: Report on Obesity of Children and its Effects

Childhood obesity is one of the most serious public health challenges of the 21st century. The problem is global and is steadily affecting many low- and middle-income countries, particularly in urban settings. The prevalence has increased at an alarming rate. According to WHO report, “Globally, in 2016 the number of overweight children under the age of five is estimated to be over 41 million. Almost half of all overweight children under 5 lived in Asia and one quarter lived in Africa”. So, it is important to identify main causes of the increase in childhood obesity in developing countries and discuss the socio-economic and health effect of the phenomenon. It has been observed over the years that children overweight and obesity issue has been increasing in last few decades, and trend has been alarming in so many ways especially with regards to developing world. That’s why issue has been on the rise since 1990, and numbers have increased at an alarming level. If world has to respond well to this issue, then they will have to understand that which factors play their major part in obesity in children, and how those causes can be mitigated especially in the developing world.

The Facts & Main Causes of Obesity

A report was published on WHO official website taking information from the Commission on Ending Childhood Obesity. The report has not only provided information about the developing world, but it has also discussed the facts & figures on developed world as well, which allows comparing the situation in both. The report has described the fact that number of obese children in 1990 was around 32 million, and in 2016, this number had reached up to 41 million overweight children. It has also been revealed in the article that majority of these numbers belong to developing countries as obese children are more in numbers in developing world as compared to developed world. It has also been revealed in the article that 30% more obese children rate is observed in the developing world, as compared to the countries, which comes under developed world. The alarming fact described in this source is that if things will continue like this, then number of obese or overweight children in 2025 will be around 70 million, which can be devastating in so many ways. The source has also explained that which factors causes the obesity in children, especially in the developing world. It has been said that environment is the most critical factor, in which children grow (World Health Organization, 2017). The wrong choice of food also plays its part in obesity of children along with having less information and awareness on the issue. The developing world children are obese because they are not able to get access to healthy and nutritious food, and unhealthy eating makes them overweight. It has also been observed that there are various other issues, which have played its part in making this problem an epidemic one in the developing world, because people have no proper information and awareness that which healthy diet they should provide to their children. Moreover, there have been not enough resources for them to get healthy food for their children (Bhurosy & Jeewon, 2014)

The Socio-Economic & Health Effects of Obesity

This source comes with important information on the developing world regarding the issue of obesity and overweight in children.  The article has

provided relevant and useful information by reviewing research that how overweight as well as obesity have become an epidemic issue in the

developing world and it is also making so many effects of socio-economic status as well as health of children. But it is important to understand

that why obesity has been on the rise, which has really affected children in so many ways. It has been revealed that there are various factors, like

it has looked at the trends of mean body mass index (BMI) to see that how things have been changing, and how obesity has been increasing.

The number of obese children in 1990 was around 32 million, and in 2016, this number had reached up to 41 million overweight children (World

Health Organization, 2017). 30% more obese children rate is observed in the developing world, as compared to the developed world (World

Health Organization, 2017). The world has to take this issue seriously by taking some important measures to tackle the issue. The physical

health of children can be made better by involving them in more physical activities so that bad effects on their health can be mitigated, and they

can live a healthy life like other children. More healthy diet habits should be developed and awareness should be spread in the developing world

(Seidell & Halberstadt, 2015). Moreover, the socio-economic status is also a big issue, because poor people are not able to get access to healthy

diet for their children. (Bhurosy & Jeewon, 2014)

Strategy to Deal with Obesity of Children and its Future Outlook

The way obesity of children has been rising last few decades, and things have turned critical in so many ways, it is crucial to analyze previous strategy that what has been done so for to deal with obesity of children, and what could be the future outlook of these strategies that how obesity of children will be in future; whether it will increase or decrease. It has been observed over the years that various efforts have been made on global scale so that issue and challenge of children obesity can be dealt accordingly. Various parts of society has been making collective efforts to fight with obesity of children, but more focused efforts are also needed to keep thing on right track. The role of governments, private sector, global organizations as well as civil society is going to be crucial in the future because their collective efforts can bring a real change for this huge issue, otherwise the way it has been on the rise, the things can get even worst (Gortmaker, et al., 2012)

Conclusion on Obesity of Children and its Effects

It can be concluded in the end that issue of obesity & overweight has been on the rise since 1990s, and numbers are very alarming especially with regards to the developing world, where situation is more serious as compared to the developed world. There are various causes behind this issue, which comes with various health and socio-economic effects. So, it means that effective measures should be taken to ensure that challenge of children obesity is fought effectively in future to decrease the numbers.

References of Obesity of Children and its Effects

Bhurosy , T., & Jeewon, R. (2014). Overweight and Obesity Epidemic in Developing Countries: A Problem with Diet, Physical Activity, or Socioeconomic Status? The Scientific World Journal , 1-5.

Gortmaker, S., Swinburn, B., Levy, D. T., Carter, R., Mabry, P. L., Finegood, D. T., et al. (2012). Changing the Future of Obesity: Science, Policy, and Action. Obstetrical and Gynecological Survey , 67 (1), 55-63.

Seidell , J. C., & Halberstadt, J. (2015). The Global Burden of Obesity and the Challenges of Prevention. Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism , 66 (2), 7–12.

World Health Organization. (2017). Commission on Ending Childhood Obesity. Retrieved May 28, 2019, from https://www.who.int/end-childhood-obesity/facts/en/