A child becomes obese once the body mass index (BMI) shift to more than 95%. A BMI below 85% is considered normal; however, between the range of 85% and 95%, a child is deemed overweight (An et al., 2020). These two variables of being overweight and obese affect the well-being of any child. The issue of being obese can be genetically inherited or result from consuming unhealthy food that includes high caloric snacks, and the body cannot burn it all (Lee & Yoon, 2018). The body of a child who is obese usually does not respond to insulin, a scenario that may bring about type 2 diabetes. Therefore, it is clear that the social class and environment in which a child is born play a significant role in determining their health conditions and feeding habits.
Socioeconomic Barriers
Geographical Location
The type of foods being consumed in the urban is different from those consumed in the rural areas. According to An et al. (2020), most parents utilize grandparent childcare in rural areas away from the urban centers, and their children turn out to be obese compared to those in the urban areas. The grandparents usually have those notions of associating heavy bodies with outstanding nutrition in that they opt to feed grandchildren, continuously undermining the importance of a well-balanced diet. An et al. (2020) claims that grandparents in a rural setting provide their grandchildren with unhealthy foods like sweets and sugary snacks to portray a sign of love and kindness. Unless they are taught the benefit of administering a balanced diet to children, the issue of child obesity may persist.
Psychographic factors
A comparison of childhood obesity between rich and poor households indicates interesting statistics. Children raised in low-income families are more likely to be affected by obesity than their counterparts of rich homes. The discrepancy can result from eating habits in that the children raised in poverty eat what is available, not necessarily following a well-balanced diet like those from rich families (Weihrauch-Blüher & Wiegand 2018). Children from wealthy families have access to physical training facilities in their homes. The gyms tend to keep them fit away from accumulating large amounts of sugars and fats.
Socioeconomic Supports
Geographical Location
In collaboration with the relevant health department, the government should provide workshop programs in the rural areas to educate the elderly on the importance of feeding their grandchildren with balanced deities. If possible, programs should be generated to help suggest meals to feed the children (Lee & Yoon, 2018). The government should also strongly prohibit the supply of high caloric foodstuffs to rural areas. Store owners who will be found selling prohibited snacks to underage children should be confronted, and sun actions should be taken against them. Initiatives aiming at encouraging the consumption of locally grown foodstuffs should be initiated.
Psychographic factors
The local government should provide free social centers that are equipped with children’s physical keeping facilities. All schools in the local setting should adopt lessons that teach physical education. These lessons should be mandatory for every student every day to ensure their physical fitness is well managed to reduce cases of childhood obesity. Each student should be taught the dangers of eating junky foods that contain huge amounts of fats and calories (Weihrauch-Blüher & Wiegand 2018). With the help of teachers, parents, and well-wishers, obese children should be identified and drawn into programs that will assist in reversing their obesity status. More researches should be conducted on childhood obesity to help identify long-term strategies that will help reduce cases of childhood obesity.
With the varsity changing environment of the manufacturing fraternity, parents should be keener on what their children consume. Investors are not interested in the well-being of humanity, instead focus on profits. Children’s eating habits in a rural setting should be well monitored to ensure a balanced diet. The government and its corresponding active stakeholders in the health department should pay close attention to the general manufacturing industries.
References
An, R., Xiang, X., Xu, N., & Shen, J. (2020). Influence of grandparental child care on childhood obesity: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Childhood Obesity, 16(3), 141-153. Web.
Lee, E. Y., & Yoon, K. H. (2018). Epidemic obesity in children and adolescents: Risk factors and prevention. Frontiers of Medicine, 12(6), 658-666. Web.
Weihrauch-Blüher, S., & Wiegand, S. (2018). Risk factors and implications of childhood obesity. Current Obesity Reports, 7(4), 254-259. Web.