Obesity in children had had lot of reports in the media lately. It has been said that this is on the increase and that children are at risk, if there is not much education for parents and guidance to help these children to lose weight. The problem seems to exist and in the majority, even though parents could be educated in this sense, but if a child who is obese has obese parents then that child is more likely not have a good role models when comes to food. Overweight parent will be taking in too much of the wrong foods and probably eating at the wrong times all the day, would not participate in any form of physical exercise and as well not eat fruits and vegetables. In this sense, if the parent put up with this kind of example, then there is the likelihood that the young child will follow suit, and end up becoming obese adults. This essay is going to talk about the current situation with regards to childhood obesity and the impact this have on current and future health. The essay will then define childhood obesity in general, the prevalence and consequences. It would then talk about, the onus that lies on parents to be good role models to their children when it comes to healthy eating, then talk about the intervention of government Agencies whose aim is to report the findings and creates the awareness and measures to improve obesity epidemic among children.
Definition
Obesity is a condition that describes a child who is seriously overweight for their age and height that the ability to participate in any child's activity becomes a problem or affected. Even, if the child is seen not to be affected by any obvious medical condition at first. Children who are obese are likely to be storing up serious health problems for the future.(Manson, 2008).
Obese is a word that people use more often without the slight understanding that it is a medical term which was derived through measurement of the Body Mass Index (BMI). The Body Mass Index is the combination of comparing weight to height and dividing the weigh measurement (in kilograms) by the square of the height (in metres). The calculation of BMI for an adult cannot be used for that of a child who is constantly seen to be growing and changing. There are numerous ways that child obesity can be measured and defined. Clinically, the definition of obese and over weight children is based on growth charts which is referred to as centile charts, which has different one for boys and vice versa.(Cole et al 2000).
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has come out with 10 facts that everyone has to know about obesity. The reports states that, obesity in the UK has now reached epidemic levels. Children are in danger to becoming obese. The cost of obesity to society is enormous. Obesity is cost by not burning off more calories than you eat. Obesity tends to be more common in deprived communities. Nobody is responsible for being over weight or obese. People's eating habits have changed dramatically in the last few decades. Most children and adults are not active enough. Combating obesity requires healthy eating and physical activity.(Manson, 2008)
Obesity in children in recent times has increased in the last decade. In the past children eating habits is something that was scarcely spoken of and is out of the headlines. But today, child obesity has become a problem and very common within societies. Most recent survey in the United Kingdom identified 25 percent of boys and 33 percent of girls ages in the ranges between two to 19 years are obese and there are no evidence that this is reducing. In the UK obesity costs the country a lot of money and also shortens lives by nine years, because of the health problems associated with it. The total cost of obesity o the National Health Service has been said to be around £1bn. The Health and Social Care Information centre survey of 2000 children found that obesity in boys and girls arose sharply. In England, Campaigners and ministers said a lot had to be done to stop this rise by 2010. The Chairman of the National Obesity Forum said this was serious news since the figures revealed a "public health time-bomb". The Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said children in Britain in the last 10 years have increased in size (more fatter) than anywhere in Western Europe and that the country are at risk of vascular diseases as a result. (www.bbc.co.uk)
In Scotland, the Scottish parliament expressed concern by the figures shown by the NHS Scotland indicates that Scottish children who are obese are in the majority and two times that of the expected UK average, this indicated that a third of 12-year-old were considered to be obese. The average of 19.4 percent was identified to be obese and 11.2 percent severely obese. (www.childreninscotland.org.uk).
