Childhood obesity is a genuine concern. What are some of the factors that have contributed to this epidemic?
Obesity among children is a result of energy intake and expenditure imbalance. The body metabolism of children determines thie energy expenditure during normal resting functions. Much of the imbalance is brought about by harmful lifestyles and dietary intake preferences. However, an individual’s genetic background also plays a significant role in determining the risk of obesity; it is one of the main factors that cause childhood obesity. However, genetic susceptibility only cannot cause obesity. It has to be influenced by other factors such as behavioral and environmental factors ( Wangmo et al.,2019) . Thus, dietary intake, sedentary behavior, and physical activity are the main factors that have contributed to the childhood obesity epidemic. These risk factors are moderated by aspects such as gender and age. Additionally, social factors such as demographics, school policies for school-going children, and parents' work-related demands also influence children's feeding activity. For instance, parents who are too busy at work end up feeding their children fast foods, contributing to the children's poor feeding habits.
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Do you think people have the right to make their own food choices, even if they are
unhealthy ones, or is it the government's responsibility to legislate healthy food choices (like limiting the size of sodas in New York City or banning sweets in school cafeterias) to prevent obesity-related health issues?
The government influences policies and programs that affect the process and supply of agricultural products and other food factors. Thus, the government only indirectly affects the food choice process, but it is the will of the individual to decide whether to follow the dietary regulations. However, through the department of public health, the government passes policy options, restrictions, mandates, environmental defaults, and economic incentives to reduce overeating and improve diet quality. In the United States, there has been a rampant increase in sugar-sweetened beverages, including sodas. New York, for instance, passed the sugary drinks portion cap rule that prohibited the sale of sweetened drinks exceeding 16 ounces ( Sisti et al.,2020) . This initiative is great because it creates lifetime preferences among the people by realizing that certain foods and drinks can cause diabetes, heart attack, and cancer. Therefore, bypassing such rules, the government is taking the initiative towards reducing obesity rates.
References
Sisti, J. S., Mezzacca, T. A., Anekwe, A., & Farley, S. M. (2020). Examining trends in beverage sales in New York City during comprehensive efforts to reduce sugary drink consumption, 2010–2015. Journal of Community Health , 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-020-00911-y
Wangmo, C., Tejativaddhana, P., Cruickshank, M., & Briggs, D. (2019). Contributors to childhood obesity in Bhutan: The views of PHC workers and school staff. Texila International Journal of Public Health , 7 (3), 1-6. 10.21522/TIJPH.2013.07.03.Art010
