childhood obesity

Identify the factors contributing to childhood obesity in Australia.

There is some debate about which factors contribute most to the

problem. Based on the available literature, which factors are most important and

why?

Obesity has become a big concern in Australia because the number of people suffering from obesity has grown dramatically. Surprisingly, cases of obesity are not only found among adults but also children. The number of obese children continues to rise at an alarming rate. Research in South Australia showed that the proportion of children being overweight doubled and the percentage of obese children trebled from 1995 and 2004 (Vaska & Volkmer 2005, p. 1). There are several factors that cause children to be overweight .This essay aims to identify factors that lead to childhood obesity in Australia and seek to analyse factors that contribute the most to this epidemic. It will begin with a definition of obesity, followed by a discussion of factors contributing to childhood epidemic. In this paper I will argue that the combination of four factors including excessive foods consumption, an excessive food advertising, genetic disorders, and sedentary lifestyles are the most important causes of childhood obesity in Australia.

Definition of obesity

According to Germov & William (2005), ‘Obesity is defined as the excessive of fat in people’s body because of an imbalance in energy intake and energy expenditure’, (Germov & Williams 2005, p. 6 ). Generally obese is measured by BMI (Body Mass Index) in which body weight ( kilograms )is divided by body height ( meters 2). The BMI score is normally less than 85 percent. Children are usually considered obese if their BMI score is more than 95 percent. (Batch & Baur 2005, p. 132). Out of 3.3 million people are obese in Australia, it is estimated that between 23 – 27 percent are overweight children and 5 to 9 percent are obese. The numbers of childhood obesity rose rapidly every year and the increase on this prevalence creates problem for Australia now.

Factors contributing to childhood obesity

One of the problem dealing with obesity is the difficulty in isolating the causes . There are many different views about the factors contributing to obesity and which are the most important. Several factors have been hypothesized to get involved in the increasing of prevalence on childhood obesity in Australia. It is argue that the excessive of food eating contribute to childhood obesity. Over consumption on food that have low nutritional value e.g. junk food or fast food such as Mac Donald , KFC have association to family eating habit . Research indicated that children who are obese generally come from families that serving large of meals, eating more frequently, always have a additional food in the kitchen and always have snacks out of meal time (Campbell 2007, p. 59). It is the parents responsibility to control their children eating habits .Their role are dominant as model in teaching their children to have healthy foods and monitoring their daily eating pattern at home and outside (Television Week 2007, p. 11). In addition, parents who do not have a good understanding of nutrition prepare their children’s meals with high sugar, more fat and more calories. According toWilliam parents tend to buy take away rather cooking at home (2005, p. 6). Fast foods and over consumption increase children risk becoming obese (Campbell 2007, p. 59).

Food advertisement are other factors contributing to childhood obesity. According to The Coalition on Food Advertising to Children (2003), ‘Australia had the highest number of television food advertisements per hour’ (Young Media Australia 2005, p. 2). Children between age group of 5 – 12 years watch television on average 2.5 hours per day. It is predicted that the number of hours of children watching food advertising increase 40,000 per year (Young Media Australia 2005, p. 2). Most Australian television advertise unhealthy food that contain high sugar, high fat and low fiber (Young Media Australia 2005, p. 2). A study that has been conducted by Australian Divisions of General Practice (ADGP 2003) depicted that Australian food advertising on children’s program are mostly ‘fast food (hamburgers, pizza, and fried chicken); soft drink; ice cream; and chocolate confectionery’ (Young Media Australia 2005, p. 2).

Water & Baur stated that no single factor could be identified as a cause in childhood obesity. However, based on their research, they contended that food advertising has correlation to childhood obesity (Water & Baur 2005, p. 2). Food television influences children eating habit negatively. Children are still immature and they do not have a good understanding of a healthy diet. According to Gortmacher, food advertisingpose children to buy their product . It has been claimed that majority childhood obesity cases are affected by food advertising on television and these TV commercial has stimulated children falling into intake food massively. (Gortmacher 2005, p. 3).

The third factor is genetic. Overweight children are more likely to be inherited from their parents. Birch argued that childhood obesity is generated by the genetic disorder (Birch 1998, p. 33). Obesity is result of Polygenic disorder in which many genes may cause to an imbalance of fat metabolism in the body (Batch & Baur 2005, p. 130). Polygenic disorder occurs when at least five single gene are mutated in the body (Batch & Baur 2005, p.132).

Sedentary lifestyle is the last factor contributing to childhood obesity. Currently, adults as well as children spend less time doing physical activity (King & Charman 2007, p. 442). Children use a lot of their time watching television, playing video games and going to school by car as and in general doing less exercise (King & Charman 2007, p. 442). Less physical activities would lessen in burning of calories that result in deposit fat into body ( Stubbs and Lee 2004, p. 489).

Discussion of the most important factors causing childhood obesity

In general, childhood obesity is caused by over consumption of junk foods or fast foods that contain high calories, high sugar, high fat and low fiber. In addition, Intake food excessively is positively inked to food advertisement and sedentary life style cause children falling into having snack massively. Furthermore, less physical activity could lead to an increase of fat into body, and then genetic factor would possibly stimulate in fat metabolism disorder that inherited from parents. As its mentioned above that there is no single factor that can be claimed as the most dominant factor in affecting children become overweight. Therefore, a combination among four factor (an excessive of food intake, food commercial on television, genetic and sedentary lifestyle) are the main cause of problem of childhood obesity in Australia

conclusion

Childhood obesity is a problem for Australia today. Some factors are perceived to have relation in growing the numbers of overweight children. The most important factors is that a combination among four factors; over intake of food, food advertising, genetic disorder and sedentary lifestyle. In order to overcome this problem in which to reduce childhood obesity epidemic, Australia should concern about these predominant factors to develop children with healthy life style.

Wc : 1141

By : Ni Putu Budi Mulianingsih

References

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