Social Policy: Child Obesity In America Today

Child Obesity in America Today

Obesity according to Ogden et al (2006) has continually been a top public health concern in the United States. In their analysis of Obesity data in America between 1999 to 2004 Ogden et al (2006), observes that there is a significant increase in overweight among both children and adults. Another research by a Flegal et al (2010), estimates that Out of 313.9 million people living in the US, 61.9 million people are children. 31% of those 61.9 million children are considered obese. These statistics deem that one in every three children in America is obese (Bethell et al., 2010). Obesity in America has been a prevalent social issue in the United States for decades. Within the most recent years, childhood obesity has now also claimed the spotlight, due to the increasing rates of the deteriorating health of adolescents. Several elements are found correlating with obesity in children. Some examples include, socioeconomic status, school and neighborhoods, the price of healthy food and quality of care(Bethell et al., 2010; Frieden et al., 2010; Ogden et al., 2006). It is hypothesized that adolescents that fit within said variables have an abundantly greater risk of child obesity. It is also hypothesized that policy interventions are likely to accomplish health improvements. Various efforts are being made to combat this growing epidemic throughout the nation. Through the action of studies and research, experts are formulating data that proves the significance of valid factors impacting children’s health and weight. In the present paper, the action in battling child obesity is investigated in five articles.

In a research article by Bethell, et al. (2010), a question was addressed for guiding the study. Are the variables of socioeconomic status, schools and neighborhoods and quality of care associated with childhood obesity? The focal group of the investigation was the age range of ten to seventeen with diverse racial ethnicity in various communities throughout the United States. The focus of the investigation was on, “…the state-level findings on the prevalence and disparities in childhood overweight and obesity…we examine important contextual factors at the state level, independent from socioeconomic status, such as the child’s neighborhood and the impact of overweight/obesity on school-related outcome”(Bethell et al.,2010). According to Foster, et al. (2008), through their school-based intervention, they found a correlation between child obesity and socioeconomic status and school environment. The focal group of this study was students in grades four through six from 10 schools in the same city of the United States with the majority of their students qualifying for free or reduced-price meals. The purpose behind their efforts, “was to examine effects of a multicomponent, School Nutrition Policy Initiative on the prevention of overweight and obesity among children in grades 4 through 6 over a 2-year period” (Foster et al., 2008). They found that considerably fewer children in the intervention schools than in control schools became overweight in two years. Obesity was less frequent in the intervention schools. What all of this means is a multicomponent school-based intervention is effective in preventing obesity among children of this age group in urban public schools with an elevated percentage of families eligible to receive free and reduced school meals (Foster, et al., 2008). This makes a connection to the previous research article by Bethell et al (2010). The socioeconomic status and schools and neighborhoods of a child’s family are impactful in the risk of childhood obesity. Families with lower income receive free and reduced meals, therefore through our evidence, are also more likely to become obese.

In a research article by Kimbro& Rigby (2010), they discuss the ever-present concern for America’s child obesity issues. Investigating low-income children ages three to five, they conducted a study of the relationship between food assistance and body mass index. Kimbro and Rigby (2010) stated that, “findings indicate that food assistance may unintentionally contribute to the childhood obesity problem in cities with high food prices”. This further reinforces Bethell et al (2010) original correlation of childhood obesity to socioeconomic status. If a family has a lower socioeconomic status, often times they will qualify for food assistance programs such as, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), previously named the Food Stamp Program (Kimbro& Rigby, 2010). Looking back to when these programs were initially devised, the policy makers were aiming to improve food disbursements solely based on relieving hunger, instead of also resisting obesity. That was their policy’s prime goal. Accumulating research confirms that SNAP is linked with increased BMI (Kimbro& Rigby, 2010).

