According to the 2015 report from the CDC, obesity is excessive accumulation of body fat. In the United States, rates of childhood obesity have more than doubled in the past thirty years. In 2012, almost 18% of children aged 6 to 11 were obese, compared to only 7% in previous years. The main causes of obesity are an imbalance between calorie intake and expenditure, increased consumption of high-fat foods, and reduced physical activity. Childhood obesity also greatly increases the risk of early death, future obesity, and adult disability.
Childhood obesity is associated with various health problems, including high blood pressure, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and breathing issues. Rather than solely attributing it to fast food consumption, parents bear responsibility for childhood obesity. Children's eating habits are significantly influenced by their parents who transmit genetic predispositions and sh
...ape behavior through shared family practices like food preferences and activity routines (McCaffrey et al..., 51). As primary role models, parents play a crucial part in shaping their children's behaviors.
Parents have a crucial role in shaping their children's eating habits, as they have a strong influence on them. While many parents choose to eat out, which often leads to unhealthy food choices, sharing meals at home provides an opportunity for parents to demonstrate healthy eating habits and help children overcome neophobia (McCaffrey et al..., 53). By expressing enjoyment of vegetables or a well-balanced diet, parents can encourage their children to try these foods. A survey conducted among over 550 families revealed that the consumption of fruits and vegetables by parents was the most influential factor in determining a child's intake of those same foods.
According to Lent et al..., observatio
and modeling have dual advantages in boosting consumption: it decreases the likelihood of altering behavior or food intake directly, and it enhances the probability of developing a fondness for it (92). To promote increased fruit and vegetable consumption among their children, parents can employ gardening, books, or movies. Scientists stress that parents should aim to be active and positive role models by consistently incorporating fresh fruits and vegetables into their balanced diet. Furthermore, parents' food preferences greatly contribute to childhood obesity.
McCaffrey (51) asserts that individuals have a natural inclination towards sweet and salty foods, while having a general aversion to sour and bitter tastes. This preference starts during fetal development when the fetus can detect the smells and tastes from the mother's diet. These flavors are transmitted to the fetus through amniotic fluid, impacting their early perception of flavor. Therefore, the types of foods consumed by a pregnant woman directly influence whether her baby will accept or reject certain tastes in the future. For instance, if a mother primarily consumes sweet and salty foods, her child is likely to develop distaste for sour and bitter flavors.
Parents play a crucial role in influencing their children's food preferences by preparing meals at home. When parents prioritize nutritious choices, like fruits and vegetables, it makes these options readily available to their children, facilitating their consumption. As a result, this can foster healthier eating habits in children. Moreover, research consistently shows that sedentary family activities such as watching TV or using computers and game consoles are associated with an increased likelihood of childhood obesity (Lent et al...91).
Today, numerous families have embraced a sedentary way of life, discouraging their children
from engaging in physical activity or outdoor play. Consequently, these children are deprived of chances to expend the calories they consume. It is essential for parents to integrate activities that encourage exercise into their children's lives. Moreover, parenting styles can impact childhood obesity as parenting encompasses how parents nurture and provide for their children. Certain parents may opt for restrictive parenting techniques to raise their children by restricting high-energy foods in their diet with the aim of cultivating healthy eating habits. However, this method frequently results in unintended outcomes.
When parents impose strict food rules, it can spark curiosity and desire for high-energy foods in their children, while also causing them to eat excessively even when not hungry. This lack of awareness of hunger cues leads to overeating (Gerri, 110). Conversely, pressuring kids to consume healthy foods may result in negative associations with those foods and potential issues like lower body weight, picky eating habits, or overeating. Alternatively, some parents employ rewards as a parenting strategy (Gerri, 112).
They motivate their children to eat more vegetables, dairy, or fruits by promising to reward them with tasty foods. While this strategy encourages healthy eating, it reduces the desire for high-energy foods. Consequently, children become less intrinsically motivated to consume nutritious foods and instead prefer the tasty ones. Nonetheless, parents can use stickers as a more effective reward for encouraging their children to eat healthily.
In addition, parents can choose to practice authoritative parenting by setting boundaries and explicit regulations regarding their children's behavior during mealtimes. Although parents may be blamed for childhood obesity, fast food consumption also plays a significant role in this problem. Fast food restaurants provide convenient
and affordable choices such as pizza, fried chicken, hamburgers, and potato chips; however, these items lack vital nutrients. The increase in the number of children consuming such meals is attributed to the expansion of fast food establishments and advertising.
Recent data shows that children aged four to nineteen who consume fast food have been found to consume an average of 770 kJ more per day compared to those who do not eat fast food (Ustjanauskas, 368). This means that regular consumption of fast food by a child could potentially result in an annual weight gain of 2.7 kg. Furthermore, the consumption of fast food not only increases calorie intake and weight but also raises the risk of obesity in children. Hence, it is essential to address childhood obesity in order to promote overall good health among children.
The promotion of healthy lifestyles for children is a collective effort involving the community, schools, the food industry, and the government. The community can develop strategies to support children in adopting nutritious eating habits and engaging in physical activities. Schools can enforce mandatory Physical Education classes for all students. The food industry has a role to play by reducing sugar, salt, and fat in processed foods, providing affordable nutritious options, and limiting marketing of appealing foods for children. Additionally, the government can implement policies to ensure that the food industry produces and offers healthy and affordable foods.
Works Cited
- "Childhood Obesity Facts." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015. Web. 21 July 2016.
- Lent, Megan et al.
Wolfe, and Katherine L. Dickin. "Healthy Children, Healthy Families: ParentsMaking a Difference! A Curriculum Integrating Key Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Parenting
Practices to Help Prevent Childhood Obesity." Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior 44.1 (2012): 90-92. Web. 21 July 2016.
- McCaffrey, Tracy A., KIRSTEN L. Rennie, Julie M.
Wallace, and Barbara E. Livingstone. "Leading Article." Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health, School of Biomedical Sciences (n.d.): 51-56. Web.
On July 21, 2016, two sources were referenced in an article: one by Gerri Minshall titled "Parenting Interventions in Childhood Obesity" from the Obesity Research ; Clinical Practice journal (2013), and another by A. E. Ustjanauskas and J. L.
According to Harris and Schwartz's study titled "Food and Beverage Advertising on Children's Web Sites" published in Pediatric Obesity, the authors found that certain web sites aimed at children promote food and beverage products. The study was conducted in 2013 and can be accessed online as of July 21, 2016.
