Question

1.Provide background information about childhood obesity as a social issue. What is childhood obesity? Why is it important and what are the costs to society? What are the latest trends? What are the causes? What are the consequences? Which groups are at greater risk? What are the current interventions and what works best?

Provide a purpose for a potential campaign that tackles childhood obesity. What behavior are we trying to change/abandon/adopt/encourage? What is the potential impact of a successful campaign?

Identify 3 potential focuses (approaches) that can be used to tackle childhood obesity in line with the purpose you have identified in question 2. Conduct a hypothetical evaluation to identify the most appropriate focus based on the following criteria: Behavior Change Potential Market Supply Funding Sources and Appeal Impact on the Social Issue

Answer 1

Childhood obesity is considered as a major social issue,characterized by obese children with high BMI to the given age. The major reason for childhood obesity is excess eating of junk foods and lack of outdoor activity. Genetic and hormonal factors also plays as a major factor in developing childhood obesity. Eating foods high in calorie,consuming excess of baked and processed foods,too high sugary drinks also contributes to obesity in childhood. Psychological factors like stress,parental conflict will also forces child to eat food more food in order to cope up the stress.

The complications that results from childhood obesity includes metabolic disorders like type 2 diabetes, elevated cholesterol levels predisposed the risk for developing hypertension and coronary artery disease. Respiratory diseases like asthma. Due to excess of cholesterol intake results in deposition of fat in the liver. Children with obesity often develops low self esteem resulting in depression,behavior and learning problems.

The diagnostic measures like periodical tracking of height and weight to determine BMI. Maintaining growth chart to understand the growth of the child interns of percentile. Invasive blood investigation to monitor blood glucose,cholesterol test, bone scan can done.

The preventive measures includes :selecting healthy diet, avoid purchasing foods baked or processed, shop more fruits and vegetables. Instruct child to limit intake of carbonated beverages, avoid fast foods as it is high in fats and calories. Encourage more physical activity, limit the time of watching TV, find peer group and involve in sport activities. The current trends in treating childhood obesity are bariatric surgery like gastric bypass,gastric banding and sleeve gastrectomy.