Literature Review - Childhood Obesity

Literature Review - Childhood Obesity

Introduction

Childhood obesity is on the rise in the United States, and our children are falling victim to the obesity epidemic. It has been predicted that U.S. life expectancy will decline for the first time in recent history because of increasing childhood obesity (Gittelsohn & Kumar, 2007). Childhood obesity is a very serious condition as it predisposes young children to an increased risk of developing both chronic diseases and disabilities. Consequences of childhood obesity include increased risk for cancer, cardiovascular disease, and type I and type II diabetes. With high costs of health care services and the detrimental results of this disease, childhood obesity imposes a burden not only on the family of the sick child but also places a burden on society.

The burden to society has been “predicted to reach 50 billion per year by 2050, based on current trends” (Shepherd, 2009). Typically, people think that there is a simple so1tiom for preventing childhood obesity: increase physical activity and obtain a healthier diet. However, the solution to childhood obesity is more than just exercise and a healthy diet. It requires children's behavioral change that consists of changing one's bad habits, taking into account the “interplay of genetics, biological processes, and social and environmental mechanisms” as well, (Huang & Horlick, 2007). Specifically, the greatest influence on a child's life may be their parents. However, little research has taken into consideration whether parents' background status would contribute to a child's obesity tendency.

Discussion

The five articles selected for this literature review take into account the subject of childhood obesity, which is on the rise particularly in the United States. The critical analysis of the selected articles explains the initial literature about obesity among children as it is a very serious condition that predisposes children to an increased risk of developing both chronic diseases and disabilities.

The first article, An Integrative Review of Obesity Prevention in African American Children written by Cindy E. Hudson, focuses on the epidemic among African-American children and its prevention. In this article, researcher indicates that mainly African-American children aged from 2 to 18 years are affected by the obesity. According to researchers, African American children usually have more risk for obesity in comparison of other ethnic groups. It is also revealed in this article that children living with lower economic status usually have highest risk to obesity. In addition, this research also identifies some relationship between obesity and dietary behavior as well as obesity and parental factors. However, some researchers also believe that there are many children who do not prefer to eat their recommended diet. It is also important to know that breastfeeding has also identified as a contributing factor for obesity among children. In fact, most of the researchers agree that parental obesity also increases risk in some children.

Another important thing to discuss is lack in physical activity in African American children as they watch more TV than children from other ethnic groups. This research also uses Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) ...