Early Psychosocial Factors

Hispanics households with low socioeconomic status and low education coupled with low diabetes awareness have high type 2 diabetes prevalence 9. The high prevalence rates of type 2 diabetes can be attributed to a number of reasons such as; the Latinos have a genetic tendency to develop insulin resistance and they face high risks for abdominal obesity. The study emphasized that the strongest predictors of developing type 2 diabetes in Hispanic population are impaired insulin sensitivity, low insulin secretion and and glucose effectiveness 1. In addition, the prevalence rates are high in poor families who have poor nutrition and lifestyle behaviors. Since poor families have low access to education, they tend to have low awareness for diabetes hence these results in high diabetes prevalent rates. The results of the study indicated that incidence of diabetes decreased with rising educational level in Hispanic population

To begin this paper discusses what obesity is and how it is measured, determined and classified in children and why it is considered an epidemic. Then, provides examples of parental influences, including prenatal and postnatal care; followed by market failure and environmental influences. Next, this paper addresses risk factors of high-poverty neighborhoods including ethnicity, race and socioeconomic statistics. Lastly, the paper concludes with interventions and groups that address childhood obesity, social work role and future predictions.

Many studies have examined the link between poverty and diabetes. The CDC (2015b) have identified the following as primary factors that lead an individual to have an increased risk of developing diabetes: being overweight or obese; having a parent or sibling with diabetes; having African American, American Indian, Asian American, Pacific Islander, or Hispanic American/Latino heritage; having a history of gestational diabetes; having blood pressure measuring 140/90 or higher; abnormal cholesterol; and being physically inactive.

Childhood obesity is a serious medical condition that is affecting children and adolescents. It occurs when a child is well above the normal weight for his or her age and height and can result in serious medical conditions. The prevalence of childhood obesity has increased significantly over the past ten years. Childhood diabetes has been on the rise since the early 90’s and continues to rise. In the article, “Don’t Blame the Eater” David Zinczenko, shows that “ Before 1994… only about 5 percent of childhood cases were obesity-related, or Type 2, diabetes. Today...Type 2 diabetes accounts for at least 30 percent of new childhood cases of diabetes in this country” (463). Type 2

Obesity during childhood is associated with increased risk of obesity, premature death and disability in later life and drives to the growth of type 2 diabetes (WHO, 2015; Singh et al, 2008). Life course approach is easily understandable in the context of obesity, since obesity is connected with many macro and micro level factors which come and play during a person’s lifespan i.e. in each critical period. (Prenatal to old age). Each of those factors depend by the life stage and major transition points of the life trajectory (Musingarimi, 2008). Micro level factors are poor nutrients to mother during pregnancy, low income of the family, no or lack of breastmilk from mother during infancy and childhood, energy dense food consumption, sedentary lifestyle, gender, ethnicity, socio economic status whereas macro level factors are food insecurity, low income, company policies (minimum wage), inability to access health services, lack of government support, lack of policies to promote nutritious foods. Each of these factors are interconnected and drives to the development of an obese person by certain

Research has shown an ethnic and racial disparity in the frequency of childhood overweight and obesity. Specifically, minority children face a disproportionately higher chance of obesity; Taveras, Gillman, Kleinman, Rich-Edwards, and Rifas-Shiman agree: “…many risk factors for child obesity are more prevalent among black and Hispanic children than among white children (p. 693). ” They go on to write that additional variables affecting those two minority groups include belonging to a lower socioeconomic class, sleeping less than their white counterparts, and a greater likelihood of consuming sugar-sweetened beverages and fast food after age two .

“School age children with poor nutrition are at risk for: obesity, high blood pressure, sleep problems, diabetes, orthopedic problems, and heart disease”

David and Messer (2011) reported on a study by the National Institutes of Health that revealed the rate of infant mortality among African American women living within walking distance of the Capitol was 23.9 per 1,000 live births in 1989 1991 slightly worse than rates during the same time period in Panama and Sri Lanka. Access to prenatal care, the norm for the middle and upper classes, was lacking for this group. Family support, a non-medical factor, was also shown to be generally lacking for the lowest socioeconomic group. Studies have shown that there is a higher rate of obesity among the lower socioeconomic classes (Kanaya, Santoyo-Olsosson, Gregorich, Grossman, Moore, and Stewart, 2012).. Obesity can lead to debilitating or even deadly conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Overweight children with poor eating habits are likely to grow into overweight adults with poor eating habits; without education, they do not know how to make positive changes. In addition to the often higher costs of healthier food choices, it also costs money to join a gym or even play school

The social gradient is a compelling SHD impacting on childhood obesity. In particular, poor social and economic situations can chiefly impact on a child 's health.

