Childhood Obesity in Australia Assessment Answer

Introduction

Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development data estimates that annually, the world's obesity epidemic claims the lives of 3.4 billion people. Moreover, the rate of increase is frightening, with the number of fat people rising yearly. Australia is #6 on the list of countries with the most excellent obesity rates, with a percentage of overweight people that is 72%. The most recent statistics show that one in four Australian children are overweight. Childhood obesity was primarily influenced by factors related to the parents. There is a positive correlation between maternal weight gain and child obesity if, for example, the mother gained weight during her pregnancy. In 2022, the highest prevalence of obesity in any country was found in Australia (sanders et al., 2015).

The origins of obesity, a class of disorders, are varied. Fat children are more likely to remain overweight than adults. Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, and liver disease all have higher prevalence rates in the obese population. The increasing rate of childhood obesity is a significant issue for public health officials in Australia. More studies on the personal, environmental, and social factors that protect against childhood obesity are needed in Australia. The findings of these investigations will help avert the potentially devastating future repercussions of this disease in Australia and beyond.

Literature Review

Diabetes, heart disease, social isolation, bullying, and low self-esteem are some of the many significant repercussions of juvenile obesity, which has become a major public health issue ("childhood obesity, "2017). This problem impacts children throughout the globe. Globally, the number of overweight children has increased from 32 million in 1991 to 41 million in 2016, as reported in "Facts and figures on childhood obesity," 2020. Expanding economies can be found in every region. The highest incidence of obesity among Australian boys was found between the ages of 16 and 17 (8%), whereas the highest prevalence among Australian females was found between the ages of 5 and 7 (12%). Childhood obesity rates have increased steadily over the past few decades, from 20% in 1980 to 25% in 2008 and 27% in 2015. ("A picture of overweight and obesity in Australia, "2017). This demonstrates that there has been an increasing trend over time in the rate at which children are becoming overweight.

One of the reasons kids get fat is because of how their genes have been programmed. It is estimated that children inherit between 25% and 40% of their parents' metabolic rate (Sahoo, K. et al. 2015). Obesity in children often has more than one cause. However, it is possible to pinpoint some cases of a specific genetic defect. Genetic variations may play a role in the development of obesity (en, G. et al., 2018; Güngor, N. K., 2014). Systematic studies of the research point to the convenience and low cost of fast food as reasons why kids and the kids of working parents are more likely to make poor food choices. The importance of this cannot be overstated, especially for young people. It has been shown that (Alrashidi, M.,2016). It has been shown through a meta-analysis of the relevant literature (Bellew W. et al., 2019; Güngor, N. K., 2014) that children from lower-income families in industrialized countries had higher rates of obesity. Malnutrition and low body weight are more common in people who reside in countries with poor or moderate incomes (Güngor, N. K., 2014).

Güngor, N. K. (2014) found that South Asians and Hispanics have a higher prevalence of obesity than the general population. In addition, children's emotional health and well-being are significantly impacted by the presence of eating disorders and emotional problem symptoms (Sahoo K. et al., 2015; Russell-Mayhew et al., 2012). Only a few research have looked at the relationship between growing BMI and decreasing body satisfaction, and they came up empty. Young women whose parents had a lower educational level and resided in more rural areas were likelier to be unhappy with their appearance. (Austin, S. B. et al.; Russell-Mayhew et al.; Sahoo et al.; 2015). 

As the studies show, there are challenges associated with preventing childhood obesity. Factors like parental education and cultural and ethnic origin affect how actively parents engage in the fight against childhood obesity (Ganter, 2012-2013). If parents are illiterate, they are more likely to feed their children high-calorie foods and less likely to understand the importance of reading food labels, both of which have detrimental effects on their children's health (Shih et al. 2016). Children's overweight and obesity rates are strongly correlated with the built environment. The success of campaigns to reduce childhood obesity is primarily determined by how close schools, parks, grocery stores, and other enterprises are to neighborhoods where children live (Lovasi et al., 2009). One factor that hinders efforts to minimize childhood obesity is the proliferation of fast food restaurants in residential areas (Papas et al. 2007). To combat kid obesity, "Television Watching and Sit Time" from 2020 notes that most online action games are aimed at children and that playing them involves more time spent sitting and focusing on a screen. A lack of financial resources is one of the biggest challenges to crafting successful programs to combat childhood obesity. Policy failure is compounded by a lack of human resources, which has emerged as a significant hurdle in the fight against childhood obesity ("Barriers, facilitators, and capacities for childhood obesity prevention in 12 European Union Member States, "2018).