Another piece of research conducted by Frieden, Dietz & Collins(2010)focused on taking action now to prevent obesity later. They attempted to yield the greatest benefits through “policy interventions that make healthy dietary and activity choices easier” (Frieden et al., 2010). Fifty percent of children who become obese after six years old will remain obese as an adult (Frieden et al., 2010).This statistic further supports their initial statement of taking action now to prevent obesity later, before it is too late. The experts, like earlier mentioned in this paper, address poverty, schools and pricing and taxing on food as the key influences on the health of the majority. “Over the past quarter century, healthy food has become relatively more expensive and junk food relatively cheaper” (Frieden et al., 2010).This change in price of food has dramatically influenced the diet of the impoverished community because even if they had the intentions of maintaining a wholesome diet, policies have made it nearly impossible to live off of healthy foods with a low income.

Another variablerelated tochildhood obesity is the quality of care of a child. Bethell, et al. (2010) found that children, who were destitute of a medical home, or in other words a primary physician, were more probable to be overweight or obese.This additionally connects the hypothesis of socioeconomic status and child obesity because individuals of low socioeconomic status are less likely to afford health insurance or maintain employment with full benefits.

After investigating the previous studies, it is apparent that child obesity is a growing social problem and action must be taken now to make change for the future. A study within the Trasande (2010)article has successful associated the commonness of child obesity to diminishes in life expectancy. They found that if obesity in children is not improved, America might endure the first decline in life expectancy since the Great Depression (Trasande, 2010). Through the research of these articles, it is proven that socioeconomic status, school and neighborhoods, the price of healthy food and quality of care play major roles in the prominence of obesity in children. The challenging aspect of the battle with child obesity is how to resolve it, of course. There are several insightful concepts in process that would be beneficial to the cause. Within Trasande’s (2010) article, a study measuring the cost-effectivenessof prevention holds a lot of value in relationship to the epidemic of child obesity.

“We looked at obese and overweight U.S. twelve year-olds in 2005 and applied a cost-of illness approach, projecting three consequences that studies suggest the children will experience: additional health care expenses during childhood, additional adult health care expenses that an be attributed to childhood obesity/overweight, and QALY’s [quality-adjusted life-year, which is a term used to describe a measurement that combines duration and quality of life] lost by obese/overweight adults who were obese/overweight children.”(Trasande, 2010).

They then projected the twelve year olds over their lifespans, inferring a one-percentage decrease in the prevalence of obesity. After calculating again and reevaluating the expenses applied to childhood obesity and the loss of QALY’s, the savings in health care were quite impressive. By spending the money to reduce obesity by just one single percentage, we would be saving $260.4 million in total medical expenditures. This is extremely cost effective seeing as we would be expending around $103 million to reduce the overweight frequency (Trasande, 2010).

It would be tremendously sensible for the policy makers in America to reassess the current investments held in childhood obesity considering these credible findings. The analysis of these findings purposes that the efforts of policymakers can be improved through effective interventions. Facing child obesity is not an easy feat and it will require a lot of time, additional research and an open mind.

References

Bethell, C., Smpson, L., Stumbo, S., Carle, A. C., &Gombojav, N. (2010). National, state, and local disparities in childhood obesity. Health Affairs, 29(3), 347-56. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.msu.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/204623829?accountid=12598Center For Disease Control and Prevention, (2013, January).Obesity rates among all children in the United States. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/childhood.htmlFoster, G. D., Sherman, S., Borradaile, K. E., Grundy, K. M., Veur, S. S. V., Nachmani, . . . Shults. (2008). A policy-based school intervention to prevent overweight and obesity. Pediatrics, 121(4) Retrieved from http://ezproxy.msu.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/228408152?accountid=12598Frieden, T. R., Dietz, W., & Collins, J. (2010). Reducing childhood obesity through policy change: Acting now to prevent obesity. Health Affairs, 29(3), 357-63. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.msu.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/204624035?accountid=12598Kimbro, R. T., & Rigby, E. (2010). Federal food policy and childhood obesity: A solution or part of the problem? Health Affairs, 29(3), 411-8. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.msu.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/204628960?accountid=12598Trasande, L. (2010). How much should we invest in preventing childhood obesity? Health Affairs, 29(3), 372-8. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.msu.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/204637264?accountid=12598