Childhood Obesity Article 2022

Running head: Childhood Obesity
Childhood Obesity
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Childhood Obesity
1. What type of study design is it? Provide rationale.
The article by EMENT (2003) is an epidemiological study that provides recommendations to
program planners, teachers, school staff, parents, and health professionals who are concerned
about children and obesity. Epidemiological studies focus on human population and determine
the association of their health effects (obesity, in this case) to a cause (Unhealthy lifestyle, in this
case). The analysis and evaluation of distribution (who, where, where) and patterns and health
determinants in specific populations are epidemiological studies. It forges policy choices and
evidence-based strategies by defining disease risk factors and preventive health care priorities.
Epidemiologists support the research design, compilation, and statistical analysis of data, the
interpretation of data and distribution of findings. Epidemiology also continued to improve the
methods used in clinical study, public health trials and, to a smaller degree, scientific work in the
biological sciences. Furthermore, traditional epidemiological experiments involve
both quantitative and qualitative research designs. Quantitative research formats include
observational and interventional approaches. Observational approaches identify correlations
which are already established at the community (descriptive) or person (analytical) level.
Interventional methods include adjusting variables in one or more groups of individuals and
contrasting outcomes between those with the modified and unchanged variables. Qualitative
experiments utilize non-numeric approaches to collect "richer" knowledge about how individuals
view or encounter circumstances (Hajat, 2011). For several years, epidemiology and
epidemiological approaches has been consistent (Merrill, 2015). Thus, this study by EMENT
(2003) can be a qualitative epidemiological study, although, no such information has been
specified in the study.

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2. Are the findings reported consistent with information/knowledge that you have? Do
the reported relationships make sense?
Yes. With the rising prevalence of obesity in children, the urgency of developing strategies to
address the concern and improve heath outcome of the children, also increases. In both
developed and developing nations, childhood obesity has hit epidemic rates. Overweight and
childhood obesity are considered to have a major effect on both physical and psychological
wellbeing (Karnik & Kanekar, 2012). Overweight and obese children are expected to remain
obese until adulthood and are more prone to non-communicable disorders and chronic
diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease at a younger age. The reason for the
occurrence of obesity is not well known and is suspected to be a multi-cause disease. Childhood
obesity may have a significant impact on the physical, emotional and mental wellbeing and self-
esteem of children. It is often related to weak academic success and poorer children's quality of
life. In combination with childhood obesity there are several co-morbid diseases, such as
digestive, cardiovascular, orthopedic, psychological, hepatic, respiratory or renal disorders
(Sahoo et al., 2015).
Therefore, the intended goal of addressing childhood overweight and obesity is to promote
health and well-being for children, both immediately and long term. WHO describes wellness as
a condition of full physical, emotional, and social wellbeing, not just absence of sickness or
disease. That is aligned with the strategy that focuses on the whole person, emotionally,
psychologically and socially. That method moves the attention on living healthy and behaving in
regular, healthful ways, loving the individual and health and wellbeing, irrespective of the size of
the body. The approach also emphasizes towards a safety oriented strategy that emphasizes on
the whole community. Health-at-any-size supporters promote sufficient behavioral

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improvements to meet these goals. Like in other children's initiatives, overweight and obesity
prevention strategies concentrate effectively on loving and protecting every child while
preventing harm. The study suggests that it is essential that every child is treated with respect
and also encouraged so that they understand the importance of healthy behavior that they can
reasonably incorporate that into their lives that will eventually improve their growth and
development. Adults are in need of providing a safe atmosphere for children to understand their
importance and appreciate cultural food and family rituals. Based on these aspects, the study,
thus, provides a set of recommendations for curriculum or program planners, parents, educators,
school staff and health practitioners associated with weight and children (EMENT, 2003).
3. If reported, how strong is the observed association?
Overweight, obesity, dietary habits, physical exercise and the appearance of the body are all
interrelated and can be treated with in a systematic way that is not harmful. Healthy, successful
overweight and obesity preventive initiatives should also provide interventions intended to deter
issues leading to eating habits, risky loss of weight, nutrient deficiencies, body hatred and
disparity of size (Pandita et al., 2016). It will result in damage if attempts to avoid obesity fail
without sufficient consideration to these issues. The report also recommended that decision-
taking organizations concerned with balanced weight, over weight and avoidance of obesity
would be diversified to involve wellness practitioners, eating disorder experts, and teachers to
wellbeing activists, health-at-any-size advocates as well as the public. A robust, effective
initiative, which encourages and supports healthier habits, is an important part of the well-being
of children of all sizes, whether home, school or society. The study also relates the fact that this
is not practical and will lead to issues to require all children to be in the optimal weight category.
Children keeping a healthy weight are more practical and justified to expect (EMENT, 2003).

