Exploring Childhood Obesity: Trends and Impact in the UK Assignment Sample

Exploring Childhood Obesity: Trends and Impact in the UK

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Introduction: Exploring Childhood Obesity: Trends and Impact in the UK

Childhood obesity has been considered a serious and chronic illness which is affecting children. Childhood obesity is leading to depression and poor self-esteem levels. Improving exercise habits and eating habits has been considered as effective strategy in terms of reducing the rate of childhood obesity among children in the United Kingdom. Preventing and treating childhood obesity is helping to protect every child’s health for current as well as upcoming days. Different types of factors have been considered as causing factors which trigger to be obese and children are not able to lead a normal and healthy lifestyle. This study has been incorporated with the discussion of childhood obesity in the UK and it has explored the trends of childhood obesity and its impact on children’s health in the United Kingdom.

Thesis Statement: This essay has shed light on the exploration of childhood obesity and its impact on children’s lifestyles in recent and upcoming days in the United Kingdom.

Main Body

Childhood Obesity reaches an epidemic level in underdeveloped and developed countries. Obesity and overweight in childhood have been addressed as a noteworthy impact on psychological and physical health. According to the statement of Lanigan et al. (2019), it has been stated that obese and overweight children are childhood obesity has profoundly affected children’s emotional and social well-being, physical health, and self-esteem. Those have also been associated with lower quality of life and poor level of self-esteem that have been experienced by all children. Along with that, several kinds of co-morbidities have been observed such as neurological disorders, renal disorders, cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders, and hepatic among children. Generally, obesity and overweight have been assumed as a result of increasing fat and calorie intake. Apart from that, some supports shreds of evidence which excessive fat and sugar intake through soft drinks, increasing portion size, and lack of physical activity are considered as major roles to increase the rate of obesity and obese children in the global world, especially in the United Kingdom (Cunningham et al. 2022). Thus, it has been observed that obesity is a major health issue which is affecting every child’s lifestyle and eating habits.

Not every child has carried extra pounds but some children are observed as larger than other children based on their body frames. In addition, children have carried various amounts of body fat at the time of development and growth. Hence, it might not be known what children are looking like in case weight is becoming a major health concern. As per the statement of Caprio et al. (2020), it has been observed that the “Body Mass Index” is providing proper guidelines for maintaining weight which is directly related to height retention. Moreover, it has been accepted as a measurement of obesity and overweight of an individual or a child. In order to measure a child’s daily food intake the dietician or the healthcare professional has o measure the BMI of that particular child. As a result, it is beneficial for all children to intake accurately and sufficiently for reducing the prevalence rate of childhood obesity among children in the United Kingdom. As stated by Kim and Lim, (2019), all children are willing to intake junk foods ad fast foods which are not effective for their health, and they are becoming sick after consuming foods. After that, those children are suffering from obesity or they are becoming overweight.

Lifestyle issues and consuming fast foods are playing as major triggering factors which are affecting every children’s as well as adult individual’s health. As a result, those are affecting their eating as well as lifestyle patterns. Accordion to the statement of Caprio et al. (2020), it has been observed that children who are not willing to exercise have a tendency of gaining more weight. As a result, they are required to burn more calories than they have taken by consuming foods. Hence, it can be stated that lacking of physical exercise has been considered as major factor which triggers to gain more weight and it has been observed among most of children. Similarly, as opined by Qiao et al. (2020), socioeconomic factors such as limited accessibility of foods and supermarkets have been considered as another factor which is affecting children’s health and they are not able to maintain a healthy lifestyle and eating habits. As a result, they are becoming obese and suffering from being overweight. On that note, they are purchasing convenience foods which do not spoil quickly like crackers, cookies, and frozen meals. In addition, individuals who are belonging to lower-income families might not have the accessibility to exercise on a safe place. Hence, those children are not able to exercise to maintain a healthy body weight and lead a normal lifestyle.

