Is childhood obesity a parent's responsibility?

Obesity awareness is a global phenomenon. It has taken over smoking as the leading cause of premature death and it is a disease that affects both adults as well as children. However, the focus seems to be directed towards the younger generation, as Childhood Obesity is increasingly becoming a major concern.

This paper will be discussing two main causes among many, reported to be responsible for the increase in Childhood Obesity. These causes, however, are manageable with parental discipline therefore causing parents to be responsible for their children’s excessive weight gain.

It is obvious to point out that the leading country suffering from obesity is America with one third of the children suffering from it, Mexico comes in at second place and surprisingly New Zealand with a case of 10% of children suffering from the disease. Australia is in fourth place with an estimated 8.2%.

Reports and researchers have argued that parents are morally and causally responsible for the obesity of their children. Among the factors predisposing to obesity, the first one I will discuss is a sedentary lifestyle introduced through the rise of technology. Most researchers jump to the conclusion that technology, itself, is responsible for the rise in children’s waistlines. But what they fail to point out, is that, parents are the family’s main source of income therefore giving them authority to make decisions.

A recent report from NZ Ministry of Health shows that 53% of children in NZ watch TV for two or more hours therefore spending more time screen-viewing instead of exercising. A child needs a minimum of an hour exercise per day and shouldn’t be allowed to stay sedentary more than an hour at a time. Parents should be more encouraging towards physical activities instead of allowing technology, in their household, to become a constant companion providing value, convenience and entertainment. Unless there is a strict control over the use of media in their households, children are exposed to an early sedentary life and less exposure to physical activities.  

Associated with screen-viewing is the exposure to a significant amount of food and drinks advertisements  aimed specifically at children. These ads are by its’ nature very exploitative. Children do not understand the persuasive intent of advertising and they have a remarkable ability to recall content from ads they have been exposed too. Products preferences affect children’s purchase requests and these requests influence parental decisions especially hard-working parents. Another reason parents need a strict control over media use.

This cause leads us to another explanation for childhood obesity which is the easy access to high energy food. We live in an obesogenic environment where there is a higher concentration of fast food restaurants in the cities and neighbourhoods within walking distance of each other. The way we eat and what we eat has dramatically changed. A report from the NZ Restaurant Association details that "Kiwis ate their way through $1.5 billion worth of takeaway last year, a 25% rise in four years". Fast food outlets give consumers more of a choice that what supermarkets have to offer. A family can spend $10 on a takeaway meal for four consisting of 2 fish, 2 sausages and $3 chips. You would find it very hard to feed a family of four, in a supermarket for $10. These fast food restaurants seem to cater not only for low-income families but also hard-working families who do not have time to prepare a home-cooked meal.

Fast food outlets catering for low-income families is a whole different topic by itself. Because until theses fast food chains start selling grilled salmon fillet with a side of steamed vegetable with the ease and speed of a greasy burger, this problem isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

However, good dietary habits starts at home. Parents are morally and causally responsible for the obesity of their children. Both causes discussed above are manageable through parental discipline and a strict control over the children’s behaviour and habits. Children are influenced by their upbringing and they carry it with them their whole lives. Researchers have found children are more likely to eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables per day if their parents do so as well. Contrarily, the same is said about fast food consumption.

Parents also have control over the possibilities of physical activities per day. Exercise doesn’t have to be formal and structured, however, instead of manipulating joysticks, remote controls and keyboards, parents should encourage the use of playgrounds and/or taking up a sport as entertainment. It will allow the children not only to be mobile but also to be out in the fresh air instead of being exposed to exploitative media and a sedentary lifestyle.

Obesity is gradually becoming a huge social problem however obesity damage control can start in the safety of home. Parents are the primary role models for their children and if these childhood obesity issues are unaddressed, beginning at home, this trend is very likely to continue and expand into the child’s adult life.





References:
http://www.health.govt.nz/health-new-children-2011-12
http://www.mcdonalds.co.nz/families
http://www.unce.unr.edu/publications/files.pdf
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article-2013
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health-2012