Reducing Obesity in Youth Act of 2018: Healthcare Policy and Eating Habits

An epidemic plaguing the United States currently is childhood obesity. The problem is extremely significant and it continues to increase at an alarming rate. (Childhood Obesity Facts, 2019), found that 13.9% of children between the ages of 2-5, 18.4% of children 6-11, and 20.6% of adolescent children are obese. If these rates continue to climb in this direction the United States children will enter their adulthood obese. (Finkelstein, et al., 2012), has a prediction of 51% of Americans becoming obese in 2030 and 9% will be severely obese.

The prevalence of obesity increases later in life if a person is obese early in their childhood. Furthermore, reaching adulthood being obese will eventually lead to chronic health problems. There are many common co-morbidities associated with obesity such as hypertension, orthopedic issues, obstructive sleep apnea, asthma, hypercholesterolemia, dental problems, metabolic disorders, and diseases of the liver causing excessive fat buildup (Pulgaron & Delamater, 2014). There are also psychological effects that obesity can have on children that can follow them into adulthood. These children are known to have major depressive disorders along with anxiety problems, bulimia and or anorexia, and even discrimination by peers (Buttitta, Iliescu, Rousseau, & Guerrien, 2014). Obese children have an increased risk of being bullied. Bullying could lead to suicidal behaviors in young and adolescent children.

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Another aspect to consider is children’s screen time exposure and how it affects obesity. Screen time is now shown to increase children’s risk to become obese. Robinson et al. (2017), found that the present data points to a link between excessive electronic devices and TV usage to obesity in children and adolescents. The linkage is thought to be related to mindless eating while watching screen devices. While watching one is exposed to the marketing of high-calorie, low-nutritious foods and beverages. With this exposure, children have the impulse to request their parents to purchase these items. With all of the evidence shown linking screen time and obesity education needed to be provided.

Congress recognizes the magnitude of childhood obesity and what the future holds for American citizens. This recognition by Congress permitted an amendment of the Public Health Service Act, to hopefully encourage children to partake in healthy eating and physical activities. According to (Rose-Malm, 2016), The Reducing Obesity in Youth Act of 2018 would revise the Public Health Service Act. In doing so, local organizations will receive five-year grants from the Secretary of Health and Human Services. For those organizations to qualify for the grants one will need expertise in early childhood health and obesity or a facility of higher research or education. This policy paper will start with factors and or rationales that led to this policy. Furthermore, the body of this paper will examine how healthcare can positively gain from this policy, the price associated with the policy, its influence on stakeholder satisfaction, and its impact on clinical results.

Factors Leading to the Development of Policy

Xu and Xue (2015), stated that of the children in America, at least 34% are obese. The first year of life is when eating patterns develop. These patterns develop by the personal experience with food and by noticing the eating habits of others. As children age, they are not eating the nutrients that are needed for a balanced diet. There is an unwillingness to try and accept certain categories of foods. One said rejected food category would be vegetables which lead to uneaten health nutrients (Parental Influence on Children's Eating Habits, 2012). Another thing to consider is the portion size of meals offered which can lead to increased weight gain.

Parents also play an important part in the relationship children will play with food. Frequently eating at restaurants and fast food establishments more than once a week can also contribute to obesity. The types of food at home can contribute to excess pounds. If sugary, high-caloric foods and nutrient-poor snacks are available this is what a child will prefer. Sugary beverages either soda or juice can also pack on the pounds. Modeling good eating habits will encourage children to eat the proper foods from all food groups. Moreover, eating a well-balanced diet that consists of all basic food groups can help children with the prevention of obesity.

Physical activity is quickly becoming a thing of the past for children. All children need to be physically active each day. Children aged 6 and older should participate for 60 minutes every day and children younger need active play (Energy Out: Daily Physical Activity Recommendations, 2014). When children are lacking regular exercise it can be one of the huge contributing factors linked to obesity. In the story, Neumark-Stainzer, and French stated, (as cited in Sahoo et al., 2015, activity level sect. para. 1), excessive time on electronic devices and TV can correspond with the intake of the advertised goods viewed during screen time activity.