The entire world has undergone in a rapid nutritional and epidemiological transition that has been characterised by nutritional deficiencies and is evidenced by prevalence rate of iron, zinc, stunting, and anemia deficiencies. Concomitantly, a progressive maximisation has been observed in the rate of diabetes, nutritional deficiencies, and obesity. Based on the perspective of Heslehurst et al. (2019), it has been evaluated that most of the developed countries have consisted a high rate of childhood obesity. Nevertheless, the prevalence rate is maximising in the developing countries also. Moreover, females have the tendency for being obese which is comparatively higher than males and owing to all inherent hormonal deficiencies (Anderson et al. 2019). Lacking physical activities for exercise, not maintaining a healthy diet, family factors, socioeconomic factors, psychological factors, and certain medications have been considered as major causes of being obese and living with obesity. Around 10.1% of “Reception Age” Children have been observed as obese in the year 2021 to 2022 with furthermore overweight with nearly 12.1% (Parliament, 2023). The “National Child Measurement Programme” has been launched by the NHS in terms of reducing the prevalence rate of childhood obesity. This program is also taking initiatives in order to prevent obesity and provide proper treatment for combating the negative circumstances of obesity.

Childhood obesity is causing several kinds of complications in a child’s social, emotional, and physical well-being. “Type 2 Diabetes” has been considered as chronic condition which is affecting a child’s health by consuming glucose. As opined by Anderson et al. (2019), a sedentary lifestyle and obesity are the major causes that are increasing the risk of Type 2 Diabetes. The government of the UK has implemented the “UK Obesity Strategy” in terms of reducing the prevalence rate of childhood obesity in the UK and it is also helpful for those children to improve their eating patterns and lifestyle (Health, 2023). Children are presently consuming all of the limits of sugar which have been recommended to the children in specific amounts. The survey of national health and diet of national have found that the drinks of sugary account for a total of “17%” of the age group of the population in the range of eleven to eighteen years of age. The age group has a limit on the intake of sugar daily (Trustforlondon, 2023). And the rest percentage of the age group of the population between the age range of 3 to 4 years of age accounts for a total of “6%” of the account of intake of sugar by children who are under the condition of obesity.

Regularly eating junk foods like baked goods, vending machine foods, fast foods are major causes for gaining weight among children. In some cases, parents have to meet the demands of their children by purchasing foods or fast foods for satisfying their children. Even though those foods are not beneficial or have health effects for them, however, parents are purchasing foods according to their children’s demands. As a result, that fast food is affecting their health and they gain more weight based on their requirements (Qiao et al. 2020). Based on the 2021 statistical report, it has been observed that children who are aged between 10 to 11 years are overweight. In addition to that, in the year of 2020 to 2021, around 40.9% children in England have been classified as obese or overweight which contains a highest share in the given time interval (Statista, 2023). Along with that, in London, the prevalence rate of childhood obesity is higher than in other regions. In the last decades, the prevalence rate of childhood obesity is increasing by around 3.3% in London and nearly 4.2% in England (Trustforlondon, 2023). Therefore, it can be stated that the rate of childhood obesity is increasing gradually due to unhealthy eating habits and unhealthy lifestyles.

Lifestyle issues and consuming fast foods are playing as major triggering factors which are affecting every children’s as well as adult individual’s health. As a result, those are affecting their eating as well as lifestyle patterns. Hence, it can be stated that all those above-mentioned symptoms, causes and factors are major in terms of affecting every child’s health and they are affected by Obesity.

Discussion

Childhood obesity is a medical condition that can affect adolescents and children. In contemporary times children are being fat and obese and that is causing various health-related complications in their life. Obesity in childhood can create problems in the forthcoming life such as gaining weight, high cholesterol, high pressure and diabetes. Other than that, mental health can also be jeopardised as the status of depression and poor self-esteem can haunt them. According to the view of Masukume et al. (2019), it can be seen that eating and drinking strategies and habits can be the core reason for obesity among children. The lack of habits of daily exercise can also be a reason behind obesity in most children nowadays. Treating and clinically preventing the situation of obesity can help in retaining decent health of individuals in the future. Children hold different amounts of body fats in different statuses of development and crossing the normal situation can be alarming for children at any age.

The guideline of the body mass can be gained through the assessment of “Body Mass Index'' (BMI) and the healthcare specialist can be consulted along with a dietician for checking whether the body mass has exceeded or not. Other than motility habits and food habits, hormonal misbalance and genetic factors can be the reason behind obesity or overweight situations (Di Cesare et al. 2019). The risk factors can be seen in the children that are mainly in the school and diet can be the most important aspect behind their body condition. The regular eating of their high-calorie foods and vending machine snacks are the reason behind the high gain of weight. According to the supposition of Voerman et al. (2019), it has been seen that the candies and desserts along with the fried foods or sports drinks that are eaten frequently by young people are the reason behind weight gain.

