Improper Focus in Addressing Childhood Obesity

I. The Problem

Poor food choices and lack of exercise have resulted in an astounding jump in the rates of childhood obesity; a climb that impacts the current standards of health among children, their prospects for a healthy adult life, and, ultimately, their expectations for life span. Current policy toward addressing the problematic and dramatic rise in childhood obesity relies primarily on parental oversight of children’s nutrition and exercise regiments. Advice from medical practitioners, promotions through educational outlets, and various political initiatives, such as Let’s Move, attempt to provide public education on the impacts of this growing epidemic. 

The dramatic rise in childhood obesity is obvious when comparing the rate of three million in 1980 to the rise and resulting rate in nine million 2001 – triple the number of obese children in a mere 20 years. Historically, approaches to combat this growing trend have been focuses on creating healthier school environments (Brown, 2007).

Despite the focus on creating healthier school environments, the problem has continued to escalate. According to a report by the American Nurses Association, however, the focus should be on creating healthier (and safer) home environments (Jones, 2010).

II. The Environment

As nurses tend to be the first line of recognition of a child’s health problem, they are privy to the causes which are at the root of the issue. The major factors include lack of safe neighborhood areas in which children are able to congregate and play. Potential exposure to drug dealers or rival gang wars forces many children to forgo outdoor activities in exchange for basic safety. Increasing education within the schools on the importance of daily activity,  exercise and nutrition is of little consequence to a child who runs a risk of injury and even death merely by walking down their own street.  Second, these same neighborhoods which are faced with the dangers of drug crimes and violence are left without fresh grocery shopping options for much the same reasons that their children are unable to play outside—grocers establish their stores in safer areas with higher spending allowances in order to grow their businesses. Such basic business practices leave the poorer sections of our country’s neighborhoods with little or no access to the foods which are promoted through the educational initiatives offered through the children’s schools.  Consequently, many of these families are forced to obtain their nutrition from corner shops and fast food stores that have high concentrations of calories and fats but little overall nutrition (Brown).

III. Effectiveness and efficiency

The effectiveness of the current policies toward addressing childhood obesity has been dismal. Triple-digit increases in short time spans indicate that the focus on school environments is doing little to reverse—or even stabilize—the trend (Ben-Sefer, et al., 2009). While there is no actual data indicating the amount of federal and state funds dedicated to addressing this epidemic, estimates are that the annual cost of obesity (children and adults) top over $147 billion as of 2009  (Holden, 2010). As the rate of obese citizens continues to rise, factoring in the indirect costs, such as lack of contribution to society resulting from obesity-associated illnesses, the cost of treating these individuals—adults and children—are astounding.

IV. Policy alternatives

Funneling additional dollars into better school environments may seem reasonable as a means to reach the masses.  Given the other influencers contributing to this epidemic, however, funding should be directed toward safer living environments for these poorer neighborhoods. Reducing crime will serve to provide safer home environments and will also serve to enable children to leave their homes in order to get their exercise, as well as attract grocers which will provide those neighborhoods with fresh and healthy food choices. 

V. Summary

The focus on health education in schools ignores the real problem of health and safety at home.  Redirecting educational dollars to addressing the safety and security of at-risk neighborhoods should serve as a more effective means to combat childhood obesity.

References

Ben-Sefer R. P., E., M. Ben-Natan, R. P. & M. Ehrenfeld, R. P. (2009). Childhood obesity: Current literature, policy & implications for practice. International Council of Nurses, 166-173.

Brown, T. (2007). Tackling childhood obesity: A case study in MCH leadership. Baltimore, Maryland: Women’s and Children’s Health Policy Center, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Holden, D. (2010, February 9). Fact check: The cost of obesity. Retrieved from CNN.com: http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/02/09/fact.check.obesity/index.html

Trinna Jones, M. R. (2010). Fighting childhood obesity: Taking a stand to control an epidemic one child at a time. American Nurses Association.