Childhood Obesity is a major contributor to the global burden of chronic disease and disability (Marks et al., 2018). Mostly it is caused due to the excessive accumulation of fat in the body but genetic, life lifestyle factors can be the reason for obesity (Deacon-Crouch et al., 2018). It is one of the most serious and growing public health concerns in Australia. Children in remote and rural areas of Australia are more likely to be obese than those who live in major cities, particularly children who are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander or who have low socioeconomic status (Sherriff et al., 2019). This poster will focus on the impact of childhood obesity in Indigenous children age group 5-17 in rural areas of Queensland, the impact on individual, community, and population levels, and different changes which will help to reduce the impact, and an action plan to prevent childhood obesity.
Childhood obesity has a profound impact on indigenous Australian children particularly in a rural area of Queensland (The Health of Queenslanders, 2016). Obesity prevalence is significantly higher in Indigenous Australian children than in non-indigenous. According to The Health of Queenslander (2018), 30% of children age group 5-17 years were overweight or obese, among them 17% were overweight and 13% were obese in Queensland and the rate is increasing trend. Now, talking about individual children, the major impact of this is that, it increases the risk of different chronic diseases such as cardiovascular, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease (Mark et al., 2018). According to research, aboriginal children in Australia have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus which is 18 times higher in comparison to non-aboriginal children (Sainsbury et al., 2018). Likewise, they are also more likely to have breathing problems such as asthma, sleep apnoea, and different joints and musculoskeletal problems which will be causes of reduced life expectancy in later life (AIHW, 2018). In addition to physical health problems, overweight and obese children are victimized by negative comments and bullying by peers, which leads to low self-esteem, poor peer relationships, and reduced psychological well-being (AIHW, 2018).
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Similarly, childhood obesity has social as well as economic consequences throughout the life of indigenous children, which has an impact on the community as well. According to The Health of Queenslander (2018), childhood obesity has a major role in economic burden. If the child is obese this increases the health care costs and cost of loss of productivity. In Queensland, the government spent around 1.72 billion on childhood obesity in 2015 which is a huge amount for the government that can be spent on other development, (The Health of Queenslander, 2018). Not only this, childhood obesity will play a key role in the unhealthy communities in the future, in Queensland, 2016 data showed 1 in 14 children were obese if this trend continues by 2026 there will be 250000 overweight and obese children (The Health of Queenslander, 2016). Such outcomes may affect in healthy generation in the future including indigenous children.
In the context of population, obesity is the second biggest contributor (16%) to the health gap between nonindigenous and indigenous Australians, which is the major burden of morbidity and mortality among indigenous Australians (Sherriff et al., 2019). One of the major influences experienced by the aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations in Australia is the disproportion rate in mortality and morbidity as compared to non-Indigenous Australians, which is a 10-year gap in average life expectancy, obesity is the major contributor to this gap which starts from childhood (Thurber et al., 2015).
Childhood is a critical stage of life, and introduction of the early preventive measures can give lifetime rewards (Thurber et al., 2018). Childhood obesity needs to be recognized as a chronic disease, not a lifestyle choice. For that family, community, government, and even child need to work together to prevent and reduce the possible impact. Indigenous children age group 5-17 in Queensland, as they spend most of their time at school therefore, school education plays a key role in their obesity. Similarly, should be educated about healthy weight by eating healthy food and exercise for their children will help reduce the chances of developing major health problems in later life (Sherriff et al., 2019). Along with this, childhood is a critical period for physical, psychological, and social development so it is necessary to put intense care which will stop young children become overweight in the early stage of childhood this will also improve their social and emotional well-being throughout the life (Marks et al., 2018).
There is no doubt that diet and physical activity play an important role. However, socioeconomic, environmental, and cultural factors at the community level have a strong relation to reducing the possible impact of childhood obesity in community settings (Gittelsohn et al., 2019). For indigenous communities in rural areas of Queensland, as we know social determinants of health are largely influenced by economic status. Children are particularly vulnerable to the conditions associated with poverty, such as food insecurity, and inadequate housing which are associated with socioeconomic status and obesity (Thurber et al., 2014). According to Thurber et al., (2014), reducing the gap between Indigenous and non-indigenous regarding health status, employment, housing, social welfare, and community development are important factors so different actions such as employment opportunities, housing facilities, and free food and encourage them for physical activity is necessary. By conducting this short-term program childhood obesity can be controlled in a long-term setting.
In the case of population, monitoring body weight and guidelines on healthy eating play a crucial role. Research indicates that a high number of unhealthy food marketing in media are exposed to children in Australia including outdoor advertisements, through commercial television which influence children’s attitudes and result in subsequent food consumption (Sainsbury et al., 2018). For that, it is necessary to limit food marketing. The government should impose a high rate of taxes on unhealthy food at regional, state, and national levels. Australia’s national preventive health taskforce highlighted the importance of restricting the inappropriate marketing of unhealthy food and beverages to children as a cost-effective intervention (Sherriff et al., 2019).
Planning and implementation are a must for early intervention of childhood obesity (Sainsbury et al., 2018). Different approaches will be essential to prevent this. Education regarding diet and exercise is the most important strategy for children and parents for early detection and prevention of childhood obesity (Gittelsohn et al., 2019). For that, the nurse plays a vital role in influencing health promotion, preventive screening, and disease preventive activities. Firstly, the nurse needs to assess children’s dietary habits, activity, and sedentary behavior as well as environmental and socio cultural factors. As indigenous communities have their own culture and dietary patterns improving the accessibility, affordability, and acceptability of healthy food in indigenous communities in rural areas by using a community approach is necessary (Chiang et al., 2015).
Similarly, indigenous people have trust issues due to racial discrimination and unequal distribution of resources in the past therefore nurse needs to build trustful relationships by communicating and home visits if necessary. When nurse builds trust, it will be easier to provide education regarding childhood obesity. After assessment, the nurse needs to provide education about the importance of a nutritious diet. In rural areas, it is difficult to eat fresh fruits and vegetables every day so nurses should encourage them to grow vegetables in their gardens which will help to save money as well (Sherriff et al., 2019). Not only parents but also school nurses should highlight healthy eating and encourage nutritious diets such as fruits and vegetables instead of chocolate in the classroom area. Physical activity is a key aspect of healthy weight (Chiang et al., 2015). The nurse needs to collaborate with educators and other supportive staff to promote physical activity which focusesone age activities including dancing, walking, walking, and blankedancingce in school.
Similarly, another important role of the school nurse is to do anthropometric measurements by collaborating with children and community members. It is the objective measure to check the weight of the person including body mass, waist circumference, body fat, and skin fold thickness (Thurber et al., 2018). This measure is effective in tracking a child’s growth and development which will be helpful for the early detection of obesity and prevention on time. Along with this, the nurse can work by coordinating with the resources available to the community to promote healthy eating and can support and facilitate the integration of health and nutrition education programs that are run by the government (AIHW, 2017). Parenting, Eating and Activity for Child Health (PEACH) program is running in Queensland which is family family-based life style intervention (Miller et al., 2019). So nurses can collaborate and be involved in that program for obesity intervention. Lastly, the nurse can monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the family approach to healthy eating and physical activity and can advocate and support when needed.
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