Developing a Health Message

Developing a Health Message

The issue of childhood obesity has become a concern for public health. Childhood obesity was not an issue of concern. However, the last few decades have shown trends that cannot be ignored any longer. In the United States, so far, there is an upward trend in the number of children and adolescents who are currently obese. A report on recent trends in obesity among children presented by Anderson et al. (2019) shows that the condition has grown tremendously from five percent to 18.5 percent between 1978 and 2016, respectively. Of concern, childhood obesity is related to a number of complications that negatively affect the well-being of children, including chronic conditions such as diabetes, kidney problems, and other cardiovascular diseases. Wühl (2019) reports that there has been a notable rise in the prevalence of high blood pressure among children amid the rise in the number of overweight and obese children. Notably, childhood obesity goes beyond the physical outlook to more concerning mental health impacts. Obese children tend to have more mental health issues, including low self-esteem. Childhood obesity is not an issue that impacts the affected children and their families alone, it also impacts negatively on all people within the community. For instance, childhood obesity due to its effect on the wellbeing of the children and the fact that it is a risk factor for chronic diseases increases pressure on the available healthcare resources. Combating childhood obesity, therefore, requires collective efforts from each and every one of the members of the community. All stakeholders, whether; a child, healthcare professional, educator, parent, caregiver, and the state and federal governments, as well as social health advocates have a role to play in pushing towards the required changes to overcome this public health risk.

Children, as the main at-risk population, need to understand that there is sufficient support throughout their journey to adopt healthy lifestyles. Such support includes decision-making support on what to do and what not to do, as well as what to eat and what to avoid in an effort to address and reverse current overweight and obesity status as well as in preventing oneself from becoming overweight and obese.

Parents and caregivers are the main caretakers of the children. They need to understand that they have the greatest and leading role to play in addressing childhood obesity. They are the influencers of child behaviors both at home and within all social settings. They then should learn about lifestyles, eating habits, and the environments that promote physical abilities to avoid and reduce the risk of the children under their care gaining unwanted weight and becoming obese.

Healthcare professionals, including pediatrics and social health workers, need to understand their role in utilizing their expertise to educate parents and other stakeholders on factors leading to childhood obesity and possible solutions, as well as promote behaviors that address such factors and reduce and prevent the risk of the condition. Additionally, the government, policymakers, and regulators need to understand their role in regulating the food industry. They will need to work collaboratively with players in the food markets, including sellers and manufacturers, and advertise to promote healthier diets among children.

Through this collaborative effort, with each stakeholder competently playing their role, it is possible to address childhood obesity from the root causes of the existing conditions and achieve a healthier future where the children can grow healthily and enjoy their childhood.

References

Anderson, P. M., Butcher, K. F., & Schanzenbach, D. W. (2019). Understanding recent trends in childhood obesity in the United States. Economics & Human Biology, 34, 16–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.EHB.2019.02.002

Wühl, E. (2019). Hypertension in childhood obesity. Acta Paediatrica, 108(1), 37–43. https://doi.org/10.1111/

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Developing a Health Message