UK Childhood Obesity: A Comprehensive Review of Trends and Research

This assignment presents a literature review focusing on the escalating issue of childhood obesity in the UK, examining its prevalence, contributing factors, and potential intervention strategies. It references qualitative articles that explore children's perceptions of body size and weight, the current trends in obesity research, and the prevalence of obesity across different demographics within the UK. The review highlights the importance of addressing both physical and parental influences, as well as socioeconomic factors, to combat this growing health concern. It also emphasizes the need for more solution-oriented research and policy development to effectively tackle childhood obesity in the UK. This document is contributed by a student and available on Desklib, a platform offering study tools and resources for students.

Introducing childhood
obesity within the UK
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Table of Contents
Assessment 1...................................................................................................................................3
Part 1 (a)......................................................................................................................................3
PART (B).....................................................................................................................................3
INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................3
Part 2................................................................................................................................................4
Section 1......................................................................................................................................4
Section 2......................................................................................................................................6
Conclusion...................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9
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Assessment 1
Part 1 (a)
It is analysed that academic writing is important as it allows in understanding that how
articles are analysed and report is formed. Also, it enables in improving writing skills and
developing a formal report. The academic writing will help me in my professional growth and i
will be able to evaluate articles in proper way. Besides that, academic writing is important for
university as it helps in learning many things. The student gain knowledge about how to write
academically. Moreover, there are various types of styles as well that are descriptive, analytics,
persuasive and critical. In this each one is written with its own features and purpose. Also, more
than one style can be adopted in one report. But it depends on writer.
Its importance is that it enhance student vocabulary and knowledge. Furthermore, it is
stated that student is able to express their thoughts on particular situation or subject. The main
purpose of writing is way to acquire knowledge and focus on technique and style. Thus,
student thinking ability enhances and it led to improve in reading. It also enable to think in
critical way and analyse it. alongside, as my field of interest is research so for that academic
writing is highly important.
Similarly, there is writing a report on obesity within children in UK. In recent time
obesity has become a common health problem within children. This is because of unhealthy diet
and social life of children. So, it has led to rise in obesity. In addition, it is found that many
problems are being faced by parents as well regarding it . they are not able to maintain
physical health of student. So, obesity is also impacting on children mental health.
The reason for selecting this topic is to find out why obesity in increasing in UK
children. Besides in order to gain knowledge about this subject. Besides that, it will evaluate
factors due to which obesity is rising. Alongside, it will investigate that what health programs
are initiated to address this health issue.
PART (B)
INTRODUCTION
Obesity is becoming a major concern within children. It has also become a health issue
which is not being solved despite various intervention are taken in it. generally, children are
mostly affected due to it. obesity is leading to severe problems in future on them as they are
facing chronic health problems (Comegna 2017). It is analysed that obesity is rapidly rising in
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children of UK. Alongside, it is discussed that there are many factors due to which it is rising
which include both physical and parental obesity. In these both factors there are many other
factors as well such as birth weight, socio economic status, birth weight, and many others. Due
to that obesity in children is rising and it has enabled in creating imbalance in body size and
shape of children. Besides that, it is evaluated that children suffering from obesity are highly
concerned over chronic disease. They are suffering from respiratory disease such as breathing
problems, etc. Due to these chronic disease heart related problem is rising in them as well. This
is because they are not able to get proper food so children eat junk food and are not having any
diet.
Part 2
Section 1
Qualitative articles
Article- Rees, R. and et.al., 2011. The views of young children in the UK about obesity,
body size, shape and weight: a systematic review
Type of research - the research is positivistic.
Introduce research - obesity may bring high level of concern for both short and long term.
Methods used- here method used was search of database and website from where article were
gathered. Also, interpretive analysis was done with open end question and aggregative was
done from close end question.
Results- it was found that children with greater experience of abuse and isolation are having
more weight. Many wished body size differs from one another and some were anxious about
shape (Rees and et.al., 2011). Also, body size is seen as children attribute negative characteristics
to over weight people. here, main problem which is seen among children is body size. it affect
the way in which children interact with one other and play. Moreover, body size is judged by
people. here, desirable bodies are considered as over weight. So, a large body size means
children are over weight. Discomfort and feelings of pressure accompany focus on body size.
however, most children express dissatisfaction with their bodies.
Conclusion- obesity is considered as social aspect with beliefs, attitude, etc. the policy must
be formed to actively involve children and seek their view to solve this issue.
Article - Frerichs, L., Perin, D.M.P. and Huang, T.T.K., 2012. Current trends in childhood
obesity research.
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Type of research- it is positivistic
Introduce research – childhood obesity is global health issue. Many children are suffering from
it.
Methods used- in this method used is articles from Medline publication to find out
descriptive studies of obesity and trends. Thus, 936 paper were analysed in it and on basis of
themes analysis was done (Frerichs,, Perin and Huang, 2012)
Results- there are various intervention which occurs in obesity in children. Here, the largest
domain in obesity factors are individual, social and environmental. Children living in Leadership
in Energy and Environmental Design Neighborhood Development communities had higher
levels of moderate physical activity than those in mixed and less walk communities. Another
study showed that children who moved to smart-growth communities did not increase their
overall activity level, but the location and context of physical activity changed. There are several
intervention applied such as school based, home based, community, etc.
Conclusion- there are various risk factors of obesity and only one third research is on
intervention. So, there is need for more solution oriented research in it. within intervention
incorporated community-wide, multilevel, and systems approach there is need to form a policy,
strategies to solve this problem.
Article - Comegna, S., 2017. Prevalence of obesity in the UK according to sex, age and
ethnicity: a literature review.
Type of research- it is non positivistic research
Introduce research – in low income and minority groups obesity is major issue. It is defined by
BMI.
Methods used- in this articles were selected and then analysed. the literature searching was done
using Medline, CDSR and CENTRAL.
Results- it is found that in UK childhood obesity has doubled in 2 decades. But it is rising in
type 2 diabetes and heart range children. Moreover, childhood obesity is related to ethnicity. It
has been identified that as compared to general population, 23% men and women obesity is high
in black African 38%, black Caribbean 32%. In UK children above age 6 years both male and
female of black African 26% male, 27.3% female obesity is high. However, in age 11- 16 over
weight prevalence in black African girls is more than black Caribbean one.
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