Maternal BMI Family Factors

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.

The question that has been debated for years is who is responsible for the children’s weight. In the articles that where researched during this paper the parents were responsible. The reason that they were responsible was because the decisions that parent make about their family and the lifestyle that they live affects their child’s health and it can also affect their health in the future. When you move out of your parent’s house you tend to mimic things that they did such as if they always bought Tide as their laundry soap when you got out on your own you probably bought Tide. Now when you were in a pinch one time you may have tried another brand because it was cheaper but for the most part you revert back to what you know. As a parent you should want your children to be as healthy as they can be a lot of parents that where talked to while researching the subject of childhood obesity seemed to just not have the knowledge about obesity.

Medical conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and, heart disease are common physical ailments. In addition, obesity can cause a number of psychological issues such as low self-esteem, body dimorphic disorder, and social stigmatization (Puhl and Brownell, 2006). Stigmatization and stereotypes based on weight are prevalent across many environments. Some of the stereotypes include thinking that the obese individual is lazy or lacks self-control. Puhl and Brownell (2006) investigated the stigma of being overweight and the coping mechanisms. Surprisingly, one of the outcomes of their research indicates that family members are often a source of stigma. Those who are overweight face discrimination and stigma not only when out in the community, but also have to deal with the stigma at home.

While obesity and overweight levels have been rising for all socioeconomic groups, some groups of people are more affected than others. Relationships between socioeconomic status and obesity undoubtedly have complex explanations. Some studies have shown that people with low socioeconomic status are more likely to be overweight or obese than people with high socioeconomic status. Author also emphasizes that socioeconomic status causes disparities in health and shorten longevity for those who are most disadvantaged. The relationship between overweight or obesity and income is varies by race and ethnicity. For example, in a household with less than $10,000 of annual income about 33 percent of blacks are obese, about 26 percent of Hispanics, and about 19 percent of whites. Culture, race and ethnicity play an important role in determining the obesity rate. Critser emphasizes certain studies that show minority groups tend to have drastically higher obesity and weight related disease rates than

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

Childhood obesity is a growing problem in the United States. Childhood obesity is defined as a child being at or above the 95th percentile for the child’s age and sex (Dietz, 1998). According to the Center of Disease Control “Childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents in the past 30 years. The percentage of children aged 6–11 years in the United States who were obese increased from 7% in 1980 to nearly 18% in 2012” (CDC, 2017). There are several behavioral and environmental factors that affect childhood obesity as a health problem. It’s important to identify a problem, examine how behaviors can be changed, and find various determinants that may influence specific behaviors in

It is not only an individual or family issue; it involves community, state and federal. It shows that an enormous research studies have been conducted to determine the best approach to prevent and treat obesity. In this focused topic of childhood obesity in underprivileged neighborhood, the most recommended approaches have been to incorporate state and federal official to create policy that would benefit underprivileged children, family involvement, social support, and safe, availability of healthy food choices in school and extra physical activities in school and after school, primary care provider involvement, early prenatal care for pregnant women, state and federal involvement for policy change that benefit these underserved children. Childhood obesity has been associated with numerous comorbidities including diabetes, asthma, hypertension and respiratory related issues. In addition, some studies have associated childhood obesity with mental health consequences including depression, low self-esteem, discrimination, and negative body image with childhood obesity. Childhood overweight and obesity imposed badly effect on kid health and continue into adulthood and can lead to heart disease, stroke, and several types of cancer. The adverse health ramifications of obesity are purported to be increased in minorities’ children and adolescents due to the high level of obesity among this

The variations on the effectiveness of breastfeeding are based on length and exclusivity where those who were breastfed for more than four months were less likely to be overweight, even with obese and/or diabetic mothers (DeMattia 90). Other causes and contributors to childhood obesity include children’s relationships with food. Besides rare genetic mutations that regulate appetite, food intake, and weight gain, the environmental factor of the availability of high-fat and non-nutritious food (especially in lieu of healthier food options in stores and vending machines) and the amount of food commercials combine to provide unhealthy eating patterns (Corgiat 5). Additionally, the use of food as a reward at home or at school creates an unhealthy relationship with food where usually high-sugar, high-fat, non-nutritious foods are related to events outside of hunger, allowing normal appetite to grow and allowing food intake to spike. Excluding childhood obesity leading into obesity in adulthood, genetics, health conditions, and particular medications all contribute to adult obesity, however, these variables “are not the reasons that the nation is faced with such a pressing weight epidemic” since for children, the cause is “primarily environmental, due to physical inactivity and increased consumption of high-energy, low-nutrient foods” (Corgiat 2). Altogether, the numerous

