Is Physical Activity an Effective Tool to Combat the Childhood Obesity Epidemic? By: Megan Wells March 1, 2016 Abstract: The high prevalence of childhood obesity and the importance of physical activity in children are two messages frequently observed throughout society today. This paper analyzes the Center for Disease Control and Prevention s promotion of physical activity in children through their recommended physical activity guidelines they present for children as an active way to combat physical activity. Reviews and analyses were conducted for multiple peer-reviewed scientific journal articles to evaluate the validity of the CDC s claim regarding physical activity for children. After assessing the scientific articles and additional review articles, it was concluded that there is valid evidence supporting the CDC s claim that physical activity for children is an active tool individuals can utilize to combat childhood obesity. Objectives: To assess the validity Center for Disease Control and Prevention s claim that physical activity in children can be utilized as an effective tool to combat childhood obesity. This assignment was used to fulfill a BBH411W requirement of a short paper addressing a public health message and analyzing the validity behind the proposed message. *Disclaimer: the purpose of the writing is to fulfill course requirements for BBH 411W and to stand as a personal writing sample, but the findings should not be treated as generalizable research
Megan Wells BBH 411W; Section 001 Short Paper #2 Public Health Message A public health message that is commonly viewed throughout society is to increase physical activity in children in order to decrease the rates of overweight and obese children. Many companies and organizations employ diverse methods of spreading this public health message, of high prevalence of overweight children, including TV advertisements, posters, celebrity-endorsed campaigns and through social media campaigns. One specific organization promoting the message of physical activity in children is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who lists out guidelines for recommended physical activity in children to avoid childhood obesity. Many studies have been completed testing the relationship firsthand between physical activity in children and how it affects childhood obesity, including two studies completed by Nemet and colleagues and Epstein and colleagues. The cohort study completed by Nemet et al. studied how effective a three-month combined healthy eating and physical activity intervention was to reduce weight of overweight participants. The researchers also acknowledged that while the message of negative outcomes associated with childhood obesity has been widespread, many obese children do not partake in any interventions to reduce their obesity. Overall, the researchers concluded that when comparing the intervention group to the control group after three months and again at one year, the intervention group had significantly lower body weight and lower body fat percentage when compared to the control group. These results enforce previous speculation that multidisciplinary approaches to tackling childhood obesity prove to be an effective intervention (Nemet et al., 2005). Leonard Epstein and his colleagues also completed a study testing how decreasing sedentary behaviors and increasing physical activity leads to decreased childhood obesity. They decided to run a randomized controlled outcome experiment where they assigned families to a dietary and behavior change intervention. The families were either assigned to an intervention that focused on increasing physical activity or decreasing sedentary behavior and the results showed that both interventions were effective in decreasing overall body weight and body fat (Epstein et al., 2000). There are also review studies that look at the relationship between physical activity and childhood obesity as well. Cara B. Ebbeling and her colleagues completed a narrative review and found that the prevalence of childhood obesity has been increasing worldwide, the effects of childhood obesity include premature disease onset and premature death, and that new data regarding body fat regulation has been emerging in the field suggesting a direct correlation between physical activity and decreased obesity rates (Ebbeling et al., 2002). Rena Wing and her colleagues also evaluated many different behavioral interventions in their meta-analysis review. These evaluations claimed that physical activity interventions were effective ways to decrease Type 2 diabtetes through the mechanism of losing weight (Wing et al., 2016). Overall, the quality of evidence behind this health message was extremely high since there has been a large volume of research done on this topic. Therefore, the opportunity to be able to read through numerous studies and have the choice of which ones are most effective is extremely helpful.
Case Descriptions and Dialogues Professional/Client Relationship I am a physician in a Pediatric Primary Care Office having a discussion with my patient, a tenyear-old girl named Jane who has been overweight since the age of five. Since Jane s last visit, she has moved from the overweight category for her age group to the obese category. Me: So Jane, we need to discuss some ways to help you start living a healthier lifestyle. Unfortunately, if you continue your current sedentary lifestyle you could be at risk for developing premature cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, or even a premature death. I know those consequences may seen far down the road for you, but if we don't get you on the right track now they could become very realistic outcomes. Jane: I ve been trying to eat healthier but I only have access to the food in my house and the lunches that school provides. Me: I know that you have been trying, but we are going to set up a direct dietary plan for you to follow that I will also educate your parents on. Also, it is important to find a way to implement physical activity into your everyday life. Try and participate in one active activity a day. By increasing your physical activity, you will inadvertently be decreasing your sedentary lifestyle behavior and decrease your overall weight and body fat percentage. This will definitely help you get on the right track. Jane: Ok thanks! Family Relationship I am currently about to have a discussion with my mom who has been struggling with balancing her weight healthily ever since I was younger. I am now worried about my younger sister seeing my mom crash diet and want to help enforce some more positive prevention for our family so that we will not ever need a direct intervention. Me: Hi Mom! I wanted to talk to you about some methods I notice you have been using to lose weight. I know you have good intentions, but I wanted to discuss some researchbased methods that have proven weight loss and to prevent childhood obesity. Mom: Ok lets hear them! Me: Just incorporating physical activity into our everyday lives is one easy way that we can help prevent and reduce childhood obesity. Instead of crash dieting every once in awhile, lets make a daily pact to spend less time on the couch and instead use that time towards walking the dog, swimming, playing a sport, or other active activities. Mom: Good idea! I did not realize that my crash dieting could be sending the wrong message to you and your siblings.
Peer Relationship In this scenario, I am about to talk to my friend Melissa who has been suffering from anxiety and depression after gaining the Freshman 15. Me: Hey Melissa! You ll never guess what I just learned when I was researching for my BBH 411W Short Paper #2! Melissa: What was that? Me: I found out that childhood obesity prevalence is rising worldwide and there a lot of people suffering from the negative consequences associated with it. Melissa: Wait so there are other people having the same anxiety as me? I ve been trying to lose weight ever since I gained weight freshman year, but haven t had any success. Me: Yes, actually physical activity and healthy eating interventions are proven to reduce overall body weight and body fat percentage. If you want lets challenge ourselves to eat healthier and go to the gym together five days a week, that way we will stay motivated. Melissa: Sounds like a plan!
References Ebbeling, C. B., Pawlak, D. B., & Ludwig, D. S. (2002). Childhood obesity: Public-health crisis, common sense cure. The Lancet, 360(9331), 473-482. Retrieved March 1, 2016. Epstein, L. H., Paluch, R. A., Gordy, C. C., & Dorn, J. (2000). Decreasing Sedentary Behaviors in Treating Pediatric Obesity. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 154(3), 220-226. Retrieved March 1, 2016. Nemet, D., Barkan, S., Epstein, Y., Friedland, O., Kowen, G., & Eliakim, A. (2005). Short- and Long-Term Beneficial Effects of a Combined Dietary-Behavioral-Physical Activity Intervention for the Treatment of Childhood Obesity. Pediatrics, 115(4), E443-E449. Retrieved March 1, 2016. Physical Activity Facts. (2015). Retrieved March 01, 2016, from http://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/physicalactivity/facts.htm Wing, R. R., Goldstein, M. G., Acton, K. J., Birch, L. L., Jakicic, J. M., Sallis, J. F.,... Surwit, R. S. (2001). Behavioral Science Research in Diabetes: Lifestyle changes related to obesity, eating behavior, and physical activity. Diabetes Care, 24(1), 117-123. Retrieved March 1, 2016.