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Effects on Childhood Obesity

Family, Environment, Culture, Socioeconomic, Medications, and Sleep

-With Nate, Daniel, Jake, and Lindsey


 

Childhood Obesity: Eat well, Play well

LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cj5hRd_AVKg
 

Family

-habitats picked up from parents

-food choices

-"clean plate"

 

Genetics

- lineage with higher BMI

 

Habits

- parents health tends to represent child's health

- parents show children it is okay to eat unhealthily and be bigger

- can lead to diabetes and cardiovascular issues

 

Environment

- no places with areas for good produce

-cheaper canned vegetables

- no fresh grocery markets

- no grocery stores in rural areas

-many shop at dollar general or gas stations

 

Stress

- family, school, extracurricular activities

- no one sits down and thinks about dinner

 

Safety

-freedom for kids to run around and exercise

-if unsafe then parents won't let kids outside

 

Parks

- access to safe places to be active

- only certain areas safe for children or in a good distance

community factors that influence eating and activity patterns

 

Culture

Significant disparities exist in obesity prevalence between different racial and ethnic groups. The CDC reports the following obesity prevalence percentages among different youth demographics.


- Hispanic youth - 22.4%

- Non-Hispanic black youth- 20.2%

-Non-Hispanic white youth- 14.1%

-Non-Hispanic Asian youth- 8.6%


Cultural norms may lead to parents remaining satisfied with the weight if their children or even wanting them to be heavier, even if they are at an unhealthy weight. Some sociological studies have also suggested that among Hispanic families, women may prefer a thin figure for themselves but a larger one for their children.


The type of foods eaten by children can be influenced by the cultural identity and a means of preserving family and community unity. While consumption of traditional food with family may lower the risk of obesity in some children, it may increase the risk of obesity in their children.

 

Socioeconomic

Hispanic youth and non-Hispanic black youth are more likely to come from lower-income families than non-Hispanic white youth. According to The State of Obesity, white families earn $2 for every $1 earned by a Hispanic or non-Hispanic black family.


Over 38% of African-American children aged below 18 and 23% of Latino families live below the poverty line. These statistics suggest that the effects of living a low income that increases the risk of obesity may be much more by African-American and Latino families.

 

Sleep

- Children who missed the sleep benchmark by an hour were 58% more likely to be overweight or obese than kids who got enough sleep.

- Less sleep at night makes for drowsier, less-active days.

- For each hour increases in sleep, the risk of obesity goes down 5%.


- Children younger than the age of 5: at least 11 hours

- Children ages 5-10: at least 10 hours

- Children ages 10 and up: at least 9 hours


To increase the amount of sleep your child gets you should:

- remove TV, video games, and computers from their rooms

- Have a designated bedtime

- Plan for the day ahead and beat the rush


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