Childhood Obesity: Causes, Prevention and Management
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Childhood obesity has several early-onset adverse effects on all body organs and the metabolism. Moreover, as obesity tracks from childhood to adulthood, it can be an underlying factor for the development of chronic non-communicable diseases, which are the worldwide leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Such chronic diseases can result from lifelong accumulation of some risk factors, including obesity. Therefore, sustained interventions are necessary to tackle the onset or progression of childhood obesity. Childhood obesity is no more limited to high-income countries; it has a rapid growing trend in low and middle-come countries. In addition to genetic background, environmental disruptor chemicals and their epigenetic effects are of important underlying factors for the escalating trend of childhood obesity and the trans-generational aspects of obesity. It is noteworthy to consider the early life determinants of childhood obesity, including prenatal, perinatal and post-natal factors, are usually preventable. Dietary habits are formed in the first years of life; therefore it is of crucial importance to establish healthy habits from early life. Food industry, food environment, and social media are important factors influencing the food choices for families and their children. On the other hand, parents are the most important role models for lifestyle habits of their children. In addition to preventative measures, it is important to know how to manage excess weight in growing children, who need enough macro- and micronutrients for their growth, but need to have controlled food intake. Various family-based and school-based interventions are suggested in this regard. In addition to energy intake, it is essential to increase the energy expenditure by regular exercise. Most healthcare providers are not aware of appropriate physical activity for weight control in the pediatric age group. Sometimes the process of weight gain is not correctly prevented or controlled in children and adolescents, and they would suffer from morbid obesity necessitating surgical treatment. Limited evidence-based information is available about these aspects of childhood obesity. This book is written with collaboration of international experts with different scientific backgrounds, who contributed in gathering the updates and findings from their experience on how to deal with the complex factors related to childhood obesity. The main focus of this book is on providing updated information on all above-mentioned aspects related to childhood obesity. It is expected that researchers, health care providers, physicians, health decision makers, and families would find this book as a beneficial tool for implementing widespread measures for prevention and control of childhood obesity.
Childhood Obesity: Ethical and Policy Issues
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Childhood obesity has become a central concern in many countries and a range of policies have been proposed or implemented to address it. This co-authored book is the first to focus on the complex set of ethical and policy issues that childhood obesity raises.Throughout the book, authors Kristin Voigt, Stuart G. Nicholls, and Garrath Williams emphasize the need to take a thorough and balanced look at the intricacies of the ethical and political questions surrounding childhood obesity before advocating particular solutions.After first addressing the factual controversies about childhood obesity, the authors explore crucial ethical questions. What priority should be given to preventing obesity? To what extent are parents responsible? What can be done prevent the social stigma attached to obese children? Moving on fromthese discussions, in the second part of their book the authors consider key policy topics, such as the concept of the "obesogenic environment," debates about taxation and marketing, and the role that schools can play in obesity prevention.Although many people are aware of the increasing rates of childhood obesity and the dangerous health implications of these upward trends, there has not yet been a political debate on the topic. The authors argue that such a debate will be crucial to deciding what priority to give to the fightagainst childhood obesity and dividing responsibilities for action. There is reason for hope: opportunities for action abound and many of these promise wider social benefits beyond obesity prevention itself."This book provides a welcome re-appraisal of commonly-held beliefs about child obesity and misconceptions about what needs to be done. The authors expose the futility of holding parents responsible for children's unhealthy behaviour, they challenge the assumption that education and family supportwill solve the problem, and they condemn the prejudice and stigma which surround the narrative of blame. The book shows convincingly how the causes of obesity - and the range of associated diseases - lie in the fabric of the modern market economy: in the food supply which shapes our diets, thesocial and physical environment which encourages sedentary behaviour, and in the media which promote ever greater consumption. Obesity is not the problem: it is the symptom of a more complex social and economic malaise encouraging poor health. The case for interventions by governments to promotehealth and wellbeing above crude economic growth is comprehensively proven."-- Dr. Tim Lobstein, Director of Policy and Programmes, The International Association for the Study of Obesity and The International Obesity Task Force
Childhood Obesity in America
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