Childhood Obesity
Nutrition and eating patterns are common factors leading to obesity that can begin at birth. Often parents eating habits are passed onto their children giving them their own bad practices for life. This sets up children for future health problems along with social implications. Household environments for children can become the early factors leading to obesity by not only what they eat at home, but at what time, in what context, and how often.
1. Household, Parent, and Child Contributions to Childhood Obesity
http://library.cocc.edu:2087/view/01976664/ap020084/02a00080/0?currentResult=01976664+ap020084+02a00080+0,FF01&searchUrl=http://www.jstor.org/search/BasicResults?hp=25&si=1&Query=child+obesity
Sara Gable; Susan Lutz
Family Relations, Vol. 49, No. 3. (Jul., 2000), pp. 293-300.
An increase in child obesity has become a serious public health concern. By examining the household environment, parenting beliefs, and child characteristics of obese and non-obese children, this article tries to distinguish which children are at risk by non-physical elements of their lives. One strategy this author takes is instead of examining adult obesiety, focus more attention in the development of obesity in children. Childhood obesiety is not caused by one factor, rather an array of elements including pediatric nutrition, family demographics, child televison viewing, and physical activity. Obesiety is an interaction of these elements which make direct and indirect contributions to children’s health.
2. Nutrition, Activity, and Health in Children
http://library.cocc.edu:2087/view/00846570/di982518/98p0024l/0?frame=noframe&userID=8cd3188e@cocc.edu/01cc993322375c10ee3d40a14&dpi=3&config=jstor
Darna L. Dufour
Annual Review of Anthropology, Vol. 26. (1997), pp. 541-565.
This article makes associations between the amount of physical activity and nutrition in children ages 1 to 10. Energy balance, which refers to the eqiulibrium between food intake and energy expenditure, is one approach to better understand nutritional adaptation in children. Physical acitivity in children is considered essential for optimal growth, development, and health. Is it possible that physical acitvity is protective against child obesity? The authors research focues on four broad areas; the effects of undernutrition or physical acitivity in young children, habitual levels of physical activity in healthy children, the relationship between industrialized countries, fatness, and health in children, and also accesses how physical activity is a component of total daily expenditure.
3. Age and Sex Differences in Values toward Physical Handicaps
http://library.cocc.edu:2087/view/00221465/di976033/97p06826/0?frame=noframe&userID=8cd3188e@cocc.edu/01cc993322375c10ee3d40a14&dpi=3&config=jstor
Stephen A. Richardson
Journal of Health and Social Behavior, Vol. 11, No. 3. (Sep., 1970), pp. 207-214.
How do children view their peers with physical handicaps, obesity being one of them? Children from kindergarten to high school and their parents were studied on their values towards various disabilities. The studied concluded that there is a widespread preference for non-handicapped over the handicapped children and certain disabilities are preferred more then other disabilities. It was found that a functional handicap (obesity) was favored more by adults then other adolescents. As age increased, adolescents slowly started preferring that more then other disabilities. With increasing age the children’s preferences come closer to those of the parents. The lowest point of agreement between males and females is around the 6th grade, where puberty suggests different preferences towards obesity while going through this transition. How obesity is viewed by peers changes along with age.
4. Social Location, Significant Others and Body Image Among Adolescents
http://library.cocc.edu:2087/view/01902725/dm993227/99p0389u/0?searchUrl=http%3a//www.jstor.org/search/BasicResults%3fhp%3d25%26si%3d26%26Query%3dchild%2bobesity&citationAction=save&charset=u&frame=noframe&dpi=&userID=8cd3188e@cocc.edu/01cc993322375c10ee3d40a14¤tResult=01902725%2bdm993227%2b99p0389u%2b0%2c9601&config=&citationPath=01902725-dm993227-99p0389u&PAGE=0
Richard Levinson; Brian Powell; Lala Carr Steelman
Social Psychology Quarterly, Vol. 49, No. 4. (Dec., 1986), pp. 330-337
Examined in this study are social factors that affect the self-evaluations of body weight provided by more than 6500 adolescents. How an individual sees his/her physical exterior does not always coincide with their actual health. The high rates of life-threatening disorders (from obesity to anorexia) testify to the lack of objectivity that can occur with self-evaluations. Personal dissatisfaction and pressure for a preferred body type can lead to emotional eating and depression (direct link to obesity). Females not only criticize their own body types, they are judgmental of other women. Sex, race, and socioeconomic status all have differentiated desirable weight. The study concludes that body images are more likely to be self-derogatory then enhancing, females are more likely then males to be self-critical, more females view themselves as “too heavy”, and parental perceptions of body size are associated with the body images of adolescents.
