Solutions to Childhood Obesity: Essay

The public health report

Child obesity is a major public health concern globally. More children are becoming obese or overweight, and this increases their risk of chronic diseases such as type II diabetes, cancer, and heart disease later in adulthood. As a result, governments and health organizations across the world are making efforts to curb and reduce the problem. An investigation of the leading health issues revealed that child obesity is one of the main concerns in the city. Therefore the current paper will focus on child obesity by identifying trends in the city, comparing them with national and global figures, identifying current or existing interventions, and making recommendations.

Child obesity statistics

Childhood obesity is a significant public health in. It is more prevalent in the area than in the entire. The National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) collects data and determines the weight and weight of all children in learning institutions across. It is a reliable source of surveillance information which is vital in helping understand the trends and changes in underweight, recommended weight, overweight, and obesity in children. The most recent data on childhood obesity provided by NCMP is the 20192020 figures. The prevalence is also investigated at the local level. Between 2019 and 2020, approximately 25.5 percent of all year six children (10-11 years) (NHS Digital, 2021). The figure was higher than's, which was 23 percent (Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, 2021). For the reception group (4-5 years), the obesity rate was 10.3% percent between 2019 and 2020 compared to's value which was 9.9% (Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, 2021). The figures show that childhood obesity is a serious public health concern that must be addressed to achieve a healthy children population and prevent its adverse outcomes.

Childhood obesity in both and continues to have an upward trend. In the past decade, childhood obesity in the whole of has increased by an estimated 1.9 percent (Greater Authority, 2018). Most boroughs have a prevalence that is more than's between 2009 and 2021. Boroughs such as Barking and Dagenham had the highest child obesity rates between 2019 and 2020 (Public Health, 2022). Also, they had the highest figures since 20092010 (Public Health, 2018). They recorded a 5.7 growth in the number of children with obesity or who are overweight. However, although most boroughs experienced a surge in childhood obesity rates between 20092010 and 20192020, ten of them experienced a reduction in their figures. Areas such as Fulham and Hammersmith had the largest reduction (6.3 percent) in childhood obesity figures in the past decade (Trust for, 2021). Approximately 40 percent of all children living in qualify as obese or overweight (Greater Authority, 2022). 13.3 percent of all reception children in deprived regions are obese compared to only 6 percent in the least deprived parts (NHS Digital, 2020). Additionally, 27.5 percent of year six children in highly deprived areas suffer from obesity compared to 11.9 percent in the least deprived regions (NHS Digital, 2020). The highest rates are found in areas experiencing the highest level of deprivation, as found in's health inequalities report.

Existing evidence indicates that boys have a higher risk of becoming obese compared to girls in. experience substantial inequalities, which is why the risk of childhood obesity is highest in areas facing the most deprivation (London.gov., 2011). In addition, children from specific ethnic minority groups face an increased risk of developing obesity or becoming overweight. Such ethnic groups include Black Caribbean, Africans, and people from Bangladesh (London's Child Obesity Taskforce, 2022). However, according to the National Obesity Observatory, although there exists a relationship between childhood obesity and ethnicity, the correlation is not as strong as the one between the condition and deprivation. Variations in weight between different ethnic groups can be associated with body composition and different physical attributes, including height. It is anticipated that almost a quarter of all young individuals below the age of twenty will be obese by 2050.

The World Health Organization defines childhood obesity as more than 2SD above the growth reference median in individuals between 5-19 years (WHO, 2021). Most people across the world live in areas where obesity and overweight have high mortality compared to underweight. WHO estimates indicate that in 2020, there were 39 million children below the age of five years identified as obese or overweight (WHO, 2021). Moreover, more than 340 million individuals between 5-19 years were either obese or overweight in the 2016 estimates (WHO, 2021). In 2019, approximately 38.2 million kids below five years were diagnosed with either obesity or overweight globally (WHO, 2021). Obesity was considered a problem for developed or wealthy countries in the past. However, currently, it is a significant public health concern in many developing countries, especially in urban areas. Since 2004, the number of children below the age of five years with obesity in Africa has increased by almost 24 percent (WHO, 2021). In Asia, almost 50 percent of all children below five years were obese in 2019 (WHO, 2021). In 1975, the number of children with obesity was just 4 percent globally, and by 2016 the prevalence was more than 18 percent throughout the world. However, compared to, where boys have an elevated risk of obesity, global figures indicate that girls are at a higher risk of obesity or overweight than boys. Although the global prevalence is higher than's, similar trends are observed. In, and the entire world, childhood obesity prevalence rates continue to increase substantially.

Social determinants of health and child obesity prevalence in London

Existing studies indicate that, at the basic level, obesity is linked to an imbalance in the number of calories consumed and used. When individuals consume more calories than they burn, their risk of becoming obese is high. However, obesity is not all about calories and physical activity levels (London Health Commission, 2012). Many other underlying causes of obesity include economic, social, and cultural factors that determine people's lifestyles. Childhood obesity is associated with different social determinants of health. Such factors include household income, poverty, parental education, housing, gender, and access to health promotion resources and services (Hu et al., 2021 p.2). Also, other factors such as exposure to increased advertising and availability or access to unhealthy foods are risk factors for childhood obesity.

