How Do Levels of Obesity in Wales and Mississippi Compare and How Are the Governments Addressing This Issue?

...

There was a clear link between children’s weight at age 11 and their parents’ level of education. As many as 25% of children whose parents had no educational qualifications were obese and a further 14% were overweight. By contrast, 15% of children who had at least one parent with a degree were obese and the same proportion was overweight. However, no link was found between children’s weight and their parents’ social class. Overweight and obesity at age 11 were strongly associated with the mother’s weight. Children with obese mothers were most likely to be overweight (19%) or obese (36%) themselves. “These findings highlight the value of the Millennium Cohort Study for addressing issues relating to child health and, in particular, for advancing our understanding of the ‘obesity epidemic’,” Dr Connelly said.[7]

Jonathan West, the Principal Health Promotion Specialist for Public Health Wales, said the findings from the survey are consistent with those from its own Child Measurement Programme. “These figures are a stark reminder that Wales faces many problems with childhood obesity, with children in poorer areas generally experiencing higher levels of obesity. “Tackling Childhood Obesity is a priority area for Public Health Wales. We know that these are complex problems requiring action across the whole of society that addresses access to healthy food and safe environments, and that supports children to be active particularly outdoors. “We are committed to working with others to ensure that our children are getting the best start in life. We need to ensure that the measures that have been introduced in Wales such as the Active Travel Act, the Healthy Eating in Schools Regulations and the Welsh Network of Health Promoting School Schemes are used to maximum effect to reverse this trend.”[8]

From both websites I found opinions and information form specialists. The first article was from Dr Roxanne Connelly who analysed information from the Millennium Cohort Study. She expanded the information from the study and shown of her own opinion. She mentioned that it was found that children were said to be more overweight if their parents had no education qualifications. I found that this article was reliable because she took information from the study that I had seen before whilst researching. The article was found on the BBC News website which is usually a reliable source. I also realized that the information from article was by Dr Connelly and not a researcher.

The second article was from Jonathan West, the Principal Health Promotion Specialist for Public Health Wales. He also researched and commented on the findings from the survey and related them to the same outcomes as the Child Measurement Programme. He found that children in poorer areas are generally experiencing higher levels of obesity. This strategy links to Dr. Roxanne Connelly’s who mentioned that children are at higher risk of obesity if their parents had no education qualifications. I think this data from Jonathan West was also reliable as he is also a health specialist and his findings seem accurate and realistic like Dr Connelly’s.

I decided to choose these sources as I know they are reliable websites for giving factual information. The articles both included opinions from more than one specialist with their own findings of obesity. I mentioned specialists who I thought were more reliable who could relate more to statistics and not just their personal opinions like the others I found.

I realise that I have taken views and opinions from two professionals and they’re views are near enough the same. I feel that both Dr. Roxanne Connelly and Jonathan West are blaming parents for their children’s bad eating habits.

From more research I have found a website chat for parents that offers information to mothers on everything from where to find playgroups and how to eat healthily to where to meet other mothers. It is a well-used and informative website that has around 8million users. It responds to the practical needs of real mothers who juggle increasingly busy lives, and offer support and guidance for those times when it's difficult to cope with the demands of family life.

From a group chat on the website I found a concern from one of the users.

“Unhappy 11 month old twins won't eat cereal.

Hi all, I have 11 month old twins, boy and girl and my daughter refuses to eat cereal in the morning. My son will just about with some persuasion and toy playing. It worries me that she especially is not eating enough. She will eat a little bit of banana and toast but that’s it. I have tried to not give her any milk beforehand so that she is hungry but that doesn't make any difference, she will have a couple of spoonful’s and then nothing else. I have also tried various cereals and added purees etc. but still nothing. Any suggestions, alternatives? Thank you!”[9]

This clearly shows that it is sometimes harder for parents in different ways that the experts think. This is a clear example that it’s not about wealth or laziness of parents, it’s sometimes actually their children who are refusing to eat certain food. Cereal is portrayed as being relatively healthy so this proves that parents are in fact trying to give their children good food. It’s not always the case that children are being offered the wrong foods. This website is a brilliant example of what life is actually like for parents when their being pressured and accused about what they are feeding their children.

The mother had many replies with other mothers having the same problems. Most said they had tried many alternatives but had to bring in other foods such as pancakes, croissants and jam. They also said that their children preferred foods with butter. All replies however said that they tried to get their children to eat things like eggs, yogurt, fruits and cheese but they just won’t eat them. Some even tried making ‘porridge fingers’. This proves to me that parents are trying to get their children to eat the healthy foods and their not being lazy as they are making things like ‘porridge fingers’.[10]

I have found another article whilst researching that I found very interesting. It’s written by Paediatrician Dr Su Laurent in 2009 so it’s fairly recent. I feel that her view slightly clashes with the group chat that I found on Net mums. She thinks that parents are putting down that their children have eaten disorders when in fact they actually have bad behaviour problems.

In the article, Dr Su Laurent said “I spend a significant amount of time seeing healthy young children whose parents are convinced that their child