Obesity in Children in Australia

Obesity in Children in Australia

Definition

There are many definitions of obesity and overweight in children. Different definitions are used in the clinical practices and in the literature. The widely used general definition for the obesity is the adverse effect on the health by the excess accumulation of the body fat. However there is a saying that if a child seems to be fat, he is fat. According to Moynihan et.al, (1986) the obesity in the childhood can be defined as the change in skin fold.

The obesity in the children has relation to many of the health problems that may occur in the childhood or in or after the adolescence. These health problems are both psychological and physical. The major psychological problems related to the obesity in the children are either social discrimination or self esteem reduction. While the major physical problem that may be the results of the obesity in the children are diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

Obesity in Australian Children

The obesity in the Australian children is increasing day by day. The frequency of fatness in the children of Australia began to increase in the late 1970's. The Australian government started many obesity prevention programs since 1980's. These programs according to the Australian government had shown prominent achievements. But the reality is something opposite. According to a survey done in 2007-2008 by the National Health Survey Australia for the obesity in children, 24.9% of the children aging between 5 to 17 are found obese. The study was done on about 4500 children. In short every fourth child in Australia is so what called obese.

Current researches and studies show that the problem of obesity or overweight in Australian children requires reconsideration of the strategies and objectives of the Australian government to be updated. More effective anti obesity programs should be developed throughout the Australia to overcome the problem of obesity (Timothy P Gill et.al, 2009).

Measuring the Obesity

There are two methods of finding out the obesity or adiposity in the children. The fatness can be determined or calculated by using direct and indirect methods in the children. The direct methods of finding obesity in the children are bioelectrical impedance analysis, under water weighing and dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. The indirect methods are body mass index, skin fold thickness and waist circumference.

Direct Methods for Obesity Measurement

Direct methods for measuring the body fat in the children usually are research tools. These methods are generally used in the clinics. These obesity measuring methods have much credibility than the indirect measuring tools. According to the Van de Broek & Wit (1997) direct measuring methods are a golden standard for the validation of the obesity or body fatness measured from to indirect methods.

Following are some of the most common direct methods of measuring obesity in children as well as in adult.

Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis

BIA or bioelectrical Impedance analysis is a low cost fat measurement process. Heyward (1998) says that it can be used to calculate the fatty mass and fat free ...