Childhood Obesity

prevalence of obesity in children

Before going to discuss about obesity and its impact on health, we can say that children are pioneer of future of any nation. They have greater contribution in nation development and development is based on children health. Looking at the present scenario, we can say that childhood obesity is being increased and it is one of the global issue which needs more attention, as its lead to chronic disease and disability in future life. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, there was 4 percentage of increasing in obesity among children as compare to 21% of children were obsessed in 1995 (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2009).And according to the World Health Organisation, 65% of total world population are living in these kind of countries where more people are died from obesity than underweight and in 2010, 43 millions of children are overweight (WHO, 2011). First this essay will discuss about obesity in childhood and in adolescents and also will discuss about various reasons for increasing trend of obesity in children and adolescents. Secondly, this essay will also focus on impact of obesity on children health and how this contributes in their activity of daily living. Further, this paper will also cover the perception of mothers’ about overweight and obesity in their children and also show public perception towards the causes and prevention of obesity in childhood. Moreover, this essay will also emphasize on some of the preventive strategies and how we can manage childhood obesity and also give information about current ongoing programme for prevention and management of obesity among children and adolescents. Finally, this essay will also make some recommendation and will provide a short summary at the end of essay. Every argument and recommendation will be supported by academic resources such as database of Ballarat library, international journal and reports from experts.
According to the World Health Organisation, obesity can be defined as abnormal and excessive accumulation of fat which may lead to impaired health (WHO, 2011). In general Body Mass index (BMI) is the best tool for assessing overweight or obesity. It shows persons weight in kilograms divided by the square of his height in meters. According to the WHO, if a person presents BMI greater or equal to 25 then he is overweight and if it is greater or equal to 30 than that person is obsessed (WHO, 2011). Before, obesity is considerable problem in developed countries but presently it is also more common in low income and developing countries as well. Around 35 millions of children are living in developed countries who are overweight and approximately 8 millions in developing countries (WHO, 2011). As stated in the article, the main possible causes for obesity are less education level of parent, working mother, high monthly income, small family size or less than 6 numbers of members in family, having obese parents and eating a low quality of diet (Ibrahim et al., 2010).As we can see from that, five of them predictors are related to family, it is clear that family has primary is the primary influence of excess weight. As adolescents are highly inspired to adopt unhealthy western life style, therefore they are more likely to have greater exposures to risk factors and this tend to first start from cities and then later it spread to smaller region (Ibrahim et al., 2010). Further, in urban area adolescents are more likely to stay at home and prefer to spend more time in watching television rather than to participate in sport activities. This is contributed to their overweight. While children are at more risk of obesity whose mother is working than other children. The reasons might be that mothers who working outside, spend less time on shopping and preparing food for families. Further, they prefer more convenient and fast food at home because of heavy work schedule. Thus, children are free to make their choices about food and may be choose unhealthy food because of lack of supervision (Ibrahim et al., 2010). Further, it also seems that education levels of parent can also contribute in children’s health and educated parent can protect their children from consumption of unhygienic food and obesity. From this, we can say that prevention of obesity in childhood and adolescents require programmes based on education, counselling and behaviour skills with multidisciplinary approach (Ibrahim et al., 2010).
Moreover, healthy diet, good sleep and enough physical exercise plays a greater role in the development of healthy child and adolescents and their maturation. Increased level of hunger and appetite are associated with short sleep duration (Zumin et al., 2010).It also related to low level of physical activity and lower consumption of vegetable and fruit intake which may promote obesity in childhood and adolescents. As stated in the article short sleep duration contribute to the risk of obesity between the children age of 5 to 15 living in South Australia (Zumin et al., 2010). Further short sleep duration can lead to increasing in fat intake and snack intakes which can promote weight gain and decreased physical activity among children and the association between short sleep duration and obesity is stronger in the age group of below 12 years (Zumin et al., 2010). Further, it is necessary that care giver should have knowledge and assessment skills for identifying obesity in their children. A study by Louise et al, in New South Wales shows that care givers are unable to identify adiposity in their children (Louise et al, 2006).Further; they may not consider healthy weight of their children as necessary. In addition care givers are more likely to do underestimate of overweight boys than overweight girls (Louise et al, 2006). This attitude of care givers to their children may lead to increasing in obesity of childhood and adolescents.
Furthermore, parents are also feeling difficulty in recognising obesity of their children. It is a key factor effecting change. As stated in the article 35%of parents out of 200, are failed to recognise obesity in their children. Further, it also stated that child’s obesity is being viewed positively rather than negatively by their mother (Jackson et al., 2005). For obtaining optimal health outcome and in weight management parent are playing crucial role. In addition to that maternal views and beliefs are more important because it can have impact on mother’s confidence and they feel they can do everything to overcome this problem and also will shape their action (Jackson et al., 2005). Mothers are also reporting that, they face problem for finding age appropriate clothing of their children and also more worried about the experiences faces by their children from society which are related to their obesity and sometimes children may also face social rejection in some of the cases. In some cases obese children face bullying, exclusion from certain social activities, unwanted nickname from friends or family members and mockery (Jackson et al., 2005). This is mainly because of low metabolism, sedentary lifestyle, families or cultural factor, not enough amount of drinking water or not chewing food adequately and this can be observed under the supervision of parent. Therefore, for any effective intervention of managed obesity or prevent obesity, parents involvement is vitally important (Jackson et al., 2005).
