Environmental Influences On Childhood Obesity

This is a critique of the study “Sociocultural Influences on Weight-Related Behaviors in African American Adolescents” by Nutrena H. Tate, Jean E. Davis, and Hossein N. Yarandi. The findings in this study can educate readers on a culturally sensitive topic, promoting healthy weight-related behavriors while reducing the obesity epidemic “within the African American adolescent population” (Tate, Davis, & Yarandi, 2015, p. 1).

These factors or social determinants of health can be behavioral, social, psychological, technological, environmental, economical, and cultural, operating at all levels from the individual to the family to society as a whole. The circumstances are different from person to person even when the society is the same. Therefore, it is hard to constrain and minimize the factors to a small number. However, this paper provided two evidence based approaches (socioeconomic and cultural) as causal associations for childhood obesity among African Americans in Louisville, Kentucky. (Figure

Obesity disproportionally affects certain minority youth populations. According to the NHANES found African American and Mexican American adolescents between ages 12-19 were more likely to be overweight, the percentile ratio show that 21 to 23 percent respectively than non-Hispanic White adolescents in children 6-11 years old and 22 percent of Mexican American children were overweight, whereas 20 percent of African American children and14 percent of non Hispanic White children were overweight. In additional to the children and teens who were overweight in 1999-2002 another 15 percent were at risk of becoming overweight. In the national survey of American Indian Children 5-18 years old, 39 percent were found to be overweight or at risk of being overweight.

One must understand the diversity of health issues in dealing with different ethnicity groups in childhood obesities. Since my research data demonstrate that minorities are more likely to be obese than non-minorities, thus I do not want to provide an image of social labeling and stigmatizing minority children who are overweight. There are many factors that play in role in children being obese that must be taken into accounts. One of the factors, the income status of the parents and how it generally affects the child quality of life, living environment. For example, if the parents have a low yearly income it can factor in the child being obese in comparison to a child’s parent having an average or high income, including affecting the living environment and the type of food eaten. In addition, obese children are prone to psychological issues such as depression, general anxiety, emotional problem, including eating disorder (Holm et al., 2014). And different race and ethnicity deal with these types of psychological issues differently.

Childhood obesity is an important issue in the American culture because of the staggering results that this disease has reached in the past years. Certain gene factors connected with the change of culture and lifestyle has produced kids and adults who are now not as healthy as most people were just a few decades ago. The widespread of obesity has been the biggest result of these specific changes.

This paper will explore and discuss the rising issue of childhood obesity by using published books and articles. I will explore five different factors that correlate to possible beliefs of childhood obesity. The factors that I will discuss include: parenting, education, technology, marketing, and the Fat-Gene theory. There has not been one specific cause to childhood obesity but there are underlying effects that can be harmful to children from 2-19 years of age. The

The rate of obesity is increasing globally and is a serious public health issue. It no longer only affects developed countries but is also having implications on developing countries. Often the focus is placed on individual choices and behaviours, this does not take into account the research and evidence that clearly shows that obesity is a multifaceted issue. To improve the level of obesity the broader determinants needs consideration. This essay will identify the key determinants of obesity and discuss the social, environmental, individual and cultural determinants of obesity. Ultimately, it must be realised that obesity is not predominantly an individual problem.

As at 2004, it was observed from a healthy survey that 14% of children between 2-11 years and 25% of 11-25 years old were obese in England, while in the USA, the prevalence of childhood obesity is observed to be higher in most minority ethnic group (fix the reference here). Additionally, excess obesity is also seen to occur in other ethnic group like South Asia, as they are more likely to be sensitive in having excess weight gain. Clearly, Obesity can be a crucial key factor in developing medical conditions such as type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease. Thus, from public health view point, obesity is seen as a crucial health