5. Styles of Infant Feeding: Parental/Caretaker Control of Food Consumption in Young Children
http://library.cocc.edu:2087/view/00027294/ap020477/02a00100/0?currentResult=00027294%2bap020477%2b02a00100%2b0%2cFE01&searchUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jstor.org%2Fsearch%2FBasicResults%3Fhp%3D25%26si%3D26%26Query%3Dchild%2Bobesity
Katherine A. Dettwyler
American Anthropologist, New Series, Vol. 91, No. 3. (Sep., 1989), pp. 696-703.
The household that a child grows up in sets the stage for eating habits of its future. Various food distribution patterns lead to high rates of morbidity (obesity), especially for female children in particular. To study these styles of infant feeding the author asks questions such as what the child eats, when the child eats (how many times a day, on demand, snacks), how the child eats (uses hands or utensils, where in the house), the social context of the meal, and who controls what and how much the child eats. The author even suggests that the control of the food may be just as or more important then what is eaten. Family income is always directly translated into food.
Childhood obesity has multiple psychological and social consequences along with numerous health threats. How a child views themselves and how others view them changes along with age, but an obese child is most likely always viewed different from their peers then someone without a physical handicap. Eating habits for life start at home and parents need to be in control of what is consumed by their children.
Nutrition and eating patterns are common factors leading to obesity that can begin at birth. Often parents eating habits are passed onto their children giving them their own bad practices for life. This sets up children for future health problems along with social implications. Household environments for children can become the early factors leading to obesity by not only what they eat at home, but at what time, in what context, and how often.
1. Household, Parent, and Child Contributions to Childhood Obesity
http://library.cocc.edu:2087/view/01976664/ap020084/02a00080/0?currentResult=01976664+ap020084+02a00080+0,FF01&searchUrl=http://www.jstor.org/search/BasicResults?hp=25&si=1&Query=child+obesity
Sara Gable; Susan Lutz
Family Relations, Vol. 49, No. 3. (Jul., 2000), pp. 293-300.
An increase in child obesity has become a serious public health concern. By examining the household environment, parenting beliefs, and child characteristics of obese and non-obese children, this article tries to distinguish which children are at risk by non-physical elements of their lives. One strategy this author takes is instead of examining adult obesiety, focus more attention in the development of obesity in children. Childhood obesiety is not caused by one factor, rather an array of elements including pediatric nutrition, family demographics, child televison viewing, and physical activity. Obesiety is an interaction of these elements which make direct and indirect contributions to children’s health.
2. Nutrition, Activity, and Health in Children
http://library.cocc.edu:2087/view/00846570/di982518/98p0024l/0?frame=noframe&userID=8cd3188e@cocc.edu/01cc993322375c10ee3d40a14&dpi=3&config=jstor
Darna L. Dufour
Annual Review of Anthropology, Vol. 26. (1997), pp. 541-565.
This article makes associations between the amount of physical activity and nutrition in children ages 1 to 10. Energy balance, which refers to the eqiulibrium between food intake and energy expenditure, is one approach to better understand nutritional adaptation in children. Physical acitivity in children is considered essential for optimal growth, development, and health. Is it possible that physical acitvity is protective against child obesity? The authors research focues on four broad areas; the effects of undernutrition or physical acitivity in young children, habitual levels of physical activity in healthy children, the relationship between industrialized countries, fatness, and health in children, and also accesses how physical activity is a component of total daily expenditure.
3. Age and Sex Differences in Values toward Physical Handicaps
http://library.cocc.edu:2087/view/00221465/di976033/97p06826/0?frame=noframe&userID=8cd3188e@cocc.edu/01cc993322375c10ee3d40a14&dpi=3&config=jstor
Stephen A. Richardson
Journal of Health and Social Behavior, Vol. 11, No. 3. (Sep., 1970), pp. 207-214.
How do children view their peers with physical handicaps, obesity being one of them? Children from kindergarten to high school and their parents were studied on their values towards various disabilities. The studied concluded that there is a widespread preference for non-handicapped over the handicapped children and certain disabilities are preferred more then other disabilities. It was found that a functional handicap (obesity) was favored more by adults then other adolescents. As age increased, adolescents slowly started preferring that more then other disabilities. With increasing age the children’s preferences come closer to those of the parents. The lowest point of agreement between males and females is around the 6th grade, where puberty suggests different preferences towards obesity while going through this transition. How obesity is viewed by peers changes along with age.
4. Social Location, Significant Others and Body Image Among Adolescents
http://library.cocc.edu:2087/view/01902725/dm993227/99p0389u/0?searchUrl=http%3a//www.jstor.org/search/BasicResults%3fhp%3d25%26si%3d26%26Query%3dchild%2bobesity&citationAction=save&charset=u&frame=noframe&dpi=&userID=8cd3188e@cocc.edu/01cc993322375c10ee3d40a14¤tResult=01902725%2bdm993227%2b99p0389u%2b0%2c9601&config=&citationPath=01902725-dm993227-99p0389u&PAGE=0
Richard Levinson; Brian Powell; Lala Carr Steelman
Social Psychology Quarterly, Vol. 49, No. 4. (Dec., 1986), pp. 330-337
Examined in this study are social factors that affect the self-evaluations of body weight provided by more than 6500 adolescents. How an individual sees his/her physical exterior does not always coincide with their actual health. The high rates of life-threatening disorders (from obesity to anorexia) testify to the lack of objectivity that can occur with self-evaluations. Personal dissatisfaction and pressure for a preferred body type can lead to emotional eating and depression (direct link to obesity). Females not only criticize their own body types, they are judgmental of other women. Sex, race, and socioeconomic status all have differentiated desirable weight. The study concludes that body images are more likely to be self-derogatory then enhancing, females are more likely then males to be self-critical, more females view themselves as “too heavy”, and parental perceptions of body size are associated with the body images of adolescents.
