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Abstract
This paper delves into the use of early onset obesity detection in children and suggests methods of potentially preventing childhood obesity later on in the childs life.
Introduction
The proposed change to help deal with the issue of childhood obesity was inspired by the study of Wright et al. (2012) which advocated the implementation of early onset methods of obesity detection through local schools and facilitate greater levels of parental involvement in preventing the manifestation of obesity in a child later on in life (Wright, Norris, Newman Giger & Suro, 2012). Evidence of the viability of such an action plan can be seen in the study of Rosenbaum, Accacha, Altshuler, Carey, Fennoy, Lowell, and Shelov (2011) which asserted that schools acted as excellent environments towards the development of better eating behaviors in children (Rosenbaum et al., 2011)
In support of such an assumption, the studies of Foreyt, Suminski, Poston, & Jackson (2009) and Olstad and McCargar (2009) present the idea that childhood obesity can be prevented provided that it be detected early on and proper methods of behavioral, physical and nutritional intervention are put into practice before early onset obesity takes hold. This can be done in conjunction with the ideas of Rosenbaum et al. (2011) regarding the use of schools as platforms behind such changes.
It is the assumption of this paper that one of the primary factors behind childhood obesity is through learned behavior (Frerichs, Araz & Huang, 2013). Such an assumption was seen in the Frerichs, Araz & Huang (2013) study wherein it is assumed that children become obese not through an inherent biological predilection (though there are instances where some children do have a greater predilection towards becoming fat), rather, they become obese by developing unhealthy eating habits that they learn through social transmission resulting in the continued excessive consumption of food items that lead to obesity (i.e. junk food).
Examination of Obesity Detection and Application in Procedures
The Phillips, Dillon, Harrington, McCarthy, Kearney, Fitzgerald & Perry (2013) study presents methods on how to detect whether a particular child was at risk of becoming obese in the future through the use of dietary and lifestyle factors as well as presents various methods on how to prevent early onset obesity through dietary, physical and parental intervention. By utilizing this study as a basis for examination, a distinct procedural methodology actually emerges wherein early detection and methods of prevention can be combined in order to prevent a child from becoming obese.
Procedures to be followed
From the perspective of Foreyt et al. (2009), detecting whether or not a child will become obese in the future can actually be accomplished utilizing a combination of BMI, logistic regression parameters, and cross sectional samples of data over a period of several years (Foreyt et al., 2009). By utilizing their proposed method of probability calculation, Foreyt et al. presented a procedure that hypothesized all children can actually be tested in order to determine whether or not they will become obese. The study of Olstad and McCargar (2009) also presented a similar hypothesis yet included in their study the idea that by adjusting parental involvement in a childs health practices which include adhering to proper diets, physical activity and presenting oneself as a proper role model, early onset child obesity can be constrained and prevented (Olstand and McCargar, 2009). As such, this report proposes to utilize the procedures of detection developed by Foreyt et al. involving BMI, logistic regression parameters, and cross sectional samples of data in school programs for children in pre-school, kindergarten and first grade. These tests can be achieved through a nationwide program of mandatory health checkups provided by a regional medical provider that would utilize the parameters set by Foreyt et al. and Olstad and McCargar to determine whether a particular child was at risk. Should a child fall under the set parameters, a slight interview will be conducted by either the nurse in charge of the examinations or by the childs teacher. This is done in order to investigate the childs eating habits as well as the eating habits of their parents. By knowing the factors that contribute towards the childs potential to become obese, a preventive plan can be developed which focuses on implementing a more healthy diet and better eating habits.
Factors to Take Into Consideration
Do note that one issue that was determined by this report was that early onset obesity in children was often the result of economic factors (Radnitz, Byrne, Goldman, Sparks, Gantshar & Tung, 2009). Parents sometimes cannot afford to feed their children healthy options due to either time constraints (i.e. being a single parent) or through limited financial means (Ouwehand & Papies, 2010). As a result, children become used to eating food from fast food restaurants such as McDonalds or easy to cook instant meals that are full of obesity causing ingredients (i.e. high levels of fat and sodium). For example, the participants in the Foreyt et al. (2009) study were primarily Mexican-Americans within an elementary school in the U.S. These children were shown to consume large amounts of unhealthy junk food due to two factors:
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They were part of single parent households and, as such, their parents simply bought them food from a fast food restaurant instead of preparing a healthy meal for them.