These factors or social determinants of health can be behavioral, social, psychological, technological, environmental, economical, and cultural, operating at all levels from the individual to the family to society as a whole. The circumstances are different from person to person even when the society is the same. Therefore, it is hard to constrain and minimize the factors to a small number. However, this paper provided two evidence based approaches (socioeconomic and cultural) as causal associations for childhood obesity among African Americans in Louisville, Kentucky. (Figure

The PICO question chosen was, In African Americans does low socioeconomic status increase the risk for diabetes compared to high economic status in relation to diet. African Americans are at greater risk of diabetes and other medical issues. It was researched if one that was African American was at a greater risk of developing diabetes because the cost of food. The data bases used for the research were, CINAHL and MEDLINE. The terms used in this search were socioeconomic factors, African Americans, diabetes mellitus, and diet.

Poor parents are less likely to monitor their children's diet, diet patterns and physical activity due to stress and time constraints if they work. Parents who work full-time are less able to monitor their children due to a decrease in maternal presence and availability during the day. Studies shows that poor people who move out of low-income housing into better neighborhoods are much less likely to have diabetes or be obese than people who stay behind in poor neighborhoods. Studies suggests that not only the financial burned of poverty contributes to obesity but the surroundings or type of area that an individual lives in adds to the complication. (Committee on Progress in Preventing Childhood Obesity. National academic Press. ) (2005) Progress in Preventing Childhood Obesity: Focus on Schools. Retrieved from the National academic Press, http://site.ebrary.com/lib/devry/Doc?id=10115249&ppg=11

This increased prevalence of childhood obesity has correlated with a rise in serious health concerns, once only seen in adults including hypertension, hyperlipidemia, impaired glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea and asthma (Freedman, Srinivansan, Berenson, Dietz, 2007; Whitloc, Williams, Gold, Smith, Shipman, 2005; Han, Lawlor, Kimm, 2010). Additionally children who are overweight or obese are at increased risk for being bullied, experiencing psychological distress, mental disorders such as depression and anxiety and low self -esteem (Halfon, Larson, Slusser, 2013). Furthermore, obesity in childhood is a strong predictor of adulthood obesity and therefore a precursor to more serious health consequence throughout the lifespan (Halfon et. al, 2013).

The clinic that was chosen as it provides care for children who are typically uninsured or below the poverty level in the county. All of the subjects studied were classified as having type 1, type 2 diabetes, secondary diabetes, or impaired glucose tolerance. Total 55 patients with diabetes, 17 met the criteria of type 2 diabetes, and the other 38 had type 1. The subjects age ranges ranged from 10 to 17 years, and boys and girls were evenly represented. The patients shared several important clinical features. The mean BMI for the group was 32.9, and everyone in the group was obese. The majority of the patients had been obese throughout childhood. The medical records of the Mexican-American children with type 2 diabetes were reviewed and summarized in 1994, and again in 1996. Data like ketones in blood, plasma glucose, insulin, and thyroid antibodies were noted. Their health history including birth weight and maternal history of gestational diabetes were obtained. Family histories of diabetes allowed assessment of the genetic aspects of the disorder. Eight siblings of the children performed 3-hour OGTTs. The siblings equally boys and girls, ranged in age from 8 to 16 years old. The survey that was distributed to 6 high schools in Ventura County were to assess the prevalence of diabetes in Hispanic youth. They asked for information from the school such as: school population, ethnic breakdown of students and the number of students with diabetes. Observed versus expected

Early childhood on social and emotional development is something very important in a child’s early stages in life. This is where children often learn about their reactions and responses on how they act as well on how others react towards them. In this stage, children learn a lot from the way their parents, friends, teachers, etc, express themselves. In the essay I will be talking about how we can help our children interact with others being social, expressing their feelings, and understanding the way other peers feel. Sharing feelings will definitely be very big in their life so they show a good solid understanding of how to interact with other people even outside the home. Being a parent to the child will help them the most in their life