In Low and High Income Families
In Low and High Income Families
The last quarter century has presented a new and very challenging epidemic that seems to have an effect on every population group throughout most of the modern world. Obesity, and more specifically childhood obesity, has become almost as detrimental to world health in developed nations as any other disease. In fact, childhood obesity, which almost always leads to adult obesity, typically plays a role in every natural cause of death, from heart disease, to cancer and especially diabetes type 2. If we want to continue to see newer generations outlive those that came before them, it is imperative that we come up with real solutions and quick, as this is now a problem that affects a large percentage of the youth population.
This is further complicated by the fact that childhood obesity seems to exist in two opposite populations, from those whose families are high income and those with lower incomes. There are some interesting similarities as well as striking differences. For example, there may be a correlation between parent absenteeism and higher rates of obesity. Without parents to monitor the amount of food a child is eating, children will almost always eat the wrong types of food, as well as the worng amount. In lower income families, the biggest challenge may be the availability and cost of healthy foods. Typically, low income neighborhoods are populated with corner stores, who have very limited options, and those options usually are in cans or freezers. In high income families, the large problem may be feeding from guilt. Because the parent is not around as much as they should be, they overcompensate with treats and food that the children like, based on taste and not health. Fast food plays a tremendous role in both populations.
According to JP Koplan, et al (2005), stakeholders and change agents include childhood organizations such as the boys and girls clubs and the YMCA; Community-based organizations, coalitions; ethnic and religious-based organizations; community development planner, neighborhood associations, food and beverage industries including producers, advertisers, marketers and retailers. Additional stakeholders include public health agencies, elected and appointed decision-makers, health care providers, health professional societies and health care delivery systems; mass media, entertainment, recreation and leisure industries; schools, researchers and school programs. Finally, the most important agents of change are parents and teachers. This is a very abbreviated list. Apart from the stakeholders, joint commissions such as pediatric obesity and the Joint State Government Commission are also involved in research components and tracking data (Pasewicz, G, 2014).
The PICOT question is: What practical ways exist, such as benefitting more from a stakeholder, between low and high income children to reach healthy weights within a period of a year? The purpose of asking this question is, if we don’t start finding solutions, we are going to start seeing more health issues related to weight at younger and younger agencies. The clear objective is to find easy ways for parents, families, teachers, and schools to implement changes. If the goals are too high, or are sought after too fast, the likelihood of adherence to a new program is unlikely. Measurements include the obvious - weight, body mass index, and percentage fat.
The rationale of importance of nurses is that this population is often the intermediary between the doctor and patient, the doctor and the parents, and the parents and the patient. They need to be completely aware or what is going on. Nurses will continue to be on the very front line of this issue until it is resolved.
The solution to childhood obesity, regardless of the parents’ income levels, needs to be resolved fast. If it is not, our population will experience continued slow growth, eventually leading to negative growth. This is almost uniquely a first-world issue, we need to handle it in a first-world way.
Note: A general search of reliable databases such as PubMed, NCBI bookshelf, Jstor, EBSCO and Google scholar yielded thousands of research studies and articles. Only two are mentioned in this basic outline of the project
References
Kaplan. JP et al. (2005). Preventing Childhood Obesity: Health In the Balance. Institute
of Medicine Committee on Prevention of Obesity in Children and Youth. retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK83817/#_NBK83817_pubdet_
Pasewicz, G. (2014). Report of the Advisory Committee on Childhood Obesity. Joint Sat
Government Commission. retrieved from http://www.repgrove.com/Display/SiteFiles/103/OtherDocuments/June%2023%20at%201243pm%20Final%20Obesity%20Report.pdf
