The Conflict Of Childhood Obesity

Childhood Obesity: A Tell-All Episode

Obesity is an ongoing epidemic in the United States due to the unhealthy diet of the average American. Childhood obesity, in particular, affects an unprecedented number of children in the country and has long-term negative effects with age. This episode pools the expertise of Allie, Amy (who is also a social worker), and Nate, who are all fitness experts and parents to shed light on the topic of childhood obesity and how it can be mitigated in this day and age. Special emphasis will be placed on the role of parenting in childhood obesity, the school system, and the implications to society and culture in light of the pandemic.

What you can do as a parent

Parenting plays a crucial role in a child’s development. Children do not decide what they want, but usually rely on what they are given by their parents. Choosing healthy home-cooked meals is always preferable to driving through a fast food chain. Availability also matters; if the pantry is stocked only with healthy food and ingredients, children will naturally flock to that. The converse applies too, if the kitchen is packed with only junk food and sweets. It is crucial then to strike a healthy balance by providing nutritious food choices at home, as well as opportunities for physical activities such as outdoor play. A parent’s mindset and the example they set also plays a key role; while the to-do list for the day might be packed, it is important to make time for regular exercise, as well as play with the children and find ways to engage them in movement-based activities. For children with medical conditions such as Type I Diabetes, maintaining a healthy diet is crucial but may be challenging. Having the whole family observe the same diet would not only make this task less daunting for the child, but also promote the family’s overall health.

Here are the numbers and this is what they mean

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, childhood obesity affects 13.7 million children and adolescents aged 2-19 years, with a prevalence of 18.5%. Obesity prevalence was 13.9% for children aged 2-5 years old, 18.4% for children 6-11 years old, and 20.6% for 12-19 years old. These numbers are mind-blowing, and begs the question of what parents might be feeding their children for the numbers to have risen so high. One example was of a woman feeding her six month-old child Coke. It is not generally recommended to keep soda at home, as like what was previously said, children rely on what they are given and will gravitate to what is readily available. This holds true for younger children up until about 12-13 years of age, as the goal for parents is to provide what they think will best comfort the child. Using the soda example earlier, a parent might be accustomed to giving their child soda, only to see the long-term effects when that child is teenaged and gaining weight. This is difficult to address as the precedent has already been set. Therefore, it is initially the parents’ responsibility to make healthy decisions for the child. Once the child reaches adolescence, they will start to become more aware of their body and the changes they are going through. They are then expected to take more control and exercise decision-making skills in their food choices. Hence, the unhealthy precedents set in childhood usually manifest as eating disorders in adolescence. Issues on body image, particularly for young women, as well as the development of negative patterns of behavior also begin to arise.

Apart from soda, juices are also another common culprit. Although they come from fruit sources, a common misconception is that it must be healthy. However, it is really the fiber content in the juice that makes it healthy and it is still best to water down fruit juices to 50-50 since these come with such a high sugar content. This may be attributable to a lack of education, which is difficult to correct as most parents are set in their ways and might be averse to accepting input when it comes to their parenting style. As a parent, it is important to be discerning, always read the label, and assess the ingredients in a particular food item. The habits cultivated in childhood will definitely be carried into adolescence, so it is important to build healthy choices as early as possible. This is essential as most children tend to pick up on their parents’ nuances compared to adolescents, who tend to resist their parents’ influence.

Mental health and child abuse

Two other important points of discussion are mental health and child abuse. In this context, a parent who may not have had the healthiest lifestyle growing up may pass those experiences onto their children, in the same way that depression or body images issues may also be inherited. On the other hand, you may have parents who, despite not having made healthier lifestyle choices in their youth, become more proactive in their children’s health. In terms of abuse, it may be difficult to draw the line as most parents would attend to their children’s needs immediately, like giving them treats or sweets, without thinking of the long-term implications if those behaviors become a habit. Although most parents do not aim to intentionally hurt their children, they may have just done what they think is the best choice in the moment without realizing that it might not be the case. This may be likened to a hot car scenario, or keeping the windows cold. This is usually not done on purpose; more often than not, the parent would run to the grocery store and lose track of time. No parent ever said, “Yeah, I purposely trap my kid in the car and 300 degree weather.” It is usually always accidental. No parent would ever want to purposely put your children in harm’s way, but there has to be a point where this might be considered negligent or abusive on the parent’s part. Unfortunately, the lines are blurred when it comes to this distinction, as one would not choose to remove a child from their parents just because they fed her Coke. Therefore, it is important to not only be proactive in the health decisions parents make for their children, but also prevent it from reaching an extreme point of negligence.

Education and health

Awareness will go a long way in a child’s health. As a parent, this hinges on education, reading labels, and making smart choices. For hard-headed children, the best thing for parents to do is lead by example. If the parent makes healthy choices and the children see the result of that, they may not realize it immediately but it will have an impact on them in the long haul. On a societal level, it would help to educate parents on how to properly feed and care for their children, as what applied in their youth may not be the case anymore for the children of today.

