Introduction
Childhood obesity as a medical condition affects a lot children across the world. According to Dieticians Association of Australia (2014) childhood obesity is when a child has too much body fat and the child’s weight is well above normal for his or her age and height and this puts their health at risk. In Australia as well and in fact, across the world, the community is becoming increasingly concerned with the rising prevalence of childhood obesity (Jacqueline. 13). The health consequences for obese children at their current status as well as in the future has acted as an impetus for raised interest in the role that both the society as well as the government plays in childhood obesity prevention (Gill et, al, 2009). This paper aims to explore the issue of childhood obesity in Australia with particular focus on several elements. The paper will first look at statistics, trend and patterns of this problem in recent years in Australia. The implications of the problem in the state of Victoria, nationally and even worldwide will then be analysed. The paper will also look at the link between obesity and the development of chronic conditions later in life. Some intervention strategies that have been enacted to reduce the risk of childhood obesity will be explored together with their level of success. The paper will also look at the role of nurses in the prevention of childhood obesity.
Since, the 1970’s, childhood obesity prevalence has been on a continuous increase in Australia (Olds et.al. 2009). By the year 2008, eight percent of children who are aged between 5 and 17 in Australia were obese (Crowle and Turner, 13). Community and government focus on the issue of obesity increased in the 1990’s, but the problem of obesity has persisted (Olds et.al. 2009). Olds et al. (2011) states that the problem of obesity when it comes to girls is most prevalent in those between the years of 8 and eleven years old. When it comes to boys, the problem is most prevalent in boys aged between 12 and 15 years (Booth eta l, 2007).
It has been shown that while the problem of obesity in adults often tends to high among members of the lower social economic groups, this is not the case in childhood obesity where the problem cross all the boundaries of socio-economic classes (Sanigorski, et al, 2007).
Obesity often proves to be a huge problem for the home country. This is not just because of the health effects associated with the condition but also because of its effect on the economy (Rokholm et al. 2010). For instance, obesity is associated with increased risk for life-threatening illnesses and in many cases, it is the government that cater for the healthcare of these individuals (Han et al., 2010). Therefore, the cost of care for individuals with obesity problems infringes hugely on the annual expenditure of the government. This means that money that could be used to drive alternative projects such as infrastructure development is used on providing health care to obese people suffering from illnesses associated with this condition (Tsiros et al., 2008).
Childhood obesity is a huge problem as it threatens to create a stressed and emotionally unstable society. Thomas et al., (2008) indicates that overweight and obese children often suffer from low levels of self-image and self-esteem. It is shown that obese children are often teased not only by their peers but their families also and because of this, depressive symptoms, suicide attempts and ideation are high in obese children than in children with normal weight (Thomas et al, 2008). In addition, it is also shown that obese children tend to be more socially isolated. According to Dixon, (2010), the quality of life for obese children is equal to that of children suffering from terminal cancer. In schools, obese children are often subjects to inhumane acts such as bullying.
The Australian institute of Health and Welfare conducted a study and found that obese individuals had a higher likelihood (27%) of reporting poor health than their healthy counterparts (Bell et al., 2008).
The World Health Organisation (2014) advises that children who are obese are more likely to stay this way into adulthood. In fact, most of the health conditions associated with obesity, usually, manifest themselves during adulthood. Weight-related health problems in children can include snoring and sleep apnoea, type 2 diabetes, stress on the bones and joints, behavioural problems, low self-esteem and hypertension (Burrows et al., 2008). These children are more likely to develop non-communicable diseases, for example, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases at a young age (Burrows et al, 2008).
According to Booth et al., (2007) children who are obese or overweight have a higher chance of experiencing illnesses such as asthma. In addition, it is shown that a disease such as Diabetes Type 2 which was previously only common in old people is now being exhibited in children as well as adolescents. Obese children are being diagnosed with this problem giving a clear indication that patterns of disease’s infection have surely changed as a result of this problem of obesity. Other obesity associated health conditions that were previously not exhibited among children include orthopaedic problem, decrease growth hormones release, reflux problems and arthritis (Ogden et al. 2010). There are increasing fears that obese children will only grow up to become overweight, diabetic adults who will be a huge risk of suffering from liver diseases that are associated with obesity. Fat liver disease (hepatitis steatosis) is one of the most common diseases in this regard. The common liver-related disease resulting from obesity is cholelithiasis. As suggested by Logue and Sattar, (2011) there is now evidence that childhood obesity leads to changes in cardiac structure that may continue and worsen into adulthood.
Increase in fat mass influences a number of changes in the cardiovascular system, including increases in vascular volume, cardiac output, and systemic vascular resistance (Logue and Sattar, 2011). The long-term consequences of these changes may include high blood pressure and left ventricular hypertrophy. There are also adverse effects on the pulmonary circulation, including chronic hypoventilation and sleep apnoea (Logue and Sattar, 2011). Type 2 diabetes is known to have further damaging effects on left ventricular function.