It can be said that by the year 2020 childhood obesity is likely to increase if nothing is done about it, with the estimated figure seeing 20% of boys and 33% of girls obese. (Snow 2007). It is also estimated that the National Health Service (NHS) is spending a huge sums of money approximately £2billion a year treating and curtailing diseases cause by poor healthy eating and it has been predicted that the future will not look bright on the NHS and certainly cannot be avoided unless action is taken to eradicate the cause of this present epidemic. It is as well very important that healthy eating practices are inculcated at an early age. Having good nutrients within the body is something vital for every mankind. More importantly, children below five years should be well developed in that area since these ages are demanding in development and likely prone to diseases. Making long-term changes in healthy eating for all the family is good and the aim to introduce the child's intake of fresh fruit and vegetables, which is recommended at least five portions a day and reduce fat intake. It is important to sit together with a child at a table for a well balanced meal which will assist their body's ability to fight off infections and stay healthy, attain an amount of energy, be focus in concentration and always stay positive. It is essential that children are introduced to physical activity which is equally important to good health. Children needs fresh air and it is advisable that parents do not spend money on expensive activities. Riding a bicycle, walking on the park, running and even a ball game in the back garden are all good practices for the children. It is more evident that children from a low class background family have greater risk of obesity than those children coming from well-to-do family background. It is also evident that inequalities exist in the consumption of fruits and vegetables with lower consumption coming from the less affluent family background. (Stoates & Jones 2002a).
Causes and effects
Obesity in children is not just cause by excessive eating or lack of exercise, some children become obese as a result of taking certain types of steroids. There are also rare condition that causes obesity such as Prader-Willi syndrome, which is causes by excessive eating through appetite. Additionally, the thyroid gland becomes inactive and does not and is not able to come out with enough hormones to keep the body functioning well, which leads to slow metabolism and unavoidable weight gain, this condition is called Hypothyroidism. Obesity can also be inherited through family which is linked to genes. Obese children are likely to do poorly in school, simply because they are sometimes excluded from friendship groups. Over-weight children are likely to have blood pressure and this can generate into heart diseases and stroke (Manson, 2008).
Prevalence of childhood obesity
Obesity increase in among children is not a new phenomenon. According to Hall and Elliman (2006) between one third and two thirds of obese children will go on or become obese adults and by 1991, almost one in five children in the USA was overweight. Child obesity is a global epidemic and the rising trends in overweight and obesity are both in developed and developing countries. It was estimated that according to Flynn et al (2006b) from period between 1980 and 1990 shows the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children increased by a magnitude of two to five times in developed countries(example 11% to 30%) and up to almost four times in developing countries (as an example 4% to 14% in Brazil). Recent review carried out by Lobstein et al in 2004, explains how childhood obesity differs from developed and developing nation. In the industrially developed countries, low income families are more vulnerable and in the developing countries, childhood obesity is most prevalent among advantaged groups. In addition, as seen in the USA ethnicity may probably be a factor. As an example as seen, in Hispanic and African American at about 25%.
Physical activity
Children should be encouraged to have some form of exercise rather than to reduce their inactivity. Weight of the child can be diminished only if he or she cultivated the practice to exercise through the encouragement of the parent. Increased physical activity has additional benefits for heart risk diseases, insulin resistance, and depression and do limit the lost of lean tissue and contribute to bone health. (Sattar and Lean 2007).
Nutrition in schools
In 2004 in Scotland the then the First Minister Jack Mcconnell announced that there was the need to recruit coordinators from 600 active schools and did announce that the government is going to develop and implement the nutritional guidelines for the purpose of serving food in pre-schools. Fruits for primary one and two children will be free, and will employed that there will agreement with Coca-cola to take all vending machines and substitute that with water, and as well as ensure new breakfast services with healthy diet are provided for the children (Scottish Executives 2004). Department for Education and Skills (DFES) in England, similarly, introduced in 2006 services for schools to reduce the salt, sugar and increase fruits and vegetable instead. The DFES is also the sponsor department for the School Food Trust that oversees and promotes education and health of children in schools by ensuring that healthy and quality foods are consumed in schools. In England, the Office for Standard in Education (OFSTED) found out that nurseries are better in promoting food and nutrition in every aspect of learning when compared to primary schools. Inspectors found out that there was lack of coherent food policy in some primary schools resulting in children having very poor knowledge of food and nutrition because they given inaccurate messages about healthy eating. It was also said that, compulsory standard for school lunches were not adhere to, and some schools did not offer enough portion of the healthier options. The report created the awareness for teachers, parents and supervisors to a broader concept to what constitutes a good balanced diet and move beyond in preparing good and enjoyable food for children.(OFSTED 2004).
