Childhood Obesity: Its Causes, Psychological Effects, and What to Do About the Problem

By: Sierra Shumate

              

             Although childhood obesity has become such a common problem recently, people have become less and less sensitive to its statistics, as there is currently no clear solution. Children and adolescents are now exposed to cues that can cause obesity in every aspect of life. At school, home, and even in the neighborhood, kids are being encouraged to eat too much, and are not being encouraged to exercise.

              Since 1980, childhood obesity has nearly tripled in prevalence across the United States. Statistics like this prove difficult to ignore, as the National Health and Nutrition Estimation Survey (NHANES) shows that 31.7 percent of US children or adolescents were obese in 2008. Rates are even higher among lower-SES families. Obesity has been shown to correlate with many health problems, including high blood pressure, asthma, and breathing problems—to name a few. These problems typically affected adults in the past, and are now affecting almost a third of our nation’s kids—an overwhelming  truth.

               Not only does obesity affect the physical health of these children, but also extends to the brain, and changes in brain structure—which can lead to learning impairments and difficulties with sustained/selective attention. These affects can also cause social and psychological problems, such as depression, problems with self-esteem, and higher risk for bullying.

               So how do we help the problem? Psychologists first want to focus at the place nearest to home-- the family. Interventions that combine dieting, physical activity and behavior have proven most successful. Rather than the typical dieting intervention of focusing on what kids should cut out, Leonard Epstein, at the University of Buffalo, has discovered that kids lose more weight when interventions focus more on what kids should eat. Behavioral treatments focus on increasing intake of fruits and vegetables rather than avoiding the typical “junk” foods.

               According to Wilfley, it is more effective to include parents in the behavior treatment, rather than solely focusing on the child. By encouraging more healthy home environments—removing TV’s from bedrooms, limiting computer and video game time, making physical activity a family fun routine, and teaching parents how to cook healthy and cost efficient-meals, prevention and improvement is possible!

              Families must be ready to make healthy lifestyle a top priority, and must make conscious decisions on what is best for the child. It is not enough to teach the healthy lifestyle—behavioral intervention is required for at least a year before long term  benefits are possible.

Source: Monitor on Psychology, Kirsten Weir