Anticipating Fatness: Childhood, Affect and the Preemptive War on Obesity

In the United States, children are disproportionally affected by overweight as well as obesity, with epidemiological evidence that points to significant increase in the number of children and adolescents with obesity. The negative effect of obesity on children are significant and great general concern, given that children have an increased in the United States. In 2010, obesity rates numbered almost 50.3 million or 16% of the total number of children in the United States (Evans, 2010). Thus as this population increases the negative effects conferred by overweight and obesity will affect the entire nation, with great health care costs and higher rates of disability as well as decreased the ability for youths to be part of the force among other issues.

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Several factors contribute to the likelihood that a child will become obese. Genetics is certainly a contribution component, even though the genetic composition of the population has been stable over time, hence failing to account for an abrupt rise in obesity in recent years. Also, the inability to easily obtain notorious foods has been recognized as a contribution factor to the development of obesity and obesity-related diseases. Preventing obesity in children is important because the excess fat cells formed during this period are likely to continue throughout childhood and even into adulthood. Generally, obesity is caused by increased calorie intake combined with minimized physical activity. The amount of time wasted watching television, at a computer and playing video games usually takes away the time that a child could be participating in the active exercise. The probability of obesity as a contribution factor needs to be evaluated. Increased weight gain has been associated with central nervous system tumors, crushing syndrome, hypothyroidism, and Tuner syndrome.

Early identification of risk factors can target a child who needs special attention and support. Every child should be taught healthy eating habits and importance of regular exercise. School and community-based interventions have the possibility of assisting the prevention of obesity along with regular guidance from health providers. Regular assessments of obesity risk beginning in infancy alongside counseling of necessary diet and physical activity are requirements of childhood, as obesity prevention measures. Some overweight prevention studies have emphasized on only a single contributor of overweight diet. Sustainable weight control and overweight prevention need broader changes in lifestyle for various families. Measures to the prevention of obesity should impact on behavior around diet and activity but also include the family environment. Intervening to modify only diet or only activity is largely effective. Engaging in effective preventive programs is accompanied by a wider range of programs is also effective in controlling childhood obesity.

Food behaviors are a result of the social, physiological, and environmental impacts of a person food preference. The social meaning attached to food are not as deeply embedded in the minds as are emotional and biological meaning. Social symbol change as situations and experiences change. The behaviors that are most fundamental to preventing childhood obesity involves moderating food consumption and ensuring adequate physical activity. Overall it remains an open question about how voice is given to children in relation to medical care, social welfare interventions, and their schooling. The exact nature of the relationship between school, family, and leisure, as well as the power to balance between activities, continues to constitute a central concern for the sociological theory on the issue of obesity.

References

Evans, B. (2010). Anticipating fatness: childhood, affect and the preemptive war on obesity. Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers, 35(1), 21-38.