NUTR2003 - Childhood Obesity in NSW: Public Health Report

This report investigates the prevalence of childhood obesity in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, a pressing public health concern. It defines childhood obesity using Body Mass Index (BMI) and explores its causes, including an imbalance between calorie intake and expenditure, hormonal influences, and genetic factors. The report details the detrimental health consequences, such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and psychological complications. It also examines other influences like diet, lifestyle choices, and screen time. The report highlights the NSW government's initiatives, such as the Active Kids Program, designed to promote physical activity and healthy habits. The report evaluates the program's potential effectiveness and concludes by emphasizing the significance of addressing childhood obesity through proactive public health measures. The report uses data and information from various sources like the World Health Organization, Australian Bureau of Statistics, and the NSW Ministry of Health. The report is aimed at consolidating the students understanding of the social and environmental determinants of health as it relates to nutrition.

Running head: CHILDHOOD OBESITY 1
A Report on Childhood Obesity
[Author Name(s), First M. Last, Omit Titles and Degrees]
[Institutional Affiliation(s)]

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Table of Contents
A Report on Childhood Obesity......................................................................................................3
Discussion.......................................................................................................................................3
Health Consequences...................................................................................................................4
Other Influences...........................................................................................................................4
Public Health Initiative for NSW................................................................................................4
Program Evaluation.....................................................................................................................5
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................6
References........................................................................................................................................7
Appendix..........................................................................................................................................8
Figure 1 Health Consequences of Childhood Obesity:....................................................................8

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A Report on Childhood Obesity
Childhood obesity is one of the most prevailing health issues faced in Australia.
According to the National Health Survey, 25 percent of Australian children get above the healthy
weight by the age of four years. When weight gain starts early in age, it is difficult to reverse it.
It has major detrimental effects in childhood and later on in adult life. It poses a risk to life and is
increasing with time. Different efforts have been put forward to control it. The purpose of this
report is to investigate the prevalence of childhood obesity in NSW, Australia, and the measures
that have been taken to combat this issue.
Discussion
According to the World Health Organization (2006), obesity is defined as “abnormal or
excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health.” Body mass index (BMI) is a criterion
used to diagnose overweight and obesity in both children and adults. It is calculated by dividing
weight in kilograms to the square of height in meters. For children, BMI is specific for age and
gender. To determine a child’s weight, BMI specific to age and sex is used related to the BMI
percentile. According to BMI, obesity is defined when a child’s BMI ratio falls at or above 95th
percentile as compared to other children of his age and sex.
Causes of childhood obesity
The main reason for obesity is an imbalance between the calories taken and the calorie
burnout. When too many calories are consumed and physical activity is little to expend those
calories, then it contributes majorly to childhood obesity. Besnard, Passilly-Degrace, and Khan
(2016) has stated that changes in hormones can also be a cause of obesity. Such as, digestive
hormones which signal that enough food is consumed may get disturbed. Due to which, a person
eats more than the required amount. Moreover, according to the Australian Health Survey

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(2020), the genetic factor also plays a major role. A child who belongs to a family of obese and
overweight people may as well turn out to be overweight or obese.
Health Consequences
Childhood obesity leads to several health consequences faced by children. It can continue
until adult life. It poses several physical and psychological complications, such as type 2
diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, sleep apnea, asthma, respiratory disorders, and
eating disorders (See Figure 1). Some of them not only prolong but also increases fatal risk in
adult life.
Other Influences
Diet and lifestyle choices have a huge influence on obesity. Food that’s chosen to eat is
usually high in fat and sugary and low in other nutrients. Moreover, lack of physical activity,
laziness and procrastination are also contributing to it (Ang, et al., 2013). Australian children
spend almost two and a half hours watching television as well as other electronic games
(“Obesity in children - causes,” 2020). This is an unhealthy amount of time and shows that they
have replaced physical activities with screen time.
Champion (2013) has figured that social environment, culture, parenting styles, and
family characteristics, parental activity, and their knowledge regarding nutritional intake can
attribute to childhood obesity.
Public Health Initiative for NSW
According to the data provided by the NSW Ministry of Health, more than 1 in 5 NSW
children are obese or overweight. The rate of obesity or overweight has remained stable for the
last 10 years (NSW Population Health Survey). About 75 percent of children are not fulfilling
the daily requirement of physical activity.