Advertising and marketing
The media plays a very important role in reaching out to parents and other individuals with the attitude to practice healthy eating. In the same way they are able to create a very good picture of the effects of unhealthy eating practices to all. Some children are not very good at making informed choices and judgements about the advertisements they see and therefore the parents and adults are responsible to inform them wisely. Additionally, all European Union member states are subject to the Television without Frontiers Directives, which are there to restrict advertising. In some countries advertising that were aimed or targeted children are banned. As an example, in Sweden no advertising is allowed when children's programme is on and advertising in other aspect should not target children under the ages of 12 (FSA2004a).
In another development, in Canada, the Quebec consumer protection Act bans all advertising and marketing with the exception of satellite TV) aimed at children under 13 (FSA2004b).
The FSA in the year 2003 gave the mandate to the University of Strathclyde to ascertain a systematic review of research into advertising and the promotion of food to children.
The report findings was that
-there is much food advertising to children.
-the advertised diet is less healthy than the recommended one
-food promotion is having drastic effect, particularly on children's preference, purchase, behaviour and consumption.
It is important to know that there are other forms of food promotion other than television advertising, including print and radio, text messaging, celebrating endorsements, sponsorship of educational materials, vending machines and voucher schemes. For example, Gary Lineker (ex- England footballer captain and television celebrity) promotes a brand of crisps through advertisements. Unfortunately, the FSA can only recommend restrictions on advertising but not an outright ban.
Food Labelling
In order to help parents to provide for their children a balanced diet, the nutritional labels on food need to distinct and easy to understand and to encourage and to encourage the public to make informed choices about their diet The house of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee released a report (2005) on food information. It called for mandatory nutrition labelling on all pre-packed food as well signposting for non pre-packed food.
Involving the Child with choice
Parents have to involve their children in making choice. Getting the child into the kitchen and let the child get a bin liner while you empty the cupboard which is full of crisps and biscuits. The child will be deeply disappointed because he or she will be losing their goodies, but just explain to them that these are not going forever good. Assure the child he or she can have a choice of one of the item one or two times a week if he is good. It is important that the parent stick to what he has promised the child and make it the same day, because children like to play on their parents and would like to think you have not given them anything as promised. The parent now needs your child to help you with a shopping list of all the new foods. Then take the child with you to the supermarket and go straight to fresh produce and purchase some fruits and vegetables that you are aware your child likes. Your child's lunch box would be packed with healthy food if the house is packed with such foods, just because the child can eat what is there. (Heaton-Harris, 2007).
It is also important that before parents can be expected to change their own behaviour and that of their children then, there is the need for enabling environment indicating that government policies and other organisations must educate and support them. It would be beneficial if a parent living in a deprived area would be taught the need for eating five fruits and vegetables a day which he could not easily afford to buy these foods. In contrarily to this, some mother who belong to a focus group in the USA, said that would rather preferred their children to be overweight rather than underweight, as this indicates to them that their children are getting much to eat, and therefore adequate nutrition. Irrespective of advises from the professionals, these mothers tended to follow the advise of their maternal forebears, and thereby introduced solid foods early and of a kind which they the mothers like to eat. (Westenhoefer,2001).
Healthcare organisation
Healthcare professionals like General Practitioners can help in preventing childhood obesity. This can be done if these practitioners are able to have access to other services and resources. The Health Development Agency (HDA) recommends that more specialist obesity centres be available for GPs to refer patients, these services should have the family involve so that they are taught the appropriate diet, physical activity and life skills. They suggest that the government should subsidise the cost of fruits and vegetables to encourage healthy eating, also food contractors should be encouraged to use different approaches to preparing food more frequently, such as boiling, grilling and baking. Schools should make free water from clean and hygienic source. Also, they recommend that all manufacturers should be legally obliged to reduce salt, sugar and fat in pre-prepared meals to an agreed level within a defined time frame.
In conclusion, this essay has described the recent situation with regards to obesity in children, and has drawn attention to the seriousness of the problem. It has delved into the increasing number of childhood obesity which has become one major problem and public health concern because of the increasing number of diseases and deaths associated with it. It also talked about how changes can be made in schools and at homes so that awareness will be enhanced and be sustained. Additionally, the essay touched on the prevention strategies which need a coordinated effort between medical community, teachers, parents, advertisers and the media. It also touched on the fact that the environment needs to encourage and display healthy eating and active living which is very important in curtailing child obesity.
