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Meru University College of Science and Technology (MUCST) *
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Course
MISC
Subject
Health Science
Date
Nov 24, 2024
Type
docx
Pages
4
Uploaded by dan3434
Student’s Surname 1
Name
Instructor
Course
Date
Journal Assