Childhood Obesity: Causes, Impacts, and Prevention

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Childhood obesity
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Childhood obesity
Childhood obesity is a condition in which excess body facts impacts the health and well-
being of a child. This is determined by measuring the body mass index of the child. Obesity in
children is caused by different factors. These include behavioral factors like overconsumption of
processed foods, eating large portions of food and spending too much time watching television,
environmental factors like having easy access to high calorie food and few physical activity
opportunities, and medical conditions like genetic syndromes and hormonal conditions.
Additionally, childhood obesity can be as a result of genetics and medications being taken
(Sahoo et al. 2015).
significance of childhood obesity
The increased obesity among children is a pressing concern which affects children and
adolescents. According to Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2016), 17% of 2 to 19-
year-old of American children are obese, triple the percentage since 1970. Moreover, the number
of obese infants and young children aged between 0 and 5 globally increased from 32 million in
1990 t0 41 million in 2016 (World Health Organization, 2016). Childhood obesity is alarming in
light of the fact that it begins children in the way of medical issues. This has negative impacts on
the individual children, family members and the community. Children with obesity risk social
and emotional complications like low self-esteem and being bullied, behavior and learning
problems and depression, and physical complications like asthma, diabetes, sleep apnea, liver
diseases, cancer and metabolic syndrome. Childhood obesity affects the family social life,
influences the family dietary and also makes family members spend a lot of money taking care of
the children. Furthermore, childhood obesity leads to unhealthy community as well as increased
costs of care.

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relationship between the health issue and at least one of the Australian National
Health Priorities
Childhood obesity is related to cancer, one of the Australian National Health Priorities. In
terms of morbidity, mortality and cost, cancer highly impacts the Australian community. Cancer
is a disease which results when cellular changes cause uncontrolled growth and division of cells.
Although being obese does not necessarily mean that one will develop cancer, the chances are
less if one is of healthy weight. According to Lauby-Secretan et al. (2016), the body fats are
associated with increased risks of cancers. This is because obese people have low chronic-
inflammation which can cause a damage to DNA overtime hence cancer. Children who have
obesity are likely to have disorders that may lead to cancer. The fat tissues in obese children are
may also produce excessive amounts of oxygen which risks endometrial, breast and ovarian
cancers. Additionally, fat cells may directly or indirectly stimulate the growth of cells. As one of
the Australian National Health Priorities, the rates of cancer can be reduced by preventing
childhood obesity. Childhood obesity can also affect the cancer risk by changing the mechanical
properties of the body as well as altering the immune responses (De Pergola and Silvestris 2013).
Therefore, to help stack the odds against cancer, parents should ensure that their children do not
gain more weight or try reducing their weight.
relationship between childhood obesity and three of the Social Determinants of
Health
Childhood obesity is a key concern in the public health which is affecting children
worldwide. Obesity is also influenced by the social determinants of health. The social
determinants of health are the non-medical issues which influence the health of an individual.
The aim of social determinants of health is to create a conducive social and physical environment