Childhood Obesity in Australia: Causes, Effects and Solutions

This report discusses the causes, effects and solutions of childhood obesity in Australia. It highlights the need for health campaigns, workshops and seminars to educate families and children about the ill effects of obesity and how to prevent it.

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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................1
Customer profile..............................................................................................................................1
Customer job................................................................................................................................2
Pains.............................................................................................................................................2
Gains............................................................................................................................................2
Solution........................................................................................................................................2
Reference List..................................................................................................................................3

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Introduction
Child obesity is one of the most important concerns of the people of Australia. This is
because most of the children and youngsters in Australia are becoming victims of obesity and are
on the verge of facing several health issues in the near future. As a result of this obesity there are
chances that the children might develop harmful diseases like diabetes, asthma or other severe
breathing issues and many other such dangerous ailments (Skinner et al. 2015, p. 1306). Apart
from this can also have a harmful effect on the confidence and the self-esteem of the children as
they grow up. There is a chance that they might be treated in a bad way in their schools or even
in their localities as well (Leech, McNaughton & Timperio 2015, p. 1079). Apart from this
children belonging to the economically poor families have a greater chance of obesity as they do
not have access to any good facilities.

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Figure 1: Rate of obesity in Australia
(Source: www.healthdirect.gov.au)
They are also not properly educated and do not understand the ill effects of obesity. This
is also because of the diet that is being consumed by the people of Australia. Often the family
members are concerned about the kinds of food that is eaten by their children. As a matter of fact
the diet contains high fat and oily food. Many Australian kids are often seen spending their time
by sitting on the couches watching television, playing games or sitting in front of the computer.
These prolonged hours of staying in the same posture without any kinds of exercises
make their body muscles weak and result in the accumulation of fat. Apart from this, the diet that
is being taken by the children is devoid of green leafy vegetables or other healthy products. The
diets mainly comprise chocolates, pies, potatoes, pastries, and other such elements.

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This report will be focussing on the childhood obesity in Australia and the ill effects that it is
likely to have in the long run. It will also try to delve deep into the approaches that can be taken
by the Government, family and the schools to deal with this problem.
Figure 2: Obesity in Australia
Source: (www.aihw.gov.au)
Customer profile
Customer job
There are actually several jobs that are faced by a healthcare professional. The common
public wants to see that the Government is taking some active steps in curing the problem. The
major job that is faced by the healthcare professional in the modern day scenario is to reduce the

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growing issue of obesity among the children living in Australia (Lee et al. 2018, p. 1005). In
order to achieve this mission, the immediate action is to be taken. The action is to help the
already obese children by offering them proper support and care. The health care professional
has to set the target audience in a very precise manner. The demographic group over here will
include the children belonging between 2 to 9years.
Figure 3: Graphical representation of obesity in Australia
Source: (www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au)
Pains
Childhood Obesity is really an issue of major concern. In the recent past many of the
Australian families have been spending their days in pain and fear. They fear about the future life
and health of their children. The customers or the clients are naturally pained out of this situation
as it creates a huge mental, physical and social burden on them. This, in turn, causes the parents

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and the family members' worries as well. So as a result of all these the friends, families and the
guardians of the these affected children are creating a huge pressure in the Government to find
out some measures for inducing health campaigns and safety laws for the benefit of the children
and the upcoming generation (Lau, Handsley & Reynolds 2017,p.249)
Gains
The issue of obesity has to be addressed right from the grassroots level that is from
childhood. This will really be very helpful in creating a very healthy lifestyle not only for the
children but the community as a whole (Ogden et al. 2015, p. 109). Once the people start feeling
the benefits of addressing this issue of obesity they will be continuing the same even into the
years of adulthood. For an instance, if the families feel that taking plenty of healthy food and
undergoing daily exercises have benefitted their children, then they will be carrying on with this
solution and reduced their obesity then they will naturally carry on these healthy habits into the
future years as well. Thus, this healthy habit will continue for years.
Solution
Using all the information that has been gathered from this report it can be said that the
proposed solution is to initiate many health campaigns (Sanders et al. 2015, p. 719). There has to
be proper information so that the campaigns can be attended by all the people irrespective of
their socioeconomic status. The programme will also be carried on at the primary school levels
so that children can be taught the ill effects of obesity.
There must be some workshops, seminars and other collaborative sessions where the
parents and the families of such obesity affected children will be present to know about the ways

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in which they can check the obesity of the children. There will also be some guests or health
experts who will be giving tips on how to check obesity and stay healthy.

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Reference List
Lau, J., Handsley, E. & Reynolds, C., 2017. Obesity Prevention Laws and the Australian
Constitution. Journal of law and medicine, 25(1), pp.248-266.
Lee, C.M.Y., Goode, B., Nørtoft, E., Shaw, J.E., Magliano, D.J. & Colagiuri, S., 2018. The cost
of diabetes and obesity in Australia. Journal of medical economics, 21(10), pp.1001-1005.
Leech, R.M., McNaughton, S.A. & Timperio, A., 2015. Clustering of diet, physical activity and
sedentary behaviour among Australian children: cross-sectional and longitudinal associations
with overweight and obesity. International Journal of Obesity, 39(7), p.1079.
Ogden, C.L., Carroll, M.D., Fryar, C.D. & Flegal, K.M., 2015. Prevalence of obesity among
adults and youth: United States, 2011-2014 (pp. 1-8). Washington, DC: US Department of
Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for
Health Statistics.
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), pp.715-746.
Skinner, A.C., Perrin, E.M., Moss, L.A. & Skelton, J.A., 2015. Cardiometabolic risks and
severity of obesity in children and young adults. New England Journal of Medicine, 373(14),
pp.1307-1317.