Can Public Policy Help to Prevent Childhood Obesity? Research Paper Example

Introduction and Problem Statement

The ability to work proactively to prevent childhood obesity requires a collaborative effort from a variety of key players in order to achieve the desired results to alleviate this problem and to improve quality of life for children. It is important to identify the tools and resources that are required to address this problem in a direct manner and to reflect on the causes of the problem that have emerged over time. This is an important step towards the discovery of new insights and opportunities to alleviate childhood obesity from a policymaking perspective and to enable new approaches to support responsible habits and decision-making for this population group. Children face a number of critical challenges with respect to obesity that must be addressed at school, in the home environment, and in public policy that will promote a greater understanding of the need to provide an environment in which healthier choices are made by children as a product of their surroundings. Therefore, policymakers must engage in discussions and develop regulatory efforts to improve nutritional support and availability in schools and in other environments.  This process represents a change to the status quo and the overall direction and focus of nutrition for children in the modern era.

The following discussion will address childhood obesity from the political and social perspectives in order to promote reform and overall support of the changes that are required to support positive nutrition and increased physical to promote and maintain a healthy weight in children, such as improved school lunches and increased physical activity. These perspectives will also be addressed in order to ensure that there are sufficient options in place to support children who are vulnerable to poor dietary choices and weight gain in the home and at school. The discussion will examine how to improve awareness of childhood obesity in a productive manner to ensure that children receive optimal support and guidance in making positive choices that are healthier and that are more conducive to positive outcomes for children.

Literature Review

Public policies related to childhood obesity require significant knowledge of the problem and its impact on different population groups. This requires an understanding of the issues that impact children and why obesity is a serious health concern. Over the past several decades, childhood obesity has doubled in children has increased in adolescents at a quadruple rate (CDC, 2015). Furthermore, in 2012, approximately one-third of all children and adolescents were classified as obese or overweight, thereby increasing the overall health risk for these groups (CDC, 2015). Childhood obesity may contribute to significant health issues for many children, such as adult heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and cancer, among others (CDC, 2015). Therefore, the prevention or reversal of childhood obesity is grounded in a number of areas, such as improved nutrition, physical activity, and behavioral changes that may have a positive and lasting impact on children (CDC, 2015).

Childhood obesity is often attributed to a number of different factors and is represented by challenges such as nutrition in schools and in the home environment. In particular, it is known that “Insufficient physical activity and poor nutrition due to the consumption of calorie-dense foods are acknowledged as primary mechanisms underlying the rise in excess body weight… The CDC guidelines for healthy eating programs include recommendations regarding school policies, curriculums, instructions to students, integration of school food services and nutrition education, staff training, family and community involvement, and program evaluation” (Veugelers & Fitzgerald, 2005, p. 432). From this perspective, it may be argued that students must possess a number of positive choices within the school environment that will lead to improved nutrition and increased physical activity (Veugelers & Fitzgerald, 2005). These factors also contribute to the overall development and sustainability of school-based lunch and exercise programs that will serve to motivate students and to provide them with tools and resources to support positive health and wellbeing (Veugelers & Fitzgerald, 2005). The adoption of new programs for schools is often difficult to manage because it may reflect a serious change in policies and procedures that impact students and their general health within this context (Veugelers & Fitzgerald, 2005). Most importantly, schools must be willing and open to changes that will have a positive and lasting impact on the lives of their students throughout different grades (Veugelers & Fitzgerald, 2005).

A school-based approach to improving outcomes for children who are obese or who face the risk of childhood obesity requires an understanding of the issues that are most relevant for children and their overall health. In spite of the aims set forth by many schools to develop strategies to promote effectiveness in school-based interventions, there are considerable gaps in progress in this area, such as the following: “School infrastructure and physical environment, policies, curricula and staff have potential to positively influence child health. a relative lack of effectiveness of a number of major interventions to reduce childhood obesity has brought into question the wisdom of allocating scarce resources to school-based interventions” (Brown & Summerbell, 2008, p. 110). In this context, in spite of good intentions, many schools are unable to provide the level of support and guidance that is necessary to support and alleviate the risk of childhood obesity on many levels; as a result, this requires further evidence and discussion in order to promote an environment in which nutrition and physical activity are part of the school curriculum in a significant manner that will have a positive impact on these students during school hours and beyond (Brown & Summerbell, 2008). This impact must be evaluated more closely in order to facilitate a high level of support and guidance that focuses on student health and wellbeing for this population (Brown & Summerbell, 2008).

