Numerous factors affecting childhood obesity have been explored through studies looking for causes and solutions to this worldwide health crisis. Maternal behavior, genetics, activity level, antibiotic use, nutrition, and environmental factors have all been shown to have an affect on childhood obesity. We will explore these factors and the actions that may be taken to reduce the affect on this epidemic in our society today (Deckelbaum, & Williams 2001).
From gestation to birth, the health and behavior of the mother will have a great affect on the health of the child after birth. Gestational diabetes in the mother is a factor attributing to high birth weight in newborns. This in turn leads and increased risk of obesity and high blood pressure later in life (Curhan, Chertow, Willett, Spiegelman, Colditz, Manson, . . . Stampfer 1996). The wellbeing of the mother is paramount to the wellbeing of the child from the onset of life. During early childhood, exposure to antibiotics has also been implicated as another factor in childhood obesity (Ville, Heyman, Medrano, & Wojcicki, 2017). This subject is currently being further explored through further study, however, there is some evidence to increased obesity being linked to increased antibiotic use, particularly in young childhood (Ville, et al., 2017).
Environmental factors such as low socioeconomic status, living in an urban area, and lack of physical activity are found to be major contributors to childhood obesity (Bazán, 2018). Excessive time children spend on technologies, such as television, computers, video games and smart phones are also factors (Veugelers, & Fitzgerald, 2005). These behaviors lead to a sedentary lifestyle. There is also a correlation between advertisements seen on technologies and foods consumed after watching (Veugelers, & Fitzgerald, 2005). The most significant contributing factor linked to childhood obesity seemed to be lack of physical activity (Veugelers, & Fitzgerald, 2005). Access to healthy foods is also a strong factor in childhood obesity. The availability of healthy foods being offered in school or at home, and the example of healthy eating shown by parents is an important contributing factor (Bhadoria, et al., 2015).
Factors that would decrease the rate of childhood obesity include assuring regular access to physical activity. This can be accomplished by including physical education in schools (Veugelers, & Fitzgerald, 2005). Children in urban and lower income areas would benefit from the availability of afterschool physical activities. It is also helpful for children to have access to healthy lunches and children are found to benefit from having family meals together. Modeling healthy behavior in parents is a key ingredient for children to also grow up with healthy behaviors (Bhadoria, et al., 2015).
References
Bazán, M. J. (2018). Prevalence Of Childhood Overweight/obesity In Spain 1993-2011 And Associated Risk Factors In 2011. Nutrición Hospitalaria. doi:10.20960/nh.1355
Bhadoria, A., Sahoo, K., Sahoo, B., Choudhury, A., Sufi, N., & Kumar, R. (2015). Childhood obesity: Causes and consequences. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care,4(2), 187. doi:10.4103/2249-4863.154628
Curhan, G. C., Chertow, G. M., Willett, W. C., Spiegelman, D., Colditz, G. A., Manson, J. E., . . Stampfer, M. J. (1996). Birth Weight and Adult Hypertension and Obesity in Women. Circulation,94(6), 1310-1315. doi:10.1161/01.cir.94.6.1310
Deckelbaum, R. J., & Williams, C. L. (2001). Childhood Obesity: The Health Issue. Obesity Research,9(S11). doi:10.1038/oby.2001.125
Veugelers, P. J., & Fitzgerald, A. L. (2005). Prevalence of and risk factors for childhood overweight and obesity. Canadian Medical Association Journal,173(6), 607-613. doi:10.1503/cmaj.050445
Ville, A. P., Heyman, M. B., Medrano, R., & Wojcicki, J. M. (2017). Early Antibiotic Exposure and Risk of Childhood Obesity in Latinos. Childhood Obesity,13(3), 231-235. doi:10.1089/chi.2016.0235
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