Childhood Obesity

This document discusses the significance and impact of childhood obesity, including its effects on growth patterns and health risks. It also explores the relationship between childhood obesity and national health priorities in Australia, as well as the impact of social determinants of health. Additionally, it covers the upstream approach to nursing care for childhood obesity prevention.

Running Head: CHILDHOOD OBESITY
Childhood Obesity
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Obesity
Significance of the Issue and their Impact:
According to CDC (2019), child hood obesity is a complicated health issue in which the
weight of the child is more than that of the healthy weight. It can cause because of the
consumption of high calories food and lack of physical activity. Genetic factor is also
responsible for childhood obesity.
Childhood obesity effects the growth pattern of the children and along with that, it also
poses another health risks such as, it increases the chance of having cardiovascular disease, type
2 diabetes, muscular discomfort, joints problems and fatty liver disorder in children (CDC 2019).
Many of the health problems are responsible in increasing the mortality rate and decrease the life
expectancy rate of the population.
Childhood obesity poses a negative impact on the individual and their family. Children
suffering from obesity tend to have low- self-esteem, leads a lower quality of life, suffers from
multiple disorder and went into depression and in addition it also hinders the development of the
child. They also suffer from social problems which includes stigma and bullying. Obesity in
children also impacts negatively on the family such as, they remain stressed because of their
child’s health and also have to bear the additional cost of treatment to reduce the negative impact
of obesity. According to AIHW (2019), one in every four children of age group 2 – 7 years are
suffering from obesity.
Relationship between the Childhood Obesity and National Health Priorities Australia:
Among the 9 national health priorities, obesity is also considered as a national health
priorities. Obesity is a complicated issue which responsible for other health disease such as

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Obesity
cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellites, which are among the national health priorities of
Australia.
According to Abs.gov (2019), Obesity occurs due to the excess fat deposition in the
body. It is considered as the risk factor of many chronic illness which can lead to death. In 2007,
169 cases of death were reported due to obesity. Total of 869 death were reported, where obesity
was assumed as the underlying cause. In 2007, the mortality rate for obesity was recorded as 0.8
per 100,000 of total population and this rate is increasing rate day by day. Of all the death
recorded in 2007, 51% (87) are males and 49% (82) are females. Average death rate observed
due to obesity is 60 years and above, but it is also common in child. The risk factor responsible
for obesity is the intake of high calorie food (Koopman & Mertens 2014).
Relationship between Obesity and Social Determinants of Health:
Social determinants of health is referred to as the condition under which an individual is
born, grow and live. Social determents of health includes, social status, employment condition,
education, childhood experiences, physical environments, healthy behaviours and access to
healthcare services. All these social determinants are responsible in the week being of an
individual (He et al. 2014).
Social determinants such as healthy eating habits, access to healthcare services, education
and childhood experiences can lead to childhood obesity. If a child intakes high cholesterol and
high calories diet, it can lead to childhood obesity. Lack of proper education among the parents
and the children also responsible for causing obesity in children as they are not aware about the
negative effect of the obesity (He et al. 2014).Low economic class people and people from rural
areas do not get access to the healthcare services, which results in many chronic illness such as
fatty liver disease, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

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Relationship between Obesity and Upstreaming Approach to Nursing Care:
Upstream approach is referred to as the measure used in the prevention of the disease.
Upstream nursing approach for childhood obesity includes, limiting the intake of unhealthy
foods, increased physical activity, reducing the amount of stress, improving the sleep condition
and limiting the television time for children (Koopman & Mertens 2014).
In order to prevent obesity in children, one of the major measure is, limiting the intake of
high calories food which leads to fat deposition and results in obesity. Hence intake of unhealthy
food such as sweets, red meat, potatoes and junk foods should be reduced (Su et al. 2014).Not
getting adequate sleep, which is common in children is also considered as one of the risk factor
associated for childhood obesity. Increased screen time which is commonly observed in children
can also increases the risk of obesity (Su et al. 2014). Hence the screening time should be
reduced. Along with that, physical activity is also decreased in children due to this increased
screen timing, whether in front of T.V or mobile, which leads to childhood obesity and hence
should be reduced.

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References
Abs.gov 2019, 3303.0 - Causes of Death, Australia, 2007. Viewed 9 April 2018
<http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Products/5317BAD6B8EEE19ACA25757C001EED3
0?opendocument>.
AIHW 2019, Overweight & obesity Overview - Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
Viewed 9 April 2018,
<https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports-data/behaviours-risk-factors/overweight-obesity/overview>.
CDC 2019, Causes and Consequences of Childhood Obesity. Viewed 9 April 2018,
<https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/childhood/causes.html>.
He, W., James, S.A., Merli, M.G. & Zheng, H., 2014, ‘An increasing socioeconomic gap in
childhood overweight and obesity in China. American journal of public health, vol. 104, no. 1,
pp.e14-e22.
Koopman, L.P. & Mertens, L.L., 2014, ‘Impact of childhood obesity on cardiac structure and
function’, Current treatment options in cardiovascular medicine, vol. 16, no. 11, p.345.
Su, D., Huang, T.T.K., Anthony, R., Ramos, A., Toure, D. & Wang, H., 2014. Parental
perception of child bodyweight and health among Mexican-American children with acanthosis
nigricans. Journal of immigrant and minority health, vol. 16, no. 5, pp.874-881.