Policies regarding childhood obesity in the public sector require significant attention and focus with respect to the needs of these children and the support that is required on a larger scale. Current public health policies reflect a lack of focus and understanding regarding how to improve the public’s response to this issue on many different levels (Kersh, Stroup, & Taylor, 2011). From this perspective, some communities have expanded their programs related to physical activity, but the dietary needs of these children remain a challenge, particularly because their caloric intake remains very high (Kersh et.al, 2011). This reflects the importance of understanding the dynamics of nutrition for children and the level of enforcement of healthy eating that is observed through school-based nutrition programs, as well as the types of foods that are consumed in the home environment (Kersh et.al, 2011). This reflects the importance of understanding the role of public policy and how it impacts the decision-making potential that exists within a community to effectively impact public policy in this area (Kersh et.al, 2011). It is likely that in some examples, there may be a limited focus on public policy regarding childhood obesity because it is simply too difficult to aim to control this problem at this level (Kersh et.al, 2011). As a result, some communities may not believe that any steps that they take in this area will be helpful in curbing the problem and in improving the health of children at the community level (Kersh et.al, 2011).

From an ethical perspective, there is a greater need to emphasize the value of public policy in contributing to the needs of children and how this may be effective in aiming towards positive nutrition and physical activity to promote greater weight control (Kersh et.al, 2011). However, it should also be noted that “prevention efforts and responsibility for the problem remain controversial. Whose job is it to ensure that children have a healthy life: parents and caregivers, schools, communities, the state? Children may be particularly vulnerable to harm because of their limited ability to make choices, dependence on adults for food and other goods, and susceptibility to marketing” (Kersh et.al, 2011, p. A93). These findings suggest that it is difficult for some communities to advocate for public policies regarding childhood obesity because it is the belief that communities should not be making decisions regarding child nutrition and physical activity (Kersh et.al, 2011). It is believed, therefore, that this may be better left at the hands of parents so that they are able to address these problems in the home environment and instill positive habits in their children’s lives (Kersh et.al, 2011).

It is important to evaluate the state of current policymaking initiatives regarding childhood obesity or the lack thereof, as this issue continues to be important in schools, in the home environment, and within the healthcare sector. It is necessary for lawmakers to evaluate these issues more closely and to recognize the realities of this situation and what has taken place that has impacted children and their health. It is necessary, therefore, to consider methods of improvement that will positively impact children and will induce behavioral changes to stimulate weight control and positive health at this stage. Public policy recommendations must be innovative, ethically appropriate, and timely for the needs of these patients, along with supporting an environment in which change and progress must be identified as critical factors in improving health for these children. In essence, the prevention of childhood obesity is not an issue only in families; rather, it is a public health issue that has lasting consequences not only for students, but also for the healthcare system as a whole. Therefore, this issue must be part of the public policy spectrum because it demonstrates the need for a greater focus on change and progress within the community setting that will further enhance the lives of children who are affected by weight problems.

The current hands-off approach to childhood obesity that exists in many social circles is a difficult pill to swallow because it represents somewhat of a lazy approach that should not be accepted by schools or by families. Rather, this must serve as an opportunity to examine the different areas where there is greater potential to improve nutrition and to be proactive in working towards a set of solutions that will positively impact this population. Although there are ethical considerations related to childhood obesity from a public policy point of view, this issue has such deep ramifications that it requires support from this arena to better regulate food products and to find ways to minimize access to some foods by children in restaurants and grocery stores. This process requires public policy experts to examine how to best approach this issue with an open mind that will facilitate effective change and progress in promoting behavioral modifications for children in order to improve their eating habits and to be proactive in meeting children’s needs, one step at a time.