Other than this, it is also necessary that to get idea on public perception about causes and prevention of obesity among school children because of increased risk of psychological and physiological problems which are related to obesity. Such as Diabetes type 2, it is being increased in children because of obesity (Hardus et al., 2003).As stated in the article, public recognise multiple causes which increasing the incidence of obesity among children and adolescents such as overuse of technology for an example television viewing , computers or other form of electronic entertainment equipment, reduction of walking and more use of transportation vehicles, increasing marketing of foods and their availability, reduction in physical education and widely use of on line education or training programme and changes in demands and family life (Hardus et al., 2003). According to public perception, media’s advertisements about unhealthy food and overconsumption of fatty foods is the main key factor which is highly contribute in childhood obesity. Further, lack of enough physical exercise is also considerable key factor for increasing obesity among children and adolescents as per public perception and many of them also believes that consumption of fatty foods in front of television is also play a major role in increasing obesity among children (Hardus et al., 2003). As stated in the article, public concern about children obesity and they expect some of the preventive strategies from government in order to overcome this problem such as physical education programme and provision of healthy food in school (Hardus et al., 2003).
Moreover, obese children and adolescents are targeted group for World Health Organisation and also for state and national government. As stated in the article school is the primary setting for providing education on healthy diet and foe encouraging healthy eating habit in children (Borup and Holstein, 2010).To address this problem health dialogue are best options and which provide opportunities for children to ask about healthy diet habit, weight, exercise and other factors which are responsible for weight gain (Borup and Holstein, 2010). Therefore, school nurse plays a vital role in prevention of obesity among children and she need to work collaboratively with teachers, parent and other health care worker in community. Further, it is important that she doesn’t part only in screening activity but she needs to participate also in health promotion and health education of children (Borup and Holstein, 2010). Therefore, there is a possibility of changing the eating habit of children with the help of family members and teachers and childhood obesity can be preventable.
Other than this, Fitness Improvement and Lifestyle Awareness Program at school are highly affected and acceptable in terms of reducing obesity among adolescents. Through this program screening, recruitment and randomization goals were met and can prevent obesity (Louisa et al., 2009). Among them recruitment of children is the most difficult phase which can be achieved by providing newsletters about stories, give information on attending pattern and organise special sessions via media , print or presentation (Louisa et al., 2009). Furthermore, providing different curriculum activities to adolescents such as provision of mastery experiences and sufficient opportunities for cognitive and behavioural performance and rewards can attract the young generation to attend this programme and keep them remain in same program and can help in reducing obesity among adolescents (Louisa et al., 2009).
Furthermore, as we know childhood obesity is associated with adult obesity. However, it also increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and onset of diabetes 2 mellitus. Therefore, school based programme provide a long term interventions strategies and also help to prevent obesity which is related to cardio vascular diseases (Siegrist et al., 2011). Further physical inactivity also shown to play a key role in developing obesity related atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and it may be present the relationship between the obesity, inflammation and fat disposition (Siegrist et al., 2011). School based program encourage the children to adopt healthy life style in all possible conditions and now it is necessary to include family members or parent in every school based programme for achieving (Siegrist et al., 2011). The main aim of this program is regular physical exercise in school and at home as well, active sport lesions and breaks from study and increasing sporting activities at school and home as well. In addition, it tries to improve eating pattern, reducing in media use and also try to prevent children and adolescents from substance abuse (Siegrist et al., 2011).
Furthermore, an online programme based on childhood obesity prevention have greater impact on children and their families and more useful in prevention of childhood and adolescent obesity. However, face to face programme provide higher level of understanding, personal contact with people and highly social contact. But there are still many barriers in attending this programme such as long distance, travelling issue and there is need to commit a set at every session each week (Jones et al., 2009). To overcome this problem, online programme such as online behavioural modification programme is useful for short term effect and to be successful in reducing adiposity among children and adolescents (Jones et al., 2009). However, there are also some challenges associated with online learning programme such as maintenance of website, regular updating programme, provide feedback for regularly etc. While, the success of face to face programme is depend on active participation of parent (Jones et al., 2009).
From what we have discussed above we conclude that, nowadays increasing in obesity among children and adolescents is becoming a global problem and which needs more attention to overcome this problem. Now it is equally common in both developed countries and developing countries and is the fifth leading cause of global deaths and more common rather than underweight. There are so many causes which can cause obesity among children but most of them are reliable on family, therefore family have greater influence of obesity. Obesity also can cause bad health impact on later life. So, it is vitally important that to identify obesity at childhood and try to prevent them with available sources. Further, school based intervention programme and school nurse play a key role in prevention of obesity among children. However, government should also take some steps and need to make some policies for obese children by which they can prevent themselves from bullying and social rejection. Prevention of obesity among childhood and adolescent is multidisciplinary approach and it can be achieved by team work including parents and family members.

