Child Obesity: A Comprehensive Literature Review on Global Trends

This literature review examines the global epidemic of child obesity, emphasizing its causes, effects, and potential solutions. The review highlights environmental and genetic factors as key contributors, with varying conditions across countries. It identifies overarching themes like Mixed Messages, Fat is Bad, Role Models, and Knowledge through Education. The study analyzes articles, including those by Skinner and Skelton (2014) and Zimmerman and Bell (2010), revealing strengths and weaknesses in existing research. It also points out the need for further investigation into parental behavior, the role of fathers, and parental concern in relation to childhood obesity. The review underscores the importance of parental awareness, and the need for collaboration among nutritionists, physicians, and parents in combating this growing health crisis. The review concludes by suggesting further research questions and highlights the need for enhanced public understanding and alertness regarding child obesity.

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Conclusion
In summary, obesity in children is currently a global epidemic. While causes of obesity in
children are diverse, the environmental conditions and genetic factors are mostly considered to
be great players in early development of obesity in children. Conditions leading to obesity in
children varies among countries globally. An analysis of the themes that emerged in the study of
obesity in children identifies several overarching themes across all groups which suggest that the
main concepts contributing to obesity in children include Mixed Messages, Fat is Bad, Role
Models and Knowledge through Education. The results of the thematic considerations and
findings indicate that various parties are responsible for the control and eradication of obesity in
children.
According to a research conducted by Skinner and Skelton (2014 p.563) on “Prevalence
and trends in obesity and severe obesity among children in the United States, 1999-2012”
dangerous effects causing the discussed problem of child obesity have a potential of progressing
until adulthood. Parents, therefore, must be keen on the lifestyle of their children especially the
type of diet they take so as to avoid the progress of obesity till adulthood. However, research on
“Associations of television content type and obesity in children” by Zimmerman and Bell (2010
p.336) indicates that since children who are obese are stigmatized in the society especially from
fellow children, parents should strive to control obesity in their children as they are considered
fat, unfriendly and unhealthy by their peers. Moreover, to prevent obesity in children, doctors
make recommendations that nutritionists, physicians and parents must join to set a proper plan of
overcoming obesity in children. Nevertheless, public understanding, consideration and alertness
should be enhanced in regards to the matter of obesity in children.

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The study reveals several strengths and weaknesses among the articles used. The
systematic review by Anderson (2012 p.342) on “Parental employment, family routines and
childhood obesity” indicates that there is a considerable improvement in strength training among
adolescents and children who are obese. However, research by Ek et al. (2015 p.1479) shows
non-significant changes primarily on the measurers taken to curb obesity in children and
adolescents. However, much of the reviewed literature has potential problems including limited
research reliance, inclusion of non-obese children in the study, and the inclusion of trials that
were not randomized.
To further the research on obesity in children and adolescents, advanced research should
be conducted on several productive research questions like; what are the risk factors of parental
behaviour lead to child obesity? What is the role of father on childhood obesity and parenting? What is
the effect of parental concern on child obesity? The questions are critical on the study of literature on
obesity in children and adolescents as they pose a larger view and discussion area that
encompass most of the factors prevalent in the study on obesity in adolescents and children.

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References
Anderson, M. P. 2012, ‘Parental employment, family routines and childhood obesity’, Journal of
Economics and Humans Biology, no. 10, pp. 340-351.
Ek, A., Sorjonen, K., Nyman, J. et al., 2015, ‘Child behaviors associated with childhood obesity
and parents’ self-efficacy to handle them: Confirmatory factor analysis of the Lifestyle Behavior
Checklist’, International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition Physical Activity, 1479-5868.
Skinner, A.C. and Skelton, J.A., 2014. Prevalence and trends in obesity and severe obesity
among children in the United States, 1999-2012. JAMA pediatrics, 168(6), pp.561-566.
Zimmerman, F.J. and Bell, J.F., 2010. Associations of television content type and obesity in
children. American Journal of Public Health, 100(2), pp.334-340.