Parental Influence on Childhood Obesity

Parental Influence on Childhood Obesity

A sobering medical condition, called Childhood obesity, has affected children and adolescents in today's world. Overweight resulting in men, women, and children who are obese is the result of "caloric imbalance" and are affected by various genetic, behavioral, and environmental factors (Dietz, 1998). The definition of overweight is having excess body weight for a particular height from fat, muscle, bone, water, or a combination of these factors (CDC, 2011). Based on research it is clear that the development of healthy eating habits starts with parental style, relationships, and how a family manages and functions that may help reduce childhood obesity.

There are many health issues among obese children and adolescents that range from type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, social discrimination, and heart disease. All of these issues mentioned can be detrimental in self-esteem and depression. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 17 percent of U.S. children ages two to nineteen years are overweight (Kuczmarski et al. 2002) and nearly another 17 percent are at risk for overweight. The psychosocial risks in obese children can hinder academic and social functioning and these children are targets for social discrimination. In comparison to obese girls and boys to non-obese girls and boys were less likely to hang out with friends, have more emotional problems and feelings of hopelessness (Falkner et al., 2001). It is evident that obesity has a negative impact on children and adolescents. Addressing the strategies of childhood obesity within familial environments and schools can have a major impact on children and how they can learn how to combat childhood obesity. Another concern in children and adolescences is high blood pressure and high cholesterol. These two major issues have been detected in many obese and overweight children and adolescents. According to the Centers for Disease Control, sixty percent of overweight children had at least one Cardio Vascular Disease risk factor while twenty-five percent of overweight children had two or more Cardio Vascular Disease risk factors (CDC, 2011). The Mayo Clinic mentions many factors that work together in the causes of childhood obesity and health risks. One factor is how convenient is it for parents to feed children through the use of fast food take-out and vending machine snacks for on-the-go meals. These types of foods are high-calorie foods that will cause children to become overweight. When a child is introduced to these types of food and snacks, most likely they are not exercising or burning calories through physical activities and can cause weight gain. Watching television or playing video games can contribute to the problem. It is more likely your child will become overweight if they come from an overweight family especially if physical activity is not encouraged. (Risk Factors, 2010). Parents have a tendency to overlook or shrug off children who overeat to cope with tribulations or who may overeat to deal with emotions, such as stress, or to fight boredom. Parents of these types of children may have similar tendencies. In a study among 99 mothers of overweight children, 79% did not identify their children as being overweight (Baughcum et al., 2000). The groceries you purchase within a home can contribute to a child's weight gain, such as cookies, chips, and other high-calorie items. Controlling a child's access to high-calorie foods is helpful in a child losing weight. It takes both time and resources to make healthy eating and exercise a family priority. The influence of parents in dietary habits promotes development of growing prevalence of obesity among our children (Mayo Clinic, 2010).

According to Shonkoff, a positive feeding relationship is essential for a child's proper nutrition and growth. Shonkoff also mentions, interaction between parent-child in relation to feeding have a powerful impact on how children feel about themselves and the world (Shonkoff, 2003). "The parent-child relationship can provide lifelong gifts, such as healthy brain development; a sense of resilience; a sense of being loved and cared for; empathy for others; a desire for and joy about exploring, reading, and other learning; and a sense of being important to others" (Shonkoff, 2003). In Hungry for Love, daily interaction between parents and children during feeding can either sustain or hamper the child's healthy development (Hungry for Love, 2004). Parent-child feeding relationship is an area of the child's life where nutrition, parenting, and human development come together. Getting involved in your childs nutritional feedings helps the parent-child relationship improve on love, care, and attention, which affects the health of a child. Poor parent-child relationships can damage a child by creating unhealthy beliefs about what love is; limit brain development; and can create a sense of worthlessness which can increase unhealthy choices. Children who have a secure relationship with their parents are often easier to manage, have better social skills, and have better relationships with their peers. Children are dependant on parents to provide these basic needs including sustenance. Parental influence on children's healthy life style choices, including but not limited to: schools and childcare facilities, is an opportunity to promote a healthy physical, emotional, and social development of children (Slaughter, 2004, Volume 8).

An increase in dual career or single-parent working families may have driven up demand for many different convenient lifestyle choices. Almost one in every four preschoolers is either overweight or at risk of overweight. According to The Future of Children, "today 60 percent of mothers with preschool-aged children are employed, with 70 percent working full-time and 30 percent part-time" (2011). Parenting styles and choices of healthy lifestyle habits can lower the risks of becoming obese and developing diseases. A host of environmental lifestyle changes also contributes to reducing children's activity levels. Families who live in communities with limited access to sidewalks and busy streets is a crutch for children as it disables them to being able to walk or ride bicycles to school. Parenting and sschools both play a serious responsibility in influencing dietary and physical activity behaviors of children. Many schools have eliminated recess and physical education from the school day (CDC, 2011). According to Dr. Sothern, recess and free outdoor play for children is one of the most important factors in reducing the amount of obese and overweight children. "Nationwide, we need to reinstate unstructured free play, recess, in the school environment" (2012). She also notes