Reports indicate that over 22 million pre-school children in the world have weight that is more than their age requirement. This increase in overweight and obesity across developed and developing nations can be attributed to changes in dietary habits like increased eating of food prepared from food stalls, and food insecurity for example, lack of money to purchase healthy food. , assert that a higher weight at birth increases the risk of pediatric obesity. Families with a low or unstable income have both poor choice of food and limited ability to obtain healthy foods (Schwarz and Peterson). Low financial capability makes the individual obtain cheap food from food stalls and outlets. This food is often full of fats and calories than the food prepared at home. Thus, predisposes the child to overweight and obesity.
Stakeholders in maternal and child health, that is, government, civil society organizations, communities, and families need to adopt overweight and obesity prevention measures so as to curb co-morbidities associated with obesity. Government can develop nutrition policies and guidelines that ensure continuous monitoring of pediatric nutrition, for example, regular Body Mass Index (BMI) monitoring from birth to young adulthood. Regulation of food marketing and introduction of school feeding programs are measures the government can also take. In addition, food insecurity policies should be streamlined to ensure low-income families acquire necessary nutrition. Further, communities and health care organizations can provide food support as well as prenatal and postnatal nutritional care to the woman and the entire family to prevent malnutrition. Lastly, families and communities should discourage sedentary living and encourage their children to exercise regularly as this helps the child to expend excess calories.
Works Cited
Deckelbaum, R J and C J Williams. "Childhood Obesity: The health issue." Obesity Research (2001): 239-243.
Peterson, J and S W Schwarz. Adolescent obesity in the United States: facts for policymakers. FACT SHEET. New York: National Center for Children in Poverty, 2010.