References:
AM, I., AM, A., & FE, S. (2010). Predictors of obesity in school-aged Jordanian adolescents. International Journal of Nursing Practice , 16 (4), 397-405.

D, J., G, M., J, M., P, F., & A, F. (2005). Mother 's parception of overweight and obesity in their children. Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing , 23 (2), 8-13.

IK, B., & BE, H. (2010). Overweight children 's response to an annual health dialogue with the school nurse. International Journal of Nursing Practice , 16 (4), 359-65.

Louisa R.Peralta, R. A. (2009). Promoting healthy lifestyles among adolescent boys: The Fitness Improvment and Lifestyle Awareness Program RCT. Preventive Medicine , 48, 537-542.

Louise Fisher, J. F. (2006). Caregivers ' inability to identify childhood adiposity: A cross- sectional survey of rural children and their caregivers ' attitudes. Australian Journal Rural Health , 14, 56-61.

Monika Siegrist, H. H. (2011). A cluster randomised school based lifestyle intervention programme for the prevention of childhood obesity and related early cardiovascular disease. BMC Public Health , 11 (1), 258-267.

Organisation, W. H. (n.d.). Overweight and Obesity. Retrieved october 18, 2011, from World Health Organisation: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs311/en/

PM Hardus, C. v. (2003). Public perception of the causes and prevention of obesity among primary school children. International Journal of Obesity , 27, 1465-1471.

RA, J., N, P., AD, O., & L, L. (2009). Developing an online program to prevent obesity in pre school aged children: What do parents recommend? Nutrition & Dietetics , 66 (3), 151-7.

Statistics, A. B. (2009). Children who are overwight or obese. Retrieved 0ctober 17, 2011, from Australian Bureau of Statistics: http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/4102.0Main+Features20Sep+2 009

Zumin Shi, A. W. (2010). Short sleep duration and obesity among Australian children. BMC Public Health , 10, 609-614.

References: AM, I., AM, A., & FE, S. (2010). Predictors of obesity in school-aged Jordanian adolescents. International Journal of Nursing Practice , 16 (4), 397-405. D, J., G, M., J, M., P, F., & A, F. (2005). Mother 's parception of overweight and obesity in their children IK, B., & BE, H. (2010). Overweight children 's response to an annual health dialogue with the school nurse Louisa R.Peralta, R. A. (2009). Promoting healthy lifestyles among adolescent boys: The Fitness Improvment and Lifestyle Awareness Program RCT Louise Fisher, J. F. (2006). Caregivers ' inability to identify childhood adiposity: A cross- sectional survey of rural children and their caregivers ' attitudes Monika Siegrist, H. H. (2011). A cluster randomised school based lifestyle intervention programme for the prevention of childhood obesity and related early cardiovascular Organisation, W. H. (n.d.). Overweight and Obesity. Retrieved october 18, 2011, from World Health Organisation: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs311/en/ PM Hardus, C. v. (2003). Public perception of the causes and prevention of obesity among primary school children RA, J., N, P., AD, O., & L, L. (2009). Developing an online program to prevent obesity in pre school aged children: What do parents recommend? Nutrition & Dietetics , 66 (3), Statistics, A. B. (2009). Children who are overwight or obese. Retrieved 0ctober 17, 2011, from Australian Bureau of Statistics: Zumin Shi, A. W. (2010). Short sleep duration and obesity among Australian children. BMC Public Health , 10, 609-614.