Childhood Obesity and Metabolic Imprinting, Research Paper Example

There is an increasing need for nutritional improvements in the lunch programs in schools nationwide. Over 15% of children are overweight – a number reflecting double the percentage of overweight children found in a 1980 survey. The United States General Accounting Office (GAO) investigated possible reasons for this dramatic rise. They found the current lunch programs in numerous schools meet the protein, vitamin, and mineral requirements but far exceed the 30% limit for fat calories. This predisposes the children taking part in the lunch programs at these various schools to engage in unhealthy eating choices.  The current nutritional requirements in school cafeterias must be more stringently enforced.

In the article entitled “Metabolism”, a study involving the longitudinal analysis of the correlative properties of childhood body mass index (BMI) and risk of adult Diabetes I later in life (Viner, Hindmarsh, Taylor & Cole, 2008). The article is similar to the other articles in its review of the sources and predicates of obesity. But the study differs from the others in the means by which the data is derived. The study looked into children up to the age of 5, and considered demographical information in the comparative data sets. Ultimately, the lab findings found childhood obesity, as measured by body mass index (BMI) to be largely influential in the later development of Type I Diabetes. One limitation of this study is the fact that the BMI of children was taken at one point and did not take into consideration any variation. Additionally, the adults who had Diabetes I were in their 30s when the study took account of their predisposition to the condition.

In the second article entitled “Childhood obesity complicating the differential diagnosis of maturity-onset diabetes of the young and Type II Diabetes”, (2008), focuses more on the likelihood of Diabetes II being developed after childhood obesity, rather than the Diabetes I as in the first article (Weintrob, Stem, Klipper-Aurbach, Phillip, & Gat-Yablonski). This article looked at the genetic predisposition to Diabetes II. The study found that Type II Diabetes was consistently paired with MODY 3 gene inherited from the mother’s side. The study faced limitation in the sample size of participants as well as the need for data of three generations concerning the family history.

In the third article entitled “Childhood Obesity and Metabolic Imprinting: The ongoing effects of maternal hyperglycemia”, looked for a maternal culprit for the inheritance of diabetes, just like the second article (Hillier, Pedula, Schmidt, Mullen, Charles & Pettitt, 2008). This study observed maternal glycemia during pregnancy and the subsequent development of childhood obesity. The study was limited in its demographics, only taking data from participants in Hawaii and the Northwest. Overall, the study found a definite correlation between the hyperglycemic mothers and subsequent childhood obesity in children. The study recommends further research before conclusive causation can be established.

In the fourth article entitled “Forecasting the Future Economic Burden of Current Adolescent Overweight: An Estimate of the Coronary Heart Disease Policy Model”, an entirely different approach than the previous articles (Lightwood, Bibbins-Domingo, Coxson, Wang, Willians& Goldman, 2008). This article researched the economic strain on families of varying socioeconomic backgrounds. By using models to simulate anticipated economic burdens in the future from 2020 to 2050. The study was limited by the use of predictive models, rather than empirically-sound data. The findings were entirely based on conjecture for times decades from now.  As a result, the findings could only be presented as what would ‘likely’ occur. The prediction was that there would be larger expenditures in the healthcare area, an increase in premature death, economic strains from lesser productivity, and a higher incidence of disability.

In the fifth and final article entitled “Student Nurses Participate in Public Health Research and Practice Through a School-based Screening Program”, the heightened occurrence of childhood obesity in minority children was observed. Recommendations for further education of nurses in addressing this issue are given (Brosnan, Upchurch, Meininger, Hester, Johnson &Eissa, 2009). This article differs entirely from the other articles in the fact that it concerns a recommendation for nursing education and student education on the subjects of obesity, hypertension, and Type II Diabetes. The limitation in this study is the lack of conclusive efficacy of additional training of nurses. Educating students between the ages of 12 and 19 cannot change factors such as the mother’s hyperglycemia during pregnancy and the genetic components of Diabetes Type I or II.

Overall, the articles presented here all address the subject of obesity and diabetes. Whether the economic strain or the genetic predisposition was observed, the overall assessment was the same: Childhood obesity has a large number of negative consequences later in life. There is a higher rate of premature death and lower production levels, which strains the economy. The development of diabetes I or II creates lifelong complications as well. The basic conclusion is that something must be done in the early stages of life to prevent childhood obesity and its negative ramifications.

References

Brosnan, C., J Upchurch, L. Hester, G. Johnson, and M. Eissa. “Student Nurses Participate in Public Health Research and Practice Theory Through a School-Based Screening Program”.(2008). Public Health Nursing: Vol. 22 No.3, pp260-66

Hillier, T., Pedula, M. Schmidt, J. Mullen, M Charles, and D. Pettitt. “Childhood Obesity and Metabolic Imprinting: The ongoing effects of maternal hyperglycemia”. (2007). Epidemiology/Health Services Research: Vol. 30, No. 9

Lightwood, J, K Bibbins-Domingo, P Coxson, C. Wang, L Williams, and L. Goldman. “Forecasting the Future Economic Burden of Current Adolescent Overweight: An Estimate of the Coronary Heart Disease Policy Model”. (2008). American Journal of Public Health: Vol. 99, No. 12

Viner, R., P. Hindmarsh, B. Taylor, and T. Cole. “Metabolism: Childhood Body Mass Index (BMI), breastfeeding and Risk of Type I Diabetes: Findings from a longitudinal national birth cohort”.  (2008). Diabetic Medicine, 25, 1056-61

Weintrob, N, S. Klipper-Aurbach, Philip M, Gat-Yablonski. “Childhood obesity complicating the differential diagnosis of maturity-onset diabetes of the yound and type 2 diabetes”. Pediatric Diabetes 2008: 9: 60-4