The necessary improvements to children’s health require a high level of knowledge so that there are sufficient opportunities for policymakers to address this issue on a comprehensive basis. There must be a greater emphasis on change and progress, as well as a means of understanding how the dynamics of public policy may have a positive impact on childhood obesity. This process is complex on many levels and requires support from different disciplines, as there are significant challenges related to this practice that require experts to understand the true realities of childhood obesity and how this is observed as a positive step towards improving the quality of life of many children. It is perhaps most effective to consider quality of life as part of this process.

The continued development of a framework to address childhood obesity from a public policy perspective requires an expansion of efforts for areas such as physical activity, noted as follows: “One area that policymakers have focused upon is the provision of physical education (PE) in schools, seen as a natural setting in which to enhance all children’s activity levels, irrespective of access to facilities or athletic ability” (Amis, Wright, Dyson, Vardaman, & Ferry, 2012, p. 1406). In this context, it is important to develop a framework that will capitalize on physical education to stimulate increased physical activity for students; however, within these programs, children should not be judged and should be supported for the work and effort that they put forth (Amis et.al, 2012). There must be a significant focus on the development of new ideas and approaches to integrate increased physical activity for students and to demonstrate a proactive approach to monitoring students at this level that will positively affect their health and wellbeing (Amis et.al, 2012). However, it is important to note that physical education is often represented by a number of difficulties that are related to its status as less of a priority for schools at this level (Amis et.al, 2012).

The ability to develop public policies regarding childhood obesity must also reflect the importance of promoting greater interest and value for students (Amis et.al, 2012). This is best achieved through programmatic efforts that will generate large amounts of interest and will provide a high level of encouragement for students who struggle with their weight at this age (Amis et.al, 2012). In addition, some parents may also be resistant to increased levels of physical activity because they struggle with the idea of control within the classroom environment (Amis et.al, 2012). From this perspective, students may have experiences in the classroom that are not supported by their parents for one reason or another; therefore, they must be reflected in the ability of the school and its leaders to convince parents that these activities will have a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of their children over time (Amis et.al, 2012).

In accordance with the principles associated with childhood obesity, there must be a greater focus on this phenomenon at the school level and also in the home environment. The ability to generate interest at the community level is also critical for the overall development and focus of the agenda and its meaning. It is widely believed that the formation of objectives that have significant meaning and value to the community are likely to impact its people more effectively: “The most effective messages are transformative in emotional appeal, which, in turn, is socially and culturally dependent. The use of storytelling and narratives have a theoretical and empirical basis for the creation of such transformations… Alternate framing of the obesity issue could not only help to reach target audiences more effectively, but could also expand the range of potential partners in the fight for policy change” (      Huang et.al, 2015, p. 4). From this perspective, it may be argued that the selection of the appropriate message and even a story may have a lasting impact for policymakers (Huang et.al, 2015). This process requires healthcare experts to be proactive in supporting a framework for success and achievement within the public sector that will also aim to improve the lives of those who are affected by childhood obesity in one way or another and who experience ill health in the process that is difficult to overcome (Huang et.al, 2015). These considerations will have a lasting impact on children and must emphasize the importance of a strategy to improve public policy efforts to fight childhood obesity on the basis of its impact on local residents and on the development of new initiatives to improve public awareness of this issue. This requires a level of knowledge and skill that will positively impact children and their families and to minimize the risks associated with childhood obesity over time.

Conclusion and Recommendations

In spite of the challenges that are associated with the development of public policies to give childhood obesity the attention and focus that it deserves Current public policy efforts often address the role of different actions to promote healthier nutrition in schools; however, this is not necessarily the most productive means of addressing this issue. In addition, the promotion of increased physical activity in schools, while it has merit, is not the most viable solution to address this issue. Therefore, a combined approach that identifies nutritional guidance and support, as well as requirements to support increased physical activity, must also be considered. It is believed that a practical yet detailed approach to evaluate and assess the risk of childhood obesity must be considered, along with other factors that impact the needs of children at risk of this condition.