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Although living in one of the best cities in terms of economic performance globally, most experience socioeconomic challenges. These results in finding it difficult to make ends meet, afford quality housing, or find decent employment to rise above the poverty line. Consequently, poverty levels are higher than in other parts of. Across different indicators, there is a wide gap between dwellers who are at the low-income level and those who are socioeconomically well-off in the rest of the country. The number of individuals living in poverty has increased with population growth in the past few years. Currently, there are approximately 2.3 million individuals living in. More than 37 percent of the children living in come from households that live below the set poverty line. Although the rate of poverty among children in the city has reduced in the past 15 years, the last three years have experienced an increase, and the rate remains higher than for any other part of. An estimated 300,000 children living in inner are from economically disadvantaged households (Office for National Statistics, 2021). Also, approximately 400,000 children living in outer experience poverty (Office for National Statistics, 2021). Although child poverty levels in the inner have reduced in the past couple of years, they are still significantly higher than in other areas. Two out of every three children from poverty-stricken households are working families (Office for National Statistics, 2021). Although the number of children experiencing material deprivation has reduced, more than one in every eight children in the city is materially deprived (Office for National Statistics, 2021). In addition, at least one in every five children experiences persistent poverty.

Poverty affects even working-class individuals. Approximately 1.4 million individuals in the working-age category live in relative poverty, while one in every seven is persistently poor (Office of National Statistics, 2022). Individuals living in rented houses, the unemployed, and the physically challenged have the highest risk of poverty. According to Office for National Statistics (2011), is the only place in the U.K. where housing costs escalate poverty levels within the pensioner population. However, when housing costs are not considered, the poverty rate is lowest throughout the country. According to Trust for (2022), after housing expenses, 27 percent of the people living in are economically disadvantaged or poor. In addition, 56,000 households in the city live in temporary accommodation. The cost of housing is high when compared to other parts of the U.K. The unemployment rate by the end of 2021 was 5.2 percent, which is higher than the national average of 4.1 (HESA, 2022). Therefore, for every 1,000 individuals living in, 262 are unemployed. In addition, only 1.0 percent of individuals from low-participating neighborhoods are degree students (Higher Education Statistics Agency, 2022). The figure is significantly lower compared to other areas such as North East (22.6 percent) and Yorkshire (18.9 percent) (Office for National Statistics, 2011). Therefore, ethnic minority groups have the lowest education attainment.

Services and healthcare for childhood obesity in London

The NHS Child Health Digital Hub was established to empower parents and caregivers to track their children's health and growth. It provides a digital ebook, an online version of the health record that parents receive at the birth of their children. The NHS has been ensuring that the service is reaching allers, especially the vulnerable populations in the community. According to the Health Commission (2012), the hub would ensure that boroughs have the data needed to address inequalities by focusing support on the areas that need it most. Also, the city of has implemented breastfeeding initiatives to reduce childhood obesity rates in its boroughs (London's Child Obesity Taskforce, 2022). Existing evidence indicates that children who are breastfed as recommended are less likely to become obese. However, although it is beneficial, breastfeeding faces some challenges leading to the need for more support for families to initiate and maintain the practice. Women from low-income households or deprived parts of are less likely to initiate and sustain breastfeeding (London's Child Obesity Taskforce, 2022). Most boroughs have adopted the UNICEF Baby-Friendly Initiative in maternities and community services. Also, healthcare services are improving their support in perinatal and postnatal care.

The local government introduced the Healthy Early Years program to improve children's health. The initiative supports more than 13,000 children in different early childhood centers by boosting their health as they play and learn. It reinforces healthy behaviors such as healthy eating, engagement in physical activity, and social and psychological health. In addition, the Healthy Schools program was initiated to help school children grow in healthy environments (London's Child Obesity Taskforce, 2022). More than 2,000 schools are registered under the initiative, and it was well-received in most deprived parts of the city. The initiative promotes children's health in all areas, including addressing the needs of the disabled and children with different special needs. In 2018, the mayor focused efforts on the Health and Social Care Devolution to enhance the environment around learning institutions. The identified plans and activities to address issues like the food environment, food advertising, and the quality within the schools' environments. Pilot programs were implemented in neighborhoods experiencing poor health outcomes, such as the highest rates of childhood obesity, and they were successful.

In response to the high obesity rates, the local government established's Child Obesity Taskforce. The task force's purpose is to lead efforts to achieve and sustain a healthy weight in all children across. Furthermore, the task force seeks to develop environments that promote the health of all children living in the city and improve how families perceive diet and physical activity (London's Child Obesity Taskforce, 2022 p.2). The government can risk and prevalence of obesity in the community by doing so's Child Obesity Taskforce aims to reduce childhood obesity by 50 percent by 2030 (London's Child Obesity Taskforce, 2022 p.3). Cultural and physical activities are vital in achieving and sustaining a healthy weight in children and adolescents (Lopez, 2007 p.2111).'s local government adopted the Healthy Streets Approach to create an environment that promotes play for both children and families living in. The approach allows families and children to play, walk, and even cycle, thus increasing physical activity levels.

Impact on Urban Health is one of the charities tackling childhood obesity. The organization has implemented a ten-year program to enhance children's health by addressing obesity (Impact on Urban Health, 2022). The agency works in all the boroughs and pays more attention to areas such as Lambeth and Southwark, which have the highest rates of child obesity. Urban Health works to alter the food environment in areas where families and kids spend time ensuring that healthy eating becomes the easiest choice. In addition, the organization is trying to reduce the unhealthy food that floods the food markets in Lambeth and Southwark (Impact on Urban Healthy, 2022). Additionally, the organization collaborates with's Child Obesity Taskforce. By doing so, the charity hopes to reduce childhood obesity and encourage other neighborhoods, especially low-income ones, to adopt the strategies. Other charities working to reduce and prevent childhood obesity include Guy's and St Thomas' Charity and Sustrans.

Nurses play a critical role in health promotion. The WHO explains health promotion as a process to help individuals have more control over and enhance their health (WHO, 2021). One of the essential roles they play is that of an educator. Nursing professionals spend most of their time working with patients and giving guidance on different health matters, including diet and nutrition.