5. Styles of Infant Feeding: Parental/Caretaker Control of Food Consumption in Young Children
http://library.cocc.edu:2087/view/00027294/ap020477/02a00100/0?currentResult=00027294%2bap020477%2b02a00100%2b0%2cFE01&searchUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jstor.org%2Fsearch%2FBasicResults%3Fhp%3D25%26si%3D26%26Query%3Dchild%2Bobesity
Katherine A. Dettwyler
American Anthropologist, New Series, Vol. 91, No. 3. (Sep., 1989), pp. 696-703.
The household that a child grows up in sets the stage for eating habits of its future. Various food distribution patterns lead to high rates of morbidity (obesity), especially for female children in particular. To study these styles of infant feeding the author asks questions such as what the child eats, when the child eats (how many times a day, on demand, snacks), how the child eats (uses hands or utensils, where in the house), the social context of the meal, and who controls what and how much the child eats. The author even suggests that the control of the food may be just as or more important then what is eaten. Family income is always directly translated into food.
Childhood obesity has multiple psychological and social consequences along with numerous health threats. How a child views themselves and how others view them changes along with age, but an obese child is most likely always viewed different from their peers then someone without a physical handicap. Eating habits for life start at home and parents need to be in control of what is consumed by their children.
3 comments:
From Clint, in response to Stef Weed, Childhood Obesity--- "the household that a child grows up in sets the stage for eating habits of its [the childs] future". I agree that the household a child grows up in plays a major role in a childs eating, playing/physical activities...and self image. Under the Social Imagination childhood obesity has moved from private troubles to public issue over the last ten years. The problem has been around longer, but only in the last few years has it been made a major public health issue. Herbert Spencer would possibly look at this issue as a strian on the social system (that biological organism). The social conflict approach to childhood obesity would look at how factors such as class, race, ethnicity, gender, and age are linked to the problem. Are those with social advatages less likely to have obese children then those with lower standards of living? Karl Marx would probably put the blame on the capitalists control of the super structures and social institutions, which I believe also play a role in many aspects of our daily lives. Back to Durkheim mixed with a little conflict theory, these institutions wether it be government or media have been pushing down our throats all the wonderful products, abudence of materialistic creature comforts, fast food etc...and how in the U.S. more is better. This has been a manifest function making life easier and more enjoyable through all the wonderful products out there; however, the latent functions have been numerous and one of those latent functions is childhood obesity. When dealing with "body image among adolesents" Cooley's looking glass self (a self-image based on how we think others see us) plays a role in childhood obesity. That "personal dissatisfaction and pressure for a preferred body type can lead to emotional eating and depression". The fact that kids prefer other handicapps to obesity which changed with age was interesting. I've seen what happens to children when the parents take a positive and proactive approach to changing obese childrens nutrition and activity. Not only do the children become more healthy, but the parents also reap the reward of better health physically and pschologically. Going from bad health (obesity) to good health in children and adults alike can change how we and society view ourselves changing that ascribed status or I should say stigma of being obese and achieving a higher status of societal acceptance.
From Sally C:
To Steph W
I think this is a very important subject to look at. More and more kids are becoming obese and contributing to Type 2 Diabetes which is starting earlier and earlier. I can see as a single mother working and going to school it is very difficult to put nutrious food on the table all the time. I think obesity relates to the symbolic-interaction theory in that we are labeling kids obese. The media portrays kids as being super-thin so kids think that they are obese even though they are the right body size for them. There is also the challenge of the high cost of healthy foods. My question regarding this is: Why is it so expensive to buy healthy foods? Who are the people creating the prices? With health care being so expensive why not allow families the opportunity to give their children healthy foods instead of processed foods. With this said, I think that obesity can also relate to the conflict theory.
Kelly B-
I really enjoyed reading your articles; I think you did a really wonderful job summarizing them. Some of the points I really liked were the media is controlled by healthy and wealthy people. I think that is a good point to make to readers. I also liked the points you made about how our country looks at obesity. I think the image at the end of the articles was also beneficial, nice touch! You also had some really good articles and they were set up nicely in the blog site. Some things I would change may be, I might change your articles to talk about these subjects from a more sociological perspective. But overall you did a very nice job!
-Kelly F
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