In fact, Krebs et al. (2007) states that children who are obese have a 25-50% probability of becoming obese or overweight adults with some of the problems outlined above. One interesting finding about this fact is that overweight adults who were obese in their childhood and adolescent years face have a higher risk of suffering from overweight associated health problems than their counterparts who only became overweight during their adulthood (Dixon, 2010). Such individuals also face higher prospects of early death that those who have become obese during adulthood. According to Dixon (2010), obesity incurred during childhood, is associated with higher adult cardiovascular mortality and morbidity irrespective of the current adult weight.
As mentioned earlier, childhood obesity has been identified as a full fledge health problem in Australia that require immediate address (Cretikos et al., 2008). In 2009, for example, the Australian House of Representatives formed a commission of inquiry on Health and Aging and obesity was one of the subjects of this inquiry.
Several interventions strategies have been initiated by the government to try to curb this problem of obesity. Although the problem of obesity persists, these intervention strategies have played a significant role in mitigating the problem (Bell et al., 2008).
One such intervention strategy or program is the Active After Schools Communities (AASC program). This is a program that was initiated by the Australian government in the year 2011 with the aim of increasing physical activities among children so as to reduce incidences of obesity and inculcate a physical exercise culture in children. This national wide initiative provide school going children (primary level) with free access to sporting and other physical exercise activity programs after the normal school session; that is between 3 p.m. and 5.30 p.m. One of the major aims of this program is to engage children who are traditionally inactive in structured physical activities which will go a long in enhancing both their physical and mental health. Since the program’s inception, more than 500, 000 Australian children have actively participated in the program (Turner & Crowle, 2010). The program is offered by more than 300 schools in Australia. Levels of satisfaction with the program are very high. One particular outcome that is great interest in relation to obesity is that in these schools where the program is offered, levels of obesity have reduced significantly and are currently very low. Due to this relative success of the program, the Australian government is actively pushing for the introduction of the program in many other schools throughout the nation.
Another childhood obesity intervention program that has had modest success in Australia is the “Be Alive Eat Well”. This community capacity building program was based in the state of Victoria and involved a combination of physical activity strategies, nutritional strategies as well as screen time strategies with the ultimate aim of promoting both healthy eating as well as physical activity among children (Turner & Crowle, 2010). Funded by Victoria Human services department, the program has had some significant success. Children who were the target group of this intervention strategy exhibited lower body weight increases, as well as their weight to height ratio (de Silva-Sanigorski et al., 2010. There are calls for the program to be initiated in other regions across the country to reduce the problems of obesity that affects children across the divide.
The “Fresh Kids” initiative is another obesity intervention program that was activated and implemented in the inner west region of Australia (Turner & Crowle, 2010). This program is significantly different from the ones discussed above as its main focus was the promotion of fruit and water consumption among primary school students in Australia. By promoting the consumption of these healthy products, the programs aim to encourage healthy eating habits and at the same time reduce childhood obesity. The program is funded by the Australian government and National Child Nutrition Program (Turner & Crowle, 2010). The program was hugely successful as during its duration there was significant increase in the adoption of after drinking and fresh fruit drinking among children, something which translated into fewer cases of obesity,
The nurse has a huge role to play in the prevention of childhood obesity. The nurse should promote healthy lifestyle patterns that decrease the risk of children being obese or overweight. Some of the areas where the nurses may actively help in reducing the risk of obesity include physical activity, breastfeeding among mother’s, proper nutrition, regular meals and even weight counselling (Lazarou and Kouta, 2010). Nurses should provide information and data related to weight to the public. This should, for example, be provided to parents to advise them on proper feeding habits and physical activities for their children (Maher et al., 2010). The nurse should encourage parent styles and models that support health eating habits and increased physical activity or exercise and that at the same time decrease sedimentary behaviours (Lazarou and Kouta, 2010). School and community nurses should use research evidence for example to design health promotion and obesity prevention strategies in the community (Gonzalez-Suarez et al., 2009).
Nurse can also provide support efforts in the community such as the preservation of parks that provide bicycle and walking paths since this promotes physical activities among children helping to reduce the risk of childhood obesity. In addition, active engagement in prevention activities should be made with families that have parental obesity to provide motivation for children (Lazarou and Kouta, 2010). By engaging and participating in the mentioned strategies, nurses will have played their part in the prevention of the health menace that is childhood obesity
Conclusion
Childhood obesity is clearly a major problem that is affecting the current Australian society and the world in general. It is a problem that threatens to derail the health and even the economic future of the nation. Children suffering from this condition are exposed to a multivariate of diseases that range from cardiovascular, respiratory amongst many others. These obesity associated diseases develop into full chronic conditions even in adulthood and the future prospects of obese children appear to be very bleak. The rates of childhood obesity have been on a steadfast increase in Australian since the 1970’s. A continued increase will be detrimental to the nation. There have been several intervention strategies initiated throughout the years. They have had modest success in reducing the risk of childhood obesity but if the problem is to be solved once and for all, more efficient strategies are required. These strategies will require the collaboration of various stakeholders including the government, nurses, doctors, parents and the community at large.
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