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They were economically disadvantaged which made it difficult for their parents to provide healthy options for them.
While the Olstand and McCargar (2009) study did not use any direct participants (i.e. they utilized documentary review), they did however focus on the prevalence of childhood obesity within children in Canada. The data from the study also portrayed a similar picture wherein the economic and familial situation of a child at home often had a distinct correlation with their propensity towards bad eating habits.
Possible Advantages and Disadvantages of the Change
The advantages of implementing early onset childhood testing for obesity come in the form of early intervention resulting in the possible prevention of obesity later on in life (Shi, Groh, & Morrison, 2013). The statistical results of other studies that delve into the issue how early onset childhood obesity develops and, as such, shows how prevention while an individual is still a child is critical in ensuring a person does not become obese (Chappell, 2010). From the data obtained it becomes clear that subsequent abnormal weight gain and the propensity to become obese can be detected early on and mitigated if sufficient practices are implemented (Gollust, Niederdeppe & Barry, 2013). On the other end of the spectrum, implementing such a plan can come with considerable social resistance since parents may not like being told how to raise their child (Cohen, 2009). The result could be the creation of a policy that would be ineffective when actually implemented.
Policy and Potential Effectiveness of the Program
The current problem with regulatory approaches in creating an effective policy in reducing childhood obesity in schools is that there is actually no effective method to prevent a child from eating unhealthy foods (Van der Laan, De Ridder, Viergever & Smeets, 2011). Various policies enacted in the past have included healthy food options to be utilized in school cafeterias, the addition of caloric and nutritional guidelines on various types of food, restricting certain types of food marketing to children as well as the reduction of ingredients multinational corporations use in the types of food they create which have been connected to obesity (Cornier, Salzberg, Bessesen & Tregellas, 2009).
Unfortunately, despite these policy initiatives being put into action years ago, the fact remains that the prevalence of childhood obesity continues to grow. At a national level there is a distinct lack of regular monitoring and prevalent action on preventing obesity and, as a result, it has been allowed to run rampant. An examination of various obesity prevention programs enacted on the local level have shown relatively limited success in actually sustaining an effective program that curbs the growing rate of childhood obesity in local and urban areas (Burner, 2010). This is especially true when it came to the issue of telling parents how to raise their children.
Addressing the Issue
The best method of resolving this issue is not to target the state of obesity directly, since there is no way to prevent a child from eating junk food at home, rather a more effective method would be to discourage the process of eating high caloric food (Geyskens, Soetens & Roets, 2010). The proposed means of doing so is taking the statistical data from the examinations of children on a state level and determine whether high rates of potential obesity exist. If these rates are discovered, higher taxes on junk food will be levied on an individual state level until such a time that statistics show a drop in the rate of obesity.
Reference List
Burner, J. (2010). Want Fries with That Obesity and the Supersizing of America. School Library Journal, 52(1), 152-153.
Chappell, K. (2010). Saving our children from the obesity epidemic in Black America. Ebony, 65(7), 78.
Cohen, D. A. (2009). Obesity and the built environment: changes in environmental cues cause energy imbalances. International Journal Of Obesity, 32(1), 137-142
Cornier, M. A., Salzberg, A. K., Bessesen, D. H., & Tregellas, J. R. (2009). The effects of overfeeding and propensity to weight gain on the neuronal responses to visual food cues. Appetite, 51(2), 359.
Foreyt, J., Suminski, R., Poston, W., & Jackson, A. (2009). Early identification of Mexican American children who are at risk for becoming obese. International Journal Of Obesity & Related Metabolic Disorders, 23(8), 823.
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