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The government of NSW has initiated many programs to combat childhood obesity.
NSW Ministry of Health, NSW Department of Education, Office of Sport, and the Heart
Foundation had initiated a website Healthy Kids in collaboration. It provided access to
information regarding physical activity and healthy eating. It promoted many health and
education programs about active living, to the NSW population. One such program is the Active
Kids Program. Active Kids Program has also been promoted through this website, along with all
the necessary information
This program is an initiative of the NSW Government, Office of Sports. This program
was launched in 2018 to shift the physical activity behaviors of children from sedentary
activities. It wants to create healthy habits and lifestyles in the children. Their mission is to
empower children and increases physical and recreational activities in children.
Currently, the Active Kids Program is working to increase the participation of school
children in sport and physical activity (Owen et al., 2020). For this purpose, they are offering
vouchers to parents, which covers the cost of registration and membership fee.
Program Evaluation
This program can be quite effective for increasing interest in sports activities. As it is
providing vouchers to parents, making it affordable for them to enroll their children in fitness
and sports club. Many programs have provided enough information related to childhood obesity
and healthy living. This program is taking a practical step to increase fitness activities to combat
obesity and increase physical activity in children from an early age. This program will provide
opportunities to select an activity of personal interest.

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Conclusion
Taking it into account, childhood obesity is one of the major health issues faced by
Australia. Many studies have done to find out the correct statistics of its prevalence. Childhood
obesity is associated with detrimental health consequences. To fight this, many Australian states
have initiated health programs to prevent childhood obesity. In this report, the Active Kids
Program by the NSW Government was observed that .it is taking the initiative to increase
physical activity and reduce screen time. This program can have positive effects as its taking
practical measure to promote fitness and sports activities.

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References
Ang, Y. N., Wee, B. S., Poh, B. K., & Ismail, M. N. (2013). Multifactorial influences of
childhood obesity. Current Obesity Reports, 2(1), 10-22 doi:
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13679-012-0042-7
Besnard, P., Passilly-Degrace, P., & Khan, N. A. (2016). Taste of fat: a sixth taste modality?.
Physiological reviews, 96(1), 151-176 doi: https://doi.org/10.1152/physrev.00002.2015
Champion, S. L. E. (2013). Social determinants of childhood overweight and obesity in South
Australian families: parenting, work patterns, and gender roles (Doctoral dissertation)
Retrieved from https://hekyll.services.adelaide.edu.au/dspace/handle/2440/83225 [17
Apr. 2020]
Lakshman, R., Elks, C. E., & Ong, K. K. (2012). Childhood obesity. Circulation, 126(14), 1770–
1779. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.111.047738 Retrieved From
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3785130/
National Health Survey: Australian Bureau of Statistics.- National Health Survey: First Results,
2017-18. (2018). Retrieved from
https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/4364.0.55.001 [17 Apr. 2020]
NSW Population Health Survey - Epidemiology and Evidence. (2019). Retrieved from
https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/epidemiology/Pages/nsw-population-health-survey.aspx
[17 Apr. 2020]
Obesity in children - causes. (2020). Retrieved 17 April 2020, from
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/obesity-in-children-causes

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Overweight & obesity Overview - Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2020). Retrieved
from https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports-data/behaviours-risk-factors/overweight-obesity/
overview [17 Apr. 2020]
Owen, K., Bellew, B., Foley, B. C., Bauman, A., & Reece, L. J. (2020). Body Mass Index of
children and adolescent participants in a voucher program designed to incentivise
participation in sport and physical activity doi: https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.2.21060/v1
World Health Organization (2006). Obesity and Overweight: What is overweight and obesity?
Retrieved from https://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/childhood_what/en/ [17 Apr.
2020]

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Appendix
Health Consequences of Childhood Obesity:
Figure 1. Schematic summary of the complications of childhood obesity (Lakshman, Elks, & Ong, 2012) Retrieved from
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3785130/