Childhood Obesity

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Childhood Obesity

• Mary E. LaBella
• Maternal and Child Health
• Social Work Leadership Team
• November 5, 2004

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Purpose of the Presentation

• In order to be leaders in the fight against
  childhood obesity WE MUST BE WELL INFORMED.

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Goals and Objectives

• Goal
• Each recipient will be well-informed on the
  topic of childhood obesity
• Objective
• Each recipient will be able to define childhood
  obesity and discuss its multi-faceted nature

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What is Obesity?

• The presence of a body mass index (BMI) greater
  than the 95th percentile for age and sex
  according to national growth charts.
• The most common nutritional disorder among our
  nations youth.

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Contributing Factors of Childhood Obesity

• Medical
• Behavioral
• Reduced energy expenditure
• Societal pressure
• Nutritional transition

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Physical Consequences

• Cardiovascular
• Respiratory
• Endocrine
• Metabolic
• Orthopedic

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Long-term Consequences

• Adult obesity
• Cardiovascular disease
• Breast cancer
• Colon caner
• Type 2 Diabetes
• Financial ramifications

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Psychological Factors

• Lowered self-esteem
• Increased depression ratings
• Social outcasts

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Psychosocial Aspects

• Fewer years of education
• Lower family income
• Higher poverty rates
• Lower marriage rates

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Diagnostic Methods

• Research - underwater weighing, multifrequency
  bioelectrical impedance analysis, and magnetic
  resonance imaging
• Clinical - weight for height, body mass index
  (BMI weight (kg) / height (m)), waist
  circumference, and skinfold thickness

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Epidemiology
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Epidemiology
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Epidemiology
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Prevention

• Risk factors to be addressed
• high birth weight
• maternal smoking in first trimester
• early introduction to solid foods
• overweight parents
• Black, Caribbean, or Pakistani ethnic group

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Prevention

• Risk factors to be addressed
• socio-economic deprivation
• 11 hours/week TV/video
• low participation in school sports
• few interests involving active play
• 2 hours per day traveling by car
• few siblings

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Treatment

• A combination of simple dieting and exercise is
  not the magic bullet.
• Interventions should focus on acceptance of
  realistic body weight and the incorporation of
  healthy eating and physical activity.

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Treatment Family Involvement

• The home, with parental and family involvement,
  appears to be the most influential treatment
  setting.
• Combination of behavioral, social learning, and
  family system approach.
• Parenthood Presence

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Cultural and Socioeconomic Aspects

• White children are at a reduced risk for obesity
  than their African American and Hispanic
  counterparts.
• Research shows that environmental factors that
  promote increased energy intake and decreased
  energy output are increasing and have a
  significant effect on children from various
  ethnic backgrounds.

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Cultural and Socioeconomic Aspects

• SES is inversely associated with childhood
  obesity among whites, yet higher SES does not
  seem to protect African American and Hispanic
  children.

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Cultural and Socioeconomic Aspects

• African American and Hispanic youth tend to have
  lower levels of physical activity and dietary
  patterns that contribute to higher BMIs compared
  to white children.

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Organizational and Community Factors

• Fast-paced
• Career-oriented
• Limited access to treatment

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Ethical Issues

• Self-determination
• Autonomy
• Service
• Dignity and worth of the person

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Social Work Interventions

• Macro level
• health education
• lobby local units of government
• organize family events

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Social Work Interventions

• Micro level
• prenatal counseling
• family education
• counseling
• planning

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In Conclusion.

• Childhood obesity is a growing epidemic that
  disproportionately affects minorities.
• Childhood obesity is not just an individual
  disease with individual consequences, but a
  public health issue with many causes and effects.

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In Conclusion.

• Due to its multi-faceted nature, childhood
  obesity needs to be addressed ACROSS ALL HELPING
  PROFESSIONS in an INTERDISCIPLINARY MANNER
• In order to combat childhood obesity we must
  involve FAMILIES, not just the obese child

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Any Questions?