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Childhood Obesity
4. Would you incorporate the findings of this study into your community health
nursing practice (i.e., the health promotion program that you are planning) or
recommend this study to others? Provide rationale.
Yes. Since the study provides recommendations to program planners, teachers, school staff,
parents, and health professionals who are concerned about children and obesity. The article,
taking into consideration every aspect of children’s wellbeing, have developed some
recommendations that help reducing obesity and increase the overall health outcome of these
children. The report recommends a broad variety of clinical providers, experts on eating
disorders, parents, fitness educators, and the public to be involved in the decision-making groups
surrounding balanced weight, overweight and obesity prevention. In fact, a robust and effective
plan will concentrate on encouraging and maintaining healthier behaviours for children of all age
at home, at school and throughout the community. The study also indicates that it is necessary
for increasing children to develop health and not weight targets. A nurturing
environment encourages physically, psychologically and socially all areas of growth and
development of children. It is an atmosphere that encourages self-esteem, body confidence and a
healthy view of the body. The research, thus, advises to set targets for development of a
nurturing environment. The study also recommends setting goals for healthy eating and physical
activities since obesity can be prevented by following a healthy lifestyle and engaging in
physical activity. In addition to the above recommendations, the study also highlights that it is
important to set goals or achieving a healthy body rather than focusing on only weight and size
(EMENT, 2003). Thus, these above strategies will lead to effective results, if included and
implemented properly in the health promotion plan for preventing childhood obesity.

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Childhood Obesity
5. What further research question(s) would you develop in relation to this study
and/or your observations?
Some of the research questions include:
 What are the responsibilities or expected contributions of parents while implementing
these recommendations?
 How obese children will manage or face stigma because of their increased body weight?
 What additional responsibilities do schools have in implementing these strategies?
 How parents can be made aware about the issue and what are the strategies that can be
followed to increase their awareness?
 How eating habits can be replaced with consumption of healthy foods while parents
themselves send their children packets of variety of fast foods readily available in local
shops?
 How sedentary lifestyle can be replaced with active participation in sports, physical or
outdoor activities in this modernized world with technological advancements and
availability of smart phones?

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Childhood Obesity
References
EMENT, S. R. S. (2003). Guidelines for Childhood Obesity Prevention Programs: Promoting
Healthy Weight in Children.
Hajat C. (2011). An introduction to epidemiology. Methods in molecular biology (Clifton,
N.J.), 713, 27–39.
Karnik, S., & Kanekar, A. (2012). Childhood obesity: a global public health crisis. Int J Prev
Med, 3(1), 1-7.
Merrill, R. M. (2015). Introduction to epidemiology. Jones & Bartlett Publishers.
Pandita, A., Sharma, D., Pandita, D., Pawar, S., Tariq, M., & Kaul, A. (2016). Childhood
obesity: prevention is better than cure. Diabetes, metabolic syndrome and obesity: targets
and therapy, 9, 83.
Sahoo, K., Sahoo, B., Choudhury, A. K., Sofi, N. Y., Kumar, R., & Bhadoria, A. S. (2015).
Childhood obesity: causes and consequences. Journal of family medicine and primary
care, 4(2), 187.