Literature review Final. Childhood Obesity. Nursing Essay

Childhood Obesity
Name
Institution
Childhood Obesity
Childhood obesity has become an epidemic both in the developed and developing countries. Obesity in children means that their Body Mass Index (BMI) is higher than the percentile of other children in the child’s age group, and also higher compared to the child’s height. Obesity in children is considered a global epidemic because these children are at risk of conditions such as high cholesterol, diabetes and also high blood pressure. These conditions have traditionally been associated with adults. There is high consensus that measures need to be put in place to address this epidemic. However, disagreements persist on the effective measures and interventions suitable for combating childhood obesity (Lakshman, Elks & Ong, 2012). Childhood obesity is a serious condition that increases the risk of depression, as well as low-self-esteem. This paper aims to examine the current trends of childhood obesity, the ethical considerations when gathering data, and establishing if there is sufficient data to explain how to address the condition.
Literature Review
Data from the 1980s to date shows that the occurrence of childhood obesity has almost tripled in the United States (US). It is even estimated that it is more common compared to adult obesity (Lakshman, Elks & Ong, 2012). The number of children with high percentiles in their BMI is on the rise. Today’s culture involves activities that do not include physical activity such as sitting to watch TV. Further, foods that are easily available and affordable are those with poor nutrient value such as French fries and sodas. These foods are also more appealing than traditional nutrient-filled home cooked meals (Lakshman, Elks & Ong, 2012). Among children, the rates of obesity increase because of increase in intake of sugary beverages, dietary fat, low physical activity, sedentary habits, and even inadequate sleep (Pandita et al., 2016).
According to Sahoo et al. (2015), addressing obesity requires people to embrace behavioral chances and especially modification of lifestyles. Given that the environment contributes to these unhealthy lifestyles, it boils down to an individual desire to control and change this lifestyle. Sahoo et al. (2015) note that in most cases, children look up to their parents to determine what behaviors they should adopt. If the parents’ lifestyle involve activities such as poor eating habits, the children will not see anything wrong, and this contributes to obesity. Further, children do not have the mental capacity to understand healthy food options and lifestyle. In this case, the environment they live in such as home and school shapes their choices. Pandita et al., (2016) argue that creating a healthy enabling environment is key to addressing childhood obesity. For example, parents have a huge role in ensuring that there is proper mealtime structures especially if they regularly eat out with their children and also offer appropriate advice to encourage such behaviors. When at home, parents also have to ensure that they practice healthy diets and determine the foods that should be taken (Sahoo et al., 2016). For example, a diet high in fruits and vegetables and low on...