Hispanics (22.4%) and non-Hispanic black youths (20.2%) are more likely to be overweight and obese compared to the non-Hispanic white (14.1%) and non-Hispanic Asian youth (8.6%) (CDC.gov, 2014). Children of low income-to-poverty families are also more vulnerable being overweight and obesity. These families usually live in communities with little grocery stores, great availability of fast food restaurants, and limited access to healthcare. The older children get, the more the obesity rates are climbing. Younger children are less likely to be overweight and obese because their parents have more control over what they are eating. Growing up means learning to make your own decisions and taking care of yourself, which also means having the choice to intake unhealthy food and staying active. Childhood obesity trends in the U.S. vary among states and regions. The population of the Southern states has at least 15.1% of obese children compared to the Midwest’s and Northeast’s 10.1% (Caprio, S. et al, 2008). The Journal of American Medical Association did find a decline in

Research suggests that obesity-related chronic diseases previously found in adults such as hypertension and osteoarthritis are now appearing in minority children. Therefore, addressing obesity during childhood, particularly in ethnic minority populations, is a priority in preventing escalating comorbidities in adulthood and the adverse health outcomes associated with such comorbidities. Minorities’ children have shown to have the greatest risk of obesity and obesity-related diseases and external components such as lifestyles behavior, and environmental factors may contribute to the problem. Interpersonal factors include self-esteem; motivation and lack of knowledge may play a role. Middle school-age children are taught about health, illnesses,

The socio-structural elements that influence childhood obesity are socioeconomic status, environment, and education. Caprio et al. (2008) explained childhood experiences from different social classes have potential impact on childhood obesity. First, insufficient income among low-income families or families living in poverty can only afford the low cost of widely available poor nutrient foods such as fast foods, snacks, and soft drinks, which makes up a great proportion of their diet. Fresh fruits and vegetables prices have increased by almost 20% over the past two years and healthier food options are simply unaffordable among the low-income families.

Cultural beliefs and practices related to dietary intake is play a key role in childhood obesity as discussed in the studies by (Sealy(2010), Kelly and Patterson (2006) , Baker et al (2010) , O’Dea( 2008) and Harding at al (2008) whose findings portrayed that ethnicity, culture and traditions were influential in their choices of meal and preferences in food choices. “In line with these findings, Harding et al (2007), in a study of adolescents’ behaviour, data was collected from 6599 pupils from 51 schools in London to examine the influence of lifestyle on ethnic differences in excess weight in early adolescent in the UK .The findings were that ethnic minorities children lived unhealthy lifestyles which promoted obesity

A child environment has changed in the four decades of the obesity epidemic. There have been the introduction of computer technology, video games, Internet chat rooms, the expansion of the fast food chains and children are spending more time in front of the television and not enough time doing physical activities. Another factor is that they live in homes where one or both parents work long hours and more meals or eaten outside of the homes. To understand childhood obesity one must look at barriers such as fear, body image, cultural norms and parenting roles (Hetman, Kaplan & Lissner2009)

Adolescents that belong to minority ethnic groups such as African American, American Indian and Hispanic/Latino have the greatest risk factor of being obese. Also children, who do not get adequate physical activity, have unhealthy eating habits, low socioeconomic status, sometimes genetics or a combination of all these factors. Obesity threatens the health and welfare of millions of children and adolescents, particularly the estimated 4%-7% of youth who are considered severely obese (Inge et al, 2013).

Obesity is now considered an epidemic stated by Hall and Elliman (2010) they also declared how around one to two thirds of children will go onto become obese. To be able to avert obesity there needs to be an understanding of what elements can cause obesity, but also to understand the harm it can have on the health and wellbeing of the child, this allows people to support children with the condition. This essay will delve deeper into this in relation to childhood obesity and how genetic, social and environmental factors can contribute to the problem of obesity. However to do so there needs to be an understanding of what health and wellbeing actually means. The world Health Organisation states health and wellbeing is “a complete state of physical, mental and social wellbeing, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” (World Health Organisation, 2015). The Department of Health (2010) also state how health is seen as more than just the age you will live until and the presence or absence of disease. They additionally state how wellbeing is a positive physical, social and mental state. These two statements now help with underpinning the different elements of health and wellbeing and what it means to different people. To start off with the first aspect of this essay will be looking at the impact obesity has on the child’s health in relation to physical, social-emotional and intellect.