Obese youth can be subjected to bullying and harassment from peers. This can turn to low self-esteem and body dissatisfaction. Seminary, Shim, Mattox, and Holden (2012), showed a difference between obese and normal-weight children and found there is a higher incidence of poorer academic success, anxiety, depression and even increased suicide attempts.

Benefits to healthcare

This policy will help provide education on better eating habits, the benefits of physical activity, and limiting screen time. If children develop better eating habits at an early age it will follow them throughout their lives. When children maintain a healthy weight, they decrease the chances of developing complications associated with obesity. Such complications are type 2 diabetes, hypertension, renal disease, and fatty liver disease (Pandita, 2016). If physical activity is increased it can help prevent hypertension, improve circulation, prevent bone loss, and can increase longevity of life (Why is physical activity so important for health and well-being? 2017). A savings of approximately $147 to $210 billion a year for the United States can be obtained with this bill (The Healthcare Costs of Obesity, n.d.).

Costs related to the policy

Under this policy, qualified bodies will be accoladed by 5-year grants. Children from birth to age five will benefit from said grants. These grants will provide education that promotes better eating habits and physical activity. $4,000,000 will be set aside per fiscal year from 2019-2023. In the fiscal year of 2019, the State must be traced to show how the funds are being used for obesity prevention. Therefore $1,700,000 will be allotted for this task to be achieved. A total of $21,700,00 over five years will be used. The manpower that will be needed for the policy comes in the form of trainers and trainees in early care and education focusing on obesity prevention. Furthermore, it will require more personnel to compile reports no more than 12 months after the program’s inception, to present to congress.

Impact on client satisfaction

The major stakeholder that will gain the most will be the parents and children that the policy targets. This will have the biggest impact because the educational benefits will follow both parents and child into adulthood and this can prevent obesity. Secondly, healthcare providers and insurance companies will have great contentedness with this policy. With parents and children following the obesity educational prevention programs, they will lead healthier lifestyles. Healthier lifestyles will therefore result in cost benefits to insurance companies. Lastly, the federal government will also be a huge benefactor due to the decreased funds that will no longer be required to spend on obesity.

Impact on clinical outcomes

There will be positive clinical outcomes from this policy. Research has shown that if obesity starts early in childhood it will follow and linger into adulthood. With the programs implemented the educational tools provided will help teach things from healthier food choices to becoming more physically active, and limiting screen time. If all of these interventions are set into place it can decrease the obesity rate in children ages birth to five. With the obesity rate reduction in children, healthcare providers will see a decrease in cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol as adults, just to name a few.

Increased physical activity will also have effective clinical outcomes. Some of the benefits include a decrease in heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, and certain types of cancer, and better memory and performance in school (Physical Activity Facts, 2018). A further decrease in anxiety and depression will also be an advantage of being more physically active. (Frieden, Dietz, & Collins, 2010), voiced that if children were active early then they would be active throughout adulthood.

Conclusion

In conclusion, childhood obesity is rapidly on the rise and it is listed as one of the most preventable diseases in the United States. Congress recognized there was a desperate need to intervene and presented The Reducing Obesity in Youth Act of 2018. Senator Tom Carper, a sponsor of this bill stated, “This legislation helps empower our kids by giving them the tools necessary to be their own advocates – learning the importance of staying active and developing good eating habits. When nearly one-third of our kids are already overweight or obese by the time they’re teenagers, all of us - parents, educators, businesses and health officials – need to work together to reverse this dangerous trend and give our kids a healthier future” (Booker, Nelson, Carper, Coons Reintroduce Bill to Combat Childhood Obesity, 2018).

Research has shown that the best way to combat the obesity crisis in the United States is through prevention. If obesity can be prevented it will be worth what children will have to endure as adults suffering from obesity.

References

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