CHILDREN OBESITY

Obesity in Young Children in the UK: An Exploration of Education Measures to Reduce its Prevalence

Obesity in Young Children in the UK: An Exploration of Education Measures to Reduce its Prevalence

Introduction

Obesity is a condition where weight gain has got to the point that it poses a serious threat to health. It is measured in terms of a person's body mass index which is determined both by weight and height. BMI cut-off points have been agreed for obese and overweight adults, but for children the situation is more complex. Because a child's BMI varies with age, different cut-off points have to be used to define overweight and obese children depending on age.

Childhood obesity is a condition where excess body fat negatively affects a child's health or wellbeing. As methods to determine body fat directly are difficult, the diagnosis of obesity is often based on BMI. Due to the rising prevalence of obesity in children and its many adverse health effects it is being recognized as a serious public health concern. The term overweight rather than obese is often used in children as it is less stigmatizing.

The first problems to occur in obese children are usually emotional or psychological. Childhood obesity however can also lead to life-threatening conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, sleep problems, cancer, and other disorders. Some of the other disorders would include liver disease, early puberty or menarche, eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia, skin infections, and asthma and other respiratory problems. Studies have shown that overweight children are more likely to grow up to be overweight adults. Obesity during adolescence has been found to increase mortality rates during adulthood.

Obese children often suffer from teasing by their peers. Some are harassed or discriminated against by their own family. Stereotypes abound and may lead to low self esteem and depression.

A 2008 study has found that children who are obese have carotid arteries which have prematurely aged by as much as thirty years as well as abnormal levels of cholesterol.

Review Literature

In the UK, the incidence of overweight and obesity among adults and children is increasing at alarming rates (Reilly and Dorosty, 1999; Chinn and Rona, 2001; Rudolf et al., 2001). Similar increases are also apparent throughout Europe and globally (WHO, 1998; Livingstone, 2001). Obesity is the result of being in a state of sustained positive energy balance, the causes of which are multi-factorial. Whilst knowledge about the genetic causes and aetiology of obesity is growing, it is likely that changes in lifestyle, particularly the increased consumption of energy-dense food and the marked decline in physical activity, are the major influences. Studies in the UK and the US suggest that childhood obesity appears to account for 33% of adult obesity (Power et al., 1997; Dietz, 1998). There is also evidence that intransigent obesity tracks with age. The risks of tracking increase with age of onset and severity of obesity. Childhood obesity, as in adults, is difficult to treat successfully in the ...