Obesity is a multi-factorial health issue that is continuing to increase in prevalence globally. Specifically, 17% of children worldwide are impacted by obesity, with an increase of obesity increasing with age (CDC). Some of the various factors leading to childhood obesity are: genetic predisposition, learned eating behaviors in infancy, eating environment and associations, restriction or access to various foods, and large food portions, particularly for high energy density foods (1,2,3). All of these factors have a commonality—parental influence. From before birth, parents create an atmosphere around eating, and those initial interactions and cues have a direct impact on the child’s future health (1,2,3,4). Parents are primarily responsible

According to Morawska (2013), the research connecting parenting strategies and childhood obesity is lacking in prevalence and accuracy. Previous research on this topic has shown to not always be accurate or plausible to support the claim that these two factors are related. In this study, utilization of reliable surveys and methods are an important factor in obtaining validity of the research. Suggesting there is connection between these two topics could bring up new avenues

Demographic and epidemiologic analysis alone do not account for the high rates in childhood obesity. These analysis help provide a clearer understanding of why obesity is a national epidemic. It is significant as public health officials to know that there are substantial racial differences in obesity among young kids and teenagers in the United States. Among Hispanics for instance, the incidence of obesity was higher in 2011-2012 at 22.4% and 20.2% for African American youth compared to non-Hispanic white youth with rates of 14.1%. Asian youth had the lowest incidences if obesity at 8.6%, (Centers for Disease Control, 2014). Other differentials that need to be considered apart from ethnic distribution that account for the prevalence in childhood obesity are age, sex, income and educational level of the adult household head. Biology and genetics on one level can be predictors of obesity, the roles of economics, society, and the environmental are very obvious. These variants all fall within a category known as social determinants of health.

Obesity Compares with Other Countries is an article that was designed to inform individuals about the comparison of child obesity health between the U.S. and other countries. According to Franco Sassi “obesity is more likely to be linked to race than to income, with African-Americans and Hispanics more likely to be overweight than non-Hispanic whites or Asian-Americans”. This resource will provide me with further knowledge of child health from different areas of the world.

Children and adolescents are at a vulnerable stage in their lives which makes them the perfect candidate to fall victim to the obesity epidemic. Author Netalie Shloim’s article, “Parenting Styles, Feeding Styles, Feeding Practices, and Weight Status in 4–12 Year-Old Children: A Systematic Review of the Literature” reveals that adult’s eating habits tend to mimic those established early in life (Shloim et al, 2). Parenting styles can greatly effect a child’s future weight. For example, some parents force their child to eat everything on her plate before she may get up from the table. The child may grow accustomed to overeating, which leads to the development of more fat cells. If not monitored correctly, this could potentially lead to weight

The results of the study support the hypothesis that parent’s knowledge, attitudes, practices, and concerns towards food portion do have an impact on childhood obesity. While the mothers in the study understood what constituted as a healthy meal or snack, they had difficulty assessing how much food to give their children. Furthermore, the parents were reluctant to welcome information on weighing and measuring food because this was something they were not ready to do. They felt plenty of direction and suggestions on how to parent had been provided. Some parents also displayed little interest and concern around portion sizes because they felt overwhelmed with information on feeding their children. Young and Nestle’s (2002) research on expanding portion sizes reported that bigger portion sizes started in 1970. By 1980, portion sizes drastically increased and have continued to rise. Their study noted how individuals had a tendency to ignore portion sizes which would affect their weight. Lastly, they suggested public health programs to inform the public on the effects of consuming larger portions.

The children found less time in playing with their mothers than those who did not work. Children engaged in less physical activities were at greater risk of higher body mass index (Cawley and Liu 2007). Guo et al (2002) stated that according to U.S. research 59 percent of boys and 45 percent of girls who were overweight at the age of three years, would be overweight at thirty five years of age. Bradley et al (2008) showed in their study that higher BMI (body mass index) was associated with more behavior problems and lower academic achievement during middle and late childhood. Mcdonnell and Doyle (2014) examined that preschool children of well educated mothers had an increased risk of childhood overweight and obesity. Benjamin et al (2009) found that informal child care in early years had a determined effect on risk of overweight during childhood.