Juvenile obesity can be prevented and treated using a combination of physical activity guidelines and programs designed to educate and motivate children to adopt a more healthful lifestyle. Research indicates that younger children are more receptive to these preventative strategies to reduce overweight and obesity than teenagers and adults (Active Healthy Living: Prevention of Childhood Obesity through Increased Physical Activity, 2020). There is growing evidence that the Health School model effectively promotes healthy eating by creating an encouraging environment, enacting supportive regulations, and improving individual skill sets, as reported by Lee, Ho, and Keung (2010). Parents can help combat the childhood obesity pandemic by keeping a close eye on their kids' eating and activity habits and enforcing restrictions on fast food, video games, and other sedentary activities. Because parents may affect their kids' eating habits and daily routines, this is feasible. Parents should involve their entire family in role-playing healthy eating habits and attitudes to make lasting changes to daily routines. To avoid using food as a consolation tool and to save time in the kitchen, you shouldn't eat convenience foods (How Parents Can Fight the Obesity Epidemic: Your Child: University of Michigan Health System, 2020).

Research Question

What factors contribute to and contribute to the prevalence of childhood obesity in Australia?

Conclusion

In conclusion, the results of this analysis will help pinpoint the root causes and underlying factors that contribute to the epidemic of childhood obesity that is plaguing Australia today. In addition to identifying the causes of childhood obesity, this article will discuss methods for assessing those causes and mitigating their effects. This paper also addresses why Australia has a higher obesity risk than other countries. Furthermore, numerous interventions and techniques are undertaken to lessen the weight of overweight; with these, people will be able to stabilize the prevalence of pediatric obesity by changing their diets and increasing their levels of physical activity. Interventions and tactics like diet and exercise are two examples. Additionally, the fundamental purpose of this research is to safeguard and prevent future generations of Australians from being afflicted by obesity.

References

A picture of overweight and obesity in Australia. (2017). Retrieved from: https://www.aihw.gov.au/getmedia/172fba28-785e-4a08-ab37-2da3bbae40b8/aihw-phe-216.pdf.aspx?inline=true

Active Healthy Living: Prevention of Childhood Obesity Through Increased Physical Activity. (12 April,2020). Retrieved from: https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/117/5/1834

Alrashidi, M. (2016). The prevalence, risk factors and perception of overweight and obesity in kuwaiti children: a mixed methods approach.

Barriers, facilitators and capacities for childhood obesity prevention in 12 European Union Member States: results of a policy-maker survey. (2018). Retrieved from: http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/380327/php-4-3-pp1-eng.pdf

Childhood obesity: an overview of the existing barriers to the health practitioner’s role in providing effective intervention. (2017). Retrieved from: https://www.communitypractitioner.co.uk/resources/2017/07/childhood-obesity-overview-existing-barriers-health-practitioner%E2%80%99s-role-providing

Facts and figures on childhood obesity. (2020). Retrieved from: https://www.who.int/end-childhood-obesity/facts/en/

Ganter, C., Chuang E., AftosmesTobio, A., Blaine, R.E., Giannetti, M., Land,T., & Davison, K.K. Community Stakeholders’ Perceptions of Barriers to Childhood Obesity Prevention in Low-Income Families. (2012-2013). Prev Chronic Dis, 12.

Güngör, N. K. (2014). Overweight and obesity in children and adolescents. Journal of clinical research in pediatric endocrinology, 6(3), 129.

How Parents Can Fight the Obesity Epidemic: Your Child: University of Michigan Health System. (2020). Retrieved from: http://www.med.umich.edu/yourchild/topics/fightobesity.htm

Lee, A., Ho, M., & Keung, V. (2010). Healthy school as an ecological model for prevention of childhood obesity. Research in sports medicine, 18(1), 49-61.

Lovasi, G.S., Hutson, M.A., Guerra, M., &Neckerman, K.M. (2009). Built Environments and Obesity in Disadvantaged Populations, Epidemiologic Reviews, 31(1), 7–20.

Papas, M.A., Alberg, A.J., Ewing, R., Helzlsouer, K.J., Gary, T.L., & Klassen, A.C. (2007). The Built Environment and Obesity, Epidemiologic Reviews, 29(1), 129–143.

Sanders, R. H., Han, A., Baker, J. S., &Cobley, S. (2015). Childhood obesity and its physical and psychological co-morbidities: a systematic review of Australian children and adolescents. European journal of pediatrics, 174(6), 715-746.

Television Watching and Sit Time. (2020). Retrieved from https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/obesity-prevention-source/obesity-causes/television-and-sedentary-behavior-and-obesity/

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