Childhood Obesity

According to Burniat (2002, p.15) obesity means an excess amount of body fat but not general agreement as yet exists on the lowest definition of obesity in children. A number of factors contribute to a child becoming obese and these include genetics, lifestyle habits, or a combination of both. Childhood obesity is an increasing problem all over the world that affects an estimated seventeen percent of all children in the United States which is three times the rate it was only a generation ago. Tessner and Hagen (2006, p.20) states that childhood obesity can have a harmful effect on the body of a child in various ways and it has been determined that these children are more likely to have high cholesterol and high blood pressure which are risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, these children have an increased risk of having impaired glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, and may also have diabetes. Obese children are also prone to having breathing problems and they may further develop asthma. Socially and psychologically, these obese children are likely to have problems such as being discriminated against and having low self esteem and these problems are likely to continue way into their adulthood. Obese children have a high likelihood of becoming obese adults and this is associated with several serious health conditions which include heart disease and some types of cancers.

Childhood obesity is a serious medical condition that occurs in children who are well above the normal weight for their age and height. It is a very troubling problem because the extra weight often puts the children affected on a path that leads to health problems that one would only expect to see confined to adults, such as high blood pressure among others. It is a global problem and is steadily affecting many middle income and low income countries (which previously had very few cases of childhood obesity) especially in their urban areas, and its prevalence in these countries is increasing at an alarming rate. The largest number of obese children is however mostly found in developed countries due to the fact that they have more resources. Because children grow at different rates, it is a very difficult task for their parents to know whether their child obese or not and it is always best to have a doctor measure the child’s weight in comparison with his or her height to determine whether he or she is in a healthy weight range.

Childhood obesity, being a global problem, is increasingly affecting both the developing and the developed countries alike but at different rates, depending on the economic conditions prevailing in such countries. The problem seems to be aggravated by the transitions in nutritional and physical activity that are currently taking place and are leading to an increase in the use of energy saving devices, the availability of cheap high calorie dense foods, and the limited participation of these children in physical activities both at home and at school. In some cultures in Africa and Asia, for example, the situation is further complicated due to the social and cultural beliefs that associate being obese and overweight with being signs of wealth and prestige.

One of the main reasons why more and more children are becoming obese is the fact that many of them spend more time in front of televisions, computers, or video games and therefore have less time for physical activity. The busy schedules and lifestyles which the families of today have results in their not having enough time to prepare home cooked meals full of nutrients and instead, they have the tendency of ordering extremely unhealthy fast food, which contributes to the growing obesity among modern children. Bagchi (2010, p.233) states that childhood obesity may lead to some children being miserable about their weight, and these are more prone than those of regular weight to develop unhealthy eating habits and disorders such as anorexia. They are also more prone to depression and are at a great risk of getting involved in the abuse of addictive substances.

There are many ways through which childhood obesity can be prevented and we shall discuss some of them. Children adopting healthy lifestyle habits which include eating healthy and participating in physical activity lowers the likelihood of their becoming obese. According to Poskitt (2008) schools can also play a very significant role for obese children by setting up a secure and encouraging atmosphere for them with practices which support healthy behaviors. Schools should also make available chances for students to gain knowledge about and put into practice healthy eating and bodily behavior. A part of the resolution of the problem of obesity in childhood would be the reintroduction of compulsory physical activities in all the public schools. This would enable children to get the exercise which they normally do not get at home due to the availability of visual media which gives them little time for any kind of exercise.

One of the best strategies in combating childhood obesity is for parents to introduce a healthy diet and exercise habits not only to the children but also to the whole family so that the children are able to follow the example of their seniors and do not feel left out just because of their weight. Koplan and Kraak (2005, p.319) state that in infancy, breastfeeding and the delaying of the introduction of solid foods may help to prevent obesity but in early childhood, children should be given healthy, low fat snacks and their parents should introduce them to moderate physical activities every day. According to the Committee on Obesity Prevention Policies for Young Children (2012) older children, on the other hand, should be educated on how to choose healthy and nutritious foods and should be persuaded to develop good exercise habits. Parents should also reinforce good eating habits to their children in order to ensure that their children’s weight is kept under control. Moreover, these parents should also avoid rewarding their children with sweets in an attempt to reward them for their good behavior or to stop them from behaving badly and should instead come up with alternative methods to modify their children’s behavior.

However, they should also be very careful not to completely eliminate their children’s favorite snacks, even if they are junk food, from their diet because the children might just decide to rebel against their parent’s directive and over eat those foods that they have been forbidden outside of the home or they might sneak them in on their own. Parents should also be aware that forcing their children to finish all the food in their plates, even when they are full, is a big contributor in the development of childhood obesity and that they should instead reinforce the idea that their children should only eat when they are hungry. The Institute of Medicine (2006, p.150) declares that the amount of time which children spend using any kind of visual media in the home should be strictly moderated by their parents because they are one of the reasons why the levels of physical activities have gone down in children and in the process making them obese. Parents should be good role models for their children by engaging in physical activities with them for at least an hour daily.

In conclusion, it is imperative that the issue of childhood obesity be dealt with decisively by all the parties concerned be it the parents, the children themselves, and the government. The government should take the initiative to deal with this issue because if it is not dealt with now, then there are going to be a lot of health problems due to the various illnesses that result from obesity. Obesity is a growing problem all over the world due to the changing lifestyle that is becoming prevalent especially to children whose major forms of entertainment are quickly changing from physical activities such as sports which provide exercise and going into the entertainment provided by visual media which do not require any physical activity to indulge in. Furthermore, action against childhood obesity is very important to ensure that the welfare of all children is well taken care of to prevent any occurrence of diseases related to it.