First and foremost, childhood obesity must be examined as an epidemic, an issue that has lasting consequences for children at home and in school. A strategic approach must be able to identify areas where greater control over diet and exercise will be considered, along with other factors that will impact children’s nutritional and exercise habits at this age. This process will also consider a means by which they are able to begin to recognize the differences between efforts so that the most feasible solutions are both practical and timely in meeting the needs of the designated population group. It is expected that this process will have lasting benefits for students when it is realized that these efforts will provide actual support and guidance to them within the local environment.

At the same time, it is important to recognize that “The major challenge in the domain of obesity prevention is that the diversity of stakeholders (ie, government agencies, non-governmental organisations, and companies directly related to health or food) remains low, and sustained and coordinated infrastructure with resources to build coalition across diverse sectors is absent” (Huang, 2015, p. 2). Therefore, at the community-based level, there must be a greater emphasis on the development of tools and resources that will be applicable to this patient population and that will provide further support and guidance in meeting expectations at a high level for these children (Huang, 2015). It is believed that when there is sufficient support for a policymaking initiative and it is realized by some of the current policies, it may come to fruition more quickly and with a larger coalition of support in place. There must be a significant focus on developing core strategies to accommodate the problem of childhood obesity and to determine what steps are required to meet expectations and individual needs more effectively.

Finally, the creation of new public policies to address the epidemic of childhood obesity requires a high level of experience and a practical approach to achieve progress within this area. It is believed that these efforts must be a combination of public policy experts, teachers, principals, nurses, nutritionists, and others who may have an impact on this issue over time. These endeavors must also reflect a continued focus on the needs of children above all else so that there are realized benefits that may be applied within a variety of settings. It is important for public policy makers to address these issues on a wider scale and involve parents, teachers, and other local experts to provide feedback regarding childhood obesity and how it has impacted the lives of these children. When these discussions take place, it is likely that there will be improvements on a gradual basis that will have an impact on children who face these risks. In addition, those who are categorized as obese will obtain the support that they need to stimulate greater weight control. These conditions reflect the need to improve public policy development and implementation for childhood obesity that will have a positive impact on their needs and their health.

References

Amis, J. M., Wright, P. M., Dyson, B., Vardaman, J. M., & Ferry, H. (2012). Implementing childhood obesity policy in a new educational environment: the cases of Mississippi and Tennessee. American journal of public health, 102(7), 1406-1413.

Brown, T., & Summerbell, C. (2009). Systematic review of school?based interventions that focus on changing dietary intake and physical activity levels to prevent childhood obesity: an update to the obesity guidance produced by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. Obesity reviews, 10(1), 110-141.

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (2015). Childhood obesity facts. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/obesity/facts.htm

Hendriks, A. M., Jansen, M. W., Gubbels, J. S., De Vries, N. K., Paulussen, T., & Kremers, S. P. (2013). Proposing a conceptual framework for integrated local public health policy, applied to childhood obesity-the behavior change ball. Implementation Science, 8(1), 46.

Huang, T. T., Cawley, J. H., Ashe, M., Costa, S. A., Frerichs, L. M., Zwicker, L., … & Kumanyika, S. K. (2015). Mobilisation of public support for policy actions to prevent obesity. The Lancet.

Kersh, R., Stroup, D. F., & Taylor, W. C. (2011). Childhood obesity: a framework for policy approaches and ethical considerations. Preventing chronic disease, 8(5).

Lytle, L. A. (2015). Considering the Potential Effect of Federal Policy on Childhood Obesity. JAMA pediatrics, 169(1), 15-16.

Veugelers, P. J., & Fitzgerald, A. L. (2005). Effectiveness of school programs in preventing childhood obesity: a multilevel comparison. American Journal of Public Health, 95(3), 432.