The school system also plays a crucial role in children’s health. Although there will always be children who are going to choose the soda over water or chocolate milk, awareness has greatly increased now and a child led by good examples at home may be inclined to still choose water despite the presence of unhealthier choices. Vending machines in schools should also offer healthier options instead of the usual fare of chips and soda. Food preparation also varies. A healthy serving of green beans seasoned with garlic and salt which may be popular at home may not be chosen in school because it is more bland. The quality of cafeteria food then should be revamped to be more palatable as well as nutritious. This may have to do with certain laws that have been passed in relation to the school cafeteria system. President Truman passed a law in 1976 detailing guidelines to help keep foods a little healthier. Recently, a lot of people know that Michelle Obama had a big fight to keep kids active and keep kids healthy in schools. It was her biggest proposal while her husband was president. Unfortunately, a lot of big companies actually opposed Michelle Obama, threatening her with lawsuits that would have been costly. These companies were saying that they would go out of business. These are just some of the factors that really prevented schools from offering healthier options. At the end of the day, since these are businesses, the goal is to make a profit in the cheapest way they can. However, it should not come at the cost of children’s health.

Looking at education from a child’s perspective, academic performance saw a 22% increase if they had PE before class. In the time of COVID, PE involves walking around the track with a mask on. It is still important to engage children in physical activities at home to make up for this diminished interaction in school. Activities such as riding a bike, playing a sport, walking around the neighborhood, or going to the gym can be safely done if socially distanced. A positive mindset to have is not to depend solely on the school to provide physical activities for children. In this time of COVID, it is up to parents to go out there and make sure that their children are getting their physical needs met. A healthy routine would involve making time for physical activities after a long day of online classes, before starting homework or using gadgets. Some form of meditative practice or opportunities to calm down would also be beneficial. Before the pandemic, children would usually be involved in school sports, join a team, or participate in some kind of extracurricular activity. Now, however, it is not safe or feasible to do that, which is why some children may act out after a whole day of sitting and being quiet with a mask on.

Sleep is also correlated to children’s health. Being outside in actual sunlight actually corrects the body’s internal clock or circadian rhythm and can help sleep better. This is preferred over watching TV, which can not only cause eye strain but also make sleep difficult due to the stimulating effects of blue light exposure. This can lead to children probably waking up tired and without energy for the day. If this cycle continues, the child may not fully recover and gain weight. It is important that children get adequate sleep as crucial repair and recovery processes occur during this time, and also because children have a greater sleep requirement than adults.

Education in the time of COVID

Virtual learning has also greatly affected children. It has exposed what teachers are actually going through in dealing with children and also increasing awareness of parents on how best to facilitate learning at home. It is recommended to create a schedule, and have specific times for specific things. This should not only include academic activities such as math and reading, but should also account for screen time, play, and chores. The more structure and routine that is provided, the more that children will feel at ease and comfortable since they can anticipate what will happen in their day. It just has a settling effect. This is particularly relevant now, with all the uncertainty and changes in routine brought about by the pandemic. This is a very difficult time for children as well, especially since it might be difficult to understand what is going on. Setting a daily routine provides some normality and consistency, as well as aid in better coping with the whole situation.

How society affects one’s body image

Societal norms also dictate what is acceptable in the context of body image, which may be challenging for children with obesity. The general notion is that it is usually teenaged girls that normally suffer from eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia, but recent studies show that there is a rising prevalence of these disorders in boys, with almost a 50-50 split. Adolescents aged 15-16 usually become very body conscious. This is compounded by social media, and unhealthy ideals projected by mass media as well. The best thing to do is to involve them in sports. Not only will sports provide adolescents with a healthy physical outlet, but it would also boost self-esteem and improve body image. Team sports would also foster cooperation and positive social skills. Healthy competition can only benefit a child. As parents, it would also pay to be aware of and concerned about the pressure from teammates or coaches to be a certain size or to be a certain weight. Overall, the key to healthy weight is moderation, finding that balance in life. If children are not interested in sports, there are other extracurricular activities that can be considered, such as a club, band,

On the topic of resilience, is it important that all children experience the process and try different positions on the team. Everyone should be allowed to grow, learn, and start to figure out where they fit in, even if it involves failing occasionally. Keeping score and teaching them how to be graceful both in victory and defeat is an invaluable life skill, which is something that can be brought even to adulthood.

While the government can aid endeavors to curb childhood obesity through legislations and laws, the brunt of responsibility still falls on the parents. While there should be more rules for gym classes, activities, and recess for the children to play, it falls to parents to regulate their children’s consumption of healthy vs. unhealthy food as well as come up with their own physical activity schedule at home. One positive effort of the government is the Soda Tax, wherein funds are directed towards the construction of recreational parks. Although they did not totally ban soda, it still provides a better lifestyle for families and communities. Choices are not necessarily being limited, but if a person makes a negative decision, they will be taxed more for it to the benefit of the community. The government does not make its money, but rather taxes its citizens to fund important projects such as education and infrastructure.

In summary, education is a crucial factor in the management of childhood obesity. Both parents and children need to be more educated on the consequences of a poor diet and unhealthy lifestyle. It is the responsibility of parents to teach their children healthy practices and cultivate healthy habits, as this will inevitably carry over to their adult life. Leading by example is important, as this would provide them a clear path and model to follow. Eating a meal together as a family can also positively impact health, where everyone is present in the moment and not on their phones. Breaking bread is a great opportunity to be present with loved ones. Regardless of where one is coming from, it is important to learn and educate oneself, whether it’s more programs be implemented by the government and lobbying for healthier advocacies, or taking responsibility as parents to learn at home so the children can be educated.

In this time of a global pandemic, it is normal to feel unhealthy, depressed, and downright defeated. We are here to show others there is a right way. Through fitness, you can do anything you set your mind to. Proper diet and exercise can give you that motivation, confidence, energy, needed to bridge that mental gap and prevent you from missing important life events. We understand, it is about feeling better, living longer, and being good examples for our children because they are the future. This understanding is the Redefined difference.