These days both the parents of the children are working and as a result, there is literally no tin of homemade meals and the offspring are given money for purchasing the food from outside. As a result, the health condition of the children deteriorated. On the other hand, the children that belong to the family where the lineage repeats the overweight gene can also result the same. A family that belongs to a society where high-calorie foods are consumed every day are also holding the situation of obesity and overweight (Lindberg et al. 2020). The psychological factors also work the same in childhood and a lot of stress or abusive parents can create a condition where the children get obese. Depressive symptoms can cause binge eating disorders and that can further cause weight gain (Kaul et al. 2019). Socioeconomic factors can also be seen as the factor that can cause obesity among children. Some residents have restricted resources and finite access to retail shops. As a consequence, they might purchase convenience meals that do not degrade quickly, such as freezing feeds, cookies and crackers. Also, individuals who belong to lower-income communities might not maintain access to a secure place to exercise.

Some medications can have adverse effects on children which can lead to weight gain and they can be stressful to the health of the children. The drugs include “lithium”, “prednisone”, “amitriptyline”, “gabapentin (Horizant, Neurontin, Gralise)”, “paroxetine (Paxil)”, and “propranolol (Hemangeol, Inderal)” (Mayoclinic.org, 2023). For these reasons that are mentioned above, children are facing a hard time gaining a huge weight at a younger age. The physical complications are major for them and this can further stretch the compilation in later life also. The most complicated condition among children can even lead towards death. According to the view of Lindberg et al. (2020), it has been seen that physical complications can include the situation of type 2 diabetes among children also. A sedentary lifestyle and obesity can increase the risks of type 2 diabetes among children which is fatal and can lead to multiple organ failure in the lower age.

It has been also seen that in childhood obesity a baby gains weight and the overall structure of the child is also changed. In this study, it has been also found that during childhood obesity the different hormonal levels of a child get imbalanced. In many cases, it has been also seen that the growth of the child is also affected due to the childhood obesity who has ever experienced childhood obesity (Woo et al. 2020). All the biological factors which are extremely important to maintain proper blood glucose levels in the body of a child are also changed. In this study, it has been also found that proper diet regulation and proper medical support are extremely important to maintain child obesity. However, it has been observed that, among all diabetes, type-2 diabetes is extremely dangerous for children. In many cases, it has been found that many children have died due to childhood diabetes.

With the overheating of oily and fried food such as Pasta, Pizza, fried chicken and burgers along with ice cream and various street foods the health of children can deteriorate. Along with that the chance of gaining and increasing blood cholesterol. The build-up of the plaques in arteries can be seen after the clinical tests and stroke in later life or a heart attack can be common symptoms of food-related obesity (Larqué et al. 2019). For the excess weight gain of children, the pressure can wrongly fall upon the joints which can lead to joint pains and immobility among obese people. Childhood obesity can drive discomfort and sometimes damage to the knees, hips, and back. On the other hand, breathing problems are quite common in the case of overweight children and also obese children. These children are also more likely to gain “obstructive sleep apnea”, a presumably profound disturbance in which a child's breathing frequently stops and initiates during rest.

Children that are obese and mostly overweight can suffer from “Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)”. Liver damage and scar tissue formation can be seen in the situation of the liver condition and that can result from obesity and overweight symptoms (Betterhealth.vic.gov.au, 2022). Social as well as emotional complications can be seen in obese children and they are the worst-case scenario of being bullied by classmates and people in social gatherings. The children can go into depression for the non-stop teasing and abusive behaviour of the other individuals. The number of overweight youngsters has doubled in contemporary years, in Australia with a quarter of children believed overweight or obese. Grounds of obesity in children contain unhealthful food alternatives, lack of physical movement and household eating habits. This elevation in the number of overweight children is problematic, as it drives health issues and can guide social situations (Cdc.gov, 2023). Overweight juveniles are more likely to be ridiculed by their counterparts or to acquire low self-esteem or body illustration difficulties. Once youths are obese, it mandates a lot of exertion and affirmation for them to replace a nutritious weight.

Conclusion

The association of childhood obesity can be managed by considering aspects of the potential ability of the cultural condition effectively. The importance of basic development can be evaluated by the ethical consideration aspects of this matter. The perception can be affected by the emerging criteria of childhood obesity effectively. It can also emerge from the collaboration aspects of the mitigation process effectively. Various diseases come out of the emerging aspects of this problem effectively. It also can be related to the mortality and mobility aspects of the children effectively. The restriction can emerge by the ethical consideration aspects properly. The emerging aspects can be maintained by the basic rules and regulations of the ethical consideration aspects properly. The management can consider the unhealthy condition of the children which can be emerged by the ethical consideration aspects properly. The vulnerable aspects can be managed by emotional consideration and related behaviour in the consideration aspects properly. The basic program can be effective for the healthy weight loss of suffering children. Hence, it can be concluded that the basic food-related aspects of the children. Childhood obesity can be effective for the ethical consideration aspects properly.

