select physical activity and a diet, also allowing their children to be involved in this can help make it fun for them (p. 916). Parental education is key to combating this wide spread disease. Without parents understanding their role this is only going to get worse. According to Keane (2012), parents that are normal weight tend to have a greater impact on their children weight. If parents know how to take care of themselves are more likely to know how to take care of their children’s weight (p. 3). Parents need to limit their children from living a sedentary lifestyle. They need to limit them on watching TV, playing video games, and consuming high sugar foods and drinks. According to Green (2012), children above the age of nine are the highest consumers for carbonated drinks, consuming more then three a day. Also kids spend more then five hours a day watching TV and playing video games (p. 917). With parents intervening in this part of their children’s life they can be more active and less sedentary. This generation can benefit heavily from intervening in their children’s lifestyle. With starting this now the generations to come can know how take care of themselves, resulting in them taking better care of their children. There have been multiple interventions done to combat this disease, but the ones that work the best are the ones that inform parents on their role. Parents need to be better informed about nutrition that their children need to consume and how much physical activity they need per week. With parents allowing their children to be involved with planning physical activity, this can make it fun for the children.

Recommendations Alternatives that may also be considered include: • Getting schools to allow for more physical activity and better nutrition. • Getting cities to build more and better parks. • Get gyms to offer cheaper rates and allowing younger kids access.

Benefits Benefits from the understanding parents can gain can result in the children to live a healthier lifestyle. Children can grow up and not worry about ridicule from peers about them being over weight. They can have more self-confidence in them selves. According to Lemelin, One study done in Canada implemented the use of school nurses to educate parents about the issues about child obesity. Nurses see children for vaccinations and other medical services before allowing kids to enter school. They meet with parents to educate them in promoting healthy lifestyles (p. 2). This study was successful in dropping the rate of children’s obesity. Children deserve a healthy life and with parents understanding how big their role is in obtaining this, children can live longer and happy later on in their life.

Future Developments If parents start intervening now, the generations to come can have better education on hot live a healthy lifestyle. With allowing hospitals to hand out pamphlets concerning newborns nutrition and physical activity, it can change a child’s lifestyle starting at birth. As I get more involved with this field, I plan on working more on this issue and hopefully start to see some change with parents that want to see their child to live healthier.

REFERENCES
Andrews, K., Silk, K., & Eneli, I. (2010). Parents as health promoters: a theory of planned behavior perspective on the prevention of childhood obesity. Journal Of Health Communication, 15(1), 95-107. Doi:10.1080/10810730903460567
Aston, Donna. Is your child overweight. Fact or fiction. Web. http://www.donnaaston.com/blog/?p=550
Cawley, J. (2010). The economics of childhood obesity. Health Affairs, 29(3), 364-71. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.indstate.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/2046240 7?accountid=11592
Green, G., Riley, C., & Hargrove, B. (2012). Physical Activity And Childhood Obesity: Strategies and Solutions for Schools and Parents. Education, 132(4), 915 920.
Keane, E., Layte, R., Harrington, J., Kearney, P. M., Perry, I. J., & Kazembe, L. (2012). Measured Parental Weight Status and Familial Socio-Economic Status Correlates with
Lemelin, L., Gallagher, F., & Haggerty, J. (2012). Supporting parents of preschool children in adopting a healthy lifestyle. BMC Nursing, 11(1), 12-22. Doi:10.1186/1472-6955-11-12.
Malecka-Tendera, E., & Mazur, A. (2006). Childhood obesity: A pandemic of the twenty-first century. International Journal of Obesity, 30, S1-3. Doi: 10.1038/sj.ijo.0803367.
Nowicka, P., & Flodmark, C. (2007). Physical activity-key issues in treatment of childhood obesity. Acta Paediatrica (Oslo, Norway: 1992). Supplement, 96(454), 39-45
Vaughn, K., & Waldrop, J. (2007). Parent Education Key to Beating Early Childhood Obesity. (Cover story). Nurse Practitioner, 32(3), 36-41.

References: Andrews, K., Silk, K., & Eneli, I. (2010). Parents as health promoters: a theory of planned behavior perspective on the prevention of childhood obesity. Journal Of Health Communication, 15(1), 95-107. Doi:10.1080/10810730903460567 Aston, Donna. Is your child overweight. Fact or fiction. Web. http://www.donnaaston.com/blog/?p=550 Cawley, J. (2010). The economics of childhood obesity. Health Affairs, 29(3), 364-71. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.indstate.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/2046240 7?accountid=11592 Green, G., Riley, C., & Hargrove, B. (2012). Physical Activity And Childhood Obesity: Strategies and Solutions for Schools and Parents. Education, 132(4), 915 920. Keane, E., Layte, R., Harrington, J., Kearney, P. M., Perry, I. J., & Kazembe, L. (2012). Measured Parental Weight Status and Familial Socio-Economic Status Correlates with Lemelin, L., Gallagher, F., & Haggerty, J. (2012). Supporting parents of preschool children in adopting a healthy lifestyle. BMC Nursing, 11(1), 12-22. Doi:10.1186/1472-6955-11-12. Malecka-Tendera, E., & Mazur, A. (2006). Childhood obesity: A pandemic of the twenty-first century. International Journal of Obesity, 30, S1-3. Doi: 10.1038/sj.ijo.0803367. Nowicka, P., & Flodmark, C. (2007). Physical activity-key issues in treatment of childhood obesity. Acta Paediatrica (Oslo, Norway: 1992). Supplement, 96(454), 39-45 Vaughn, K., & Waldrop, J. (2007). Parent Education Key to Beating Early Childhood Obesity. (Cover story). Nurse Practitioner, 32(3), 36-41.