Childhood Obesity; an Epidemic to Our Society

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Social factors-socio-economic status, race/ethnicity, media and marketing, and the physical environment- also influence energy consumption and expenditure (Para_6), with the focus being lack physical activities. The root finding for prevention remains relevant, “Promote a healthier Lifestyle”.

Apart from adopting healthier eating habits, or analyzing the influences from race/ethnicity and genetics. The Over the past 10-30 years lack of physical activity seems to be the driver/ meat and the potatoes, if you will, of childhood obesity. Challenging the ideas of food and advertisement, David, Ashton (2004) J R SOC MED Journal Vol. 97: Food Advertising and childhood Obesity, state, “The decline in physical activity in children (and adults) has been exacerbated by the failure of successive governments to provide and environment in which physical activity can be incorporated into everyday life” (pg_2). This is a very interesting observation. Over the years our economy has fluctuated, and so has the developmental influence of children’s after school programs/ youth centers. I remember a time when there was a local youth center in almost every nearby neighborhood that was nearly free of charge to the youth promoting recreational activities. All of these factors in fact play a valuable role the prevention of childhood obesity.

“Parental influences” has the number one affect on our youth and should detour/ promote prevention of the entire above underlying root causes of childhood obesity today. The list of root causes again: healthier eating habits, healthy diet, physical environment influences, socio-

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economic status, race and ethnicity, genetics, advertising and marketing, and finally parental influences. Despite genetics being a the only non-preventative factor, parental influences is the only underlying root cause that has a long term affect for our youth.

Parental influence shapes the habits of our youth, from the beginning of their birth in the choices mothers make in nourishment methods to the introduction to a new sport or activity. The effect is profound in early childhood

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References

Robert, Crosnoe. (2007) Sociology of Education: Gender, Obesity, and Education

Retrieved from http://http://www.jstor.org/stable/20452708

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2008) Childhood Obesity facts

Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/obesity/facts.htm

U.S Department of Health & Human Services (2009) Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation: Childhood Obesity

Retrieved from http://aspe.hhs.gov/health/reports/child_obesity/

David, Ashton (2004) J R SOC MED Journal Vol. 97: Food Advertising and childhood Obesity

Retrieved from http://jrsm.rsmjournals.com/content/97/2/51.full

Hugh, B. Price & Oliver, Sloman (2008) The Brookings Institution: Mobilizing Retired Physicians to Fight Childhood Obesity

Retrieved from http://www.brookings.edu/papers/2008/01_obesity_price.aspx