Recommendations

Children need to maintain a proper scientific diet to avoid childhood diabetes. It has also been also found that proper physical activity can be effective to regulate childhood obesity (Lindberg et al. 2020). All parents need to do routine checkups of their babies to identify childhood obesity and need to follow the guidelines of the doctors to avoid childhood obesity.

The children can be restricted from eating oily and unhealthy foods from the street and also consuming unhealthy sugary drinks. Healthy fruits and vegetables can be consumed by children from household sources (Cdc.gov, 2023). In addition to that, the daily dose of vitamins and minerals must be consumed by the children for retaining a healthy weight. On the other hand, the parents of children must be aware of the food and drinks that they are consuming or the foods that are available in the school canteen.

References

Journals

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Caprio, S., Santoro, N. and Weiss, R., 2020. Childhood obesity and the associated rise in cardiometabolic complications. Nature metabolism, 2(3), pp.223-232.

Cunningham, S.A., Hardy, S.T., Jones, R., Ng, C., Kramer, M.R. and Narayan, K.V., 2022. Changes in the incidence of childhood obesity. Pediatrics, 150(2), p.e2021053708.

Di Cesare, M., Sori?, M., Bovet, P., Miranda, J.J., Bhutta, Z., Stevens, G.A., Laxmaiah, A., Kengne, A.P. and Bentham, J., 2019. The epidemiological burden of obesity in childhood: a worldwide epidemic requiring urgent action.BMC medicine,17, pp.1-20.

Heslehurst, N., Vieira, R., Akhter, Z., Bailey, H., Slack, E., Ngongalah, L., Pemu, A. and Rankin, J., 2019. The association between maternal body mass index and child obesity: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS medicine, 16(6), p.e1002817.

Kaul, P., Bowker, S.L., Savu, A., Yeung, R.O., Donovan, L.E. and Ryan, E.A., 2019. Association between maternal diabetes, being large for gestational age and breast-feeding on being overweight or obese in childhood.Diabetologia,62, pp.249-258.

Kim, J. and Lim, H., 2019. Nutritional management in childhood obesity. Journal of obesity & metabolic syndrome, 28(4), p.225.

Lanigan, J., Tee, L. and Brandreth, R., 2019. Childhood obesity. Medicine, 47(3), pp.190-194.

Larqué, E., Labayen, I., Flodmark, C.E., Lissau, I., Czernin, S., Moreno, L.A., Pietrobelli, A. and Widhalm, K., 2019. From conception to infancy—early risk factors for childhood obesity.Nature Reviews Endocrinology,15(8), pp.456-478.

Lindberg, L., Danielsson, P., Persson, M., Marcus, C. and Hagman, E., 2020. Association of childhood obesity with risk of early all-cause and cause-specific mortality: A Swedish prospective cohort study.PLoS medicine,17(3), p.e1003078.

Masukume, G., McCarthy, F.P., Baker, P.N., Kenny, L.C., Morton, S.M., Murray, D.M., Hourihane, J.O.B. and Khashan, A.S., 2019. Association between caesarean section delivery and obesity in childhood: a longitudinal cohort study in Ireland.BMJ open,9(3), p.e025051.

Qiao, J., Dai, L.J., Zhang, Q. and Ouyang, Y.Q., 2020. A meta-analysis of the association between breastfeeding and early childhood obesity. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 53, pp.57-66.

Voerman, E., Santos, S., Patro Golab, B., Amiano, P., Ballester, F., Barros, H., Bergström, A., Charles, M.A., Chatzi, L., Chevrier, C. and Chrousos, G.P., 2019. Maternal body mass index, gestational weight gain, and the risk of overweight and obesity across childhood: An individual participant data meta-analysis.PLoS medicine,16(2), p.e1002744.

Woo, J.G., Zhang, N., Fenchel, M., Jacobs Jr, D.R., Hu, T., Urbina, E.M., Burns, T.L., Raitakari, O., Steinberger, J., Bazzano, L. and Prineas, R.J., 2020. Prediction of adult class II/III obesity from childhood BMI: the i3C consortium.International Journal of Obesity,44(5), pp.1164-1172.