The following PaperHelp Child Obesity Essay sample is for educational purposes only!

The US continues to record an increase in obesity prevalence. Obesity among American children is high.Research shows 13.4 percent of American children aged between 2 and 5 years are obese (Fryar et al., 2018). On the other hand,19.3 percent of Americans aged between 2 and 19 years are obese according to the CDC’s 2017-2018 survey (Fryar et al., 2018). In this regard, around 14.4 million American children are suffering from obesity. Additionally, the price of vegetables and fruits is relatively higher than low-nutrient food items. These economic indicators help to explain the worrying trend of childhood obesity, particularly in low-income neighborhoods.

Economic Principles, Indicators, and Impacts

Childhood obesity has been linked to various economic impacts and indicators. For instance, the high cost of treating obesity-related health problems is estimated to range between $147 and $210 billion per year (Xue et al., 2020). Therefore, high healthcare costs would inconvenience healthcare organizations, physicians, as well as patients and their families.Many American children are predicted to have obesity when they enter adulthood (Ward et al., 2017). Childhood obesity will heighten children’s risk of developing severe health problems such as cardiovascular diseases, heart diseases, and diabetes.These extreme medical conditions are expensive and challenging to manage or treat.

Socioeconomic Factors and Impacts

Childhood obesity is related to a wide range of socioeconomic aspects.  First, Marsh et al. (2020) note that little or no exercise contributes to overweight and obesity. On the other hand, the increasing food prices cannot allow low-income parents to afford healthy meals such as natural vegetables and fruits. As a result, low-income parents opt for cheap low-nutrient food, increasing the chances of developing obesity among their children. Persistently economically underprivileged families are highly associated with childhood obesity compared with economically stable households. The inability to buy healthy foodstuff and receive proper medical care predisposes children from low-income families to obesity. Moreover, many children in the US do not commit the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity daily (Colley et al., 2013). The reduced exercise amount denies children the ability to burn or lessen unnecessary calories in their bodies.

Healthcare Organizations

Childhood obesity affects private and public hospitals such as state government hospitals and the US government health facilities.The US government finances the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). DHHS is the parent of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (Dietz, 2015). The two government agencies play an indispensable role in addressing obesity in the United States.Children with obesity can receive help from Women, Infant, and Children (WIN), as well as the Special Supplemental Nutritional Program (SNAP) (Dietz, 2015). The former organization assists children aged below 5 years from low-income households. The two organizations provide children with nutrient-rich food items, referrals to hospitals, and information on healthy eating.

Policy Evaluation

Even though the use government focuses on preventing childhood obesity, this approach is not enough. Therefore, America needs to also focus on how to treat the current increased rate of children having obesity today.The increasing cost of healthy foodstuffs is pushing many Americans to opt for fast foods because they are cheap and convenient for their busy daily schedules.The decreasing number of children engaging in extra-curricular activities explains the reduced exercise rate and time among American children. Then again, the cost of subscribing to these programs is expensive, particularly for children from low-income households.

Proposed Policy

I would like to propose three initiatives including lowering food costs by offering decreased options for healthy meals, supplying cooking lessons for children freely, and offering free or discounted help for children to engage in extra-curricular activities.These programs seek to help obese children in low-income and poor households who are struggling to buy healthy food items and participate in youth activities/sports.

The Role of Healthcare Organizations

Healthcare organizations play a key role in treating and preventing childhood obesity in various ways. In this proposed policy, hospitals can raise essential questions concerning families to aid with socioeconomic problems such as the amount of physical activity the child gets, insecurity, and food.The responses attached to these questions can enable the doctor to offer informed prescriptions about child-based nutritional classes and healthy meals. Referring children to a wellness coach can help these kids receive such necessary services at a discounted fee.

Defending the Proposed Policy: Improve and Inform

The proposed policy focuses on reducing the cost of treating childhood obesity. The most significant improvement could be yielded from treating childhood obesity is saving the costs for health facilities and families. It is essential to end the bad habits that children are making at a tender age before getting into the teenage stage and adulthood. By making more affordable healthier foods and access to physical activities, we would be assisting these children to make better decisions. Smith et al. (2020) remark that reducing childhood obesity has significant economic and health benefits. Thus, this course should be regarded as a public issue.

Policy Implementation

Regarding barriers to the policy, various socioeconomic factors can deter the proposed initiatives. For instance, many American children from poor and low-income families tend to become more obese (Ogden et al., 2018). Also, childhood obesity tends to increase in households with lower educational levels. Nonetheless, healthcare facilities and local communities can play an integral role in mitigating these barriers by supporting these kids and their families. Health facilities can accomplish this support by making their presence at the events to demonstrate their support. Also, the community can aid these children by reaching out to them and providing them free of charge activities. At the same time, the community can enforce monthly wellness programs that could support these children’s healthy lifestyle modifications through physical activity courses and cooking classes.

Policy Value Proposition

Several aspects reinforce this policy’s value proposition. Firstly, the reduction of healthy food costs would enable many low-income parents to purchase food items that support a healthy life. Increasing the daily period of children to AAP’s recommended 60 minutes would help children to reduce their overweight and obesity problems. These measures would also open more appointments for patients having chronic conditions.

Call to Action

The call to action will begin by evaluating what is being carried out to treat childhood obesity. The second action is to supply parents and children with the appropriate tools to prevent childhood obesity. Thirdly, the program will involve providing reduced healthy food prices and increasing children’s engagement in exercise daily. These steps will lead to the stoppage of childhood obesity and children will live a better and healthier life.

References

Colley, R. C., Garriguet, D., Adamo, K. B., Carson, V., Janssen, I., Timmons, B. W., & Tremblay, M. S. (2013). Physical activity and sedentary behavior during the early years in Canada: A cross-sectional study. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 10(1), 1-9.

Dietz, W. H. (2015). The response of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to the obesity epidemic. Annual Review of Public Health, 36(1), 575-596.

 Fryar, C. D., Carroll, M. D., & Ogden, C. L. (2018). Prevalence of overweight, obesity, and severe obesity among children and adolescents aged 2–19 years: The United States, 1963–1965 through 2015–2016. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Marsh, S., Taylor, R., Galland, B., Gerritsen, S., Parag, V., & Maddison, R. (2020). Results of the 3 Pillars Study (3PS), a relationship-based programme targeting parent-child interactions, healthy lifestyle behaviors, and the home environment in parents of preschool-aged children: A pilot randomized controlled trial. PLoS One, 15(9), e0238977.

Ogden, C. L., Carroll, M. D., Fakhouri, T. H., Hales, C. M., Fryar, C. D., Li, X., & Freedman, D. S. (2018). Prevalence of obesity among youths by household income and education level of head of household—United States 2011–2014. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 67(6), 186.

Smith, J. D., Fu, E., & Kobayashi, M. (2020). Prevention and management of childhood obesity and its psychological and health comorbidities. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 16, 351.

Ward, Z. J., Long, M. W., Resch, S. C., Giles, C. M., Cradock, A. L., & Gortmaker, S. L. (2017). Simulation of growth trajectories of childhood obesity into adulthood. New England Journal of Medicine, 377, 2145-2153.

Xue, B., Wu, S., Sharkey, C., Tabatabaei, S., Wu, C. L., Tao, Z., … & Wang, Z. (2020). Obesity-associated inflammation induces an androgenic to estrogenic switch in the prostate gland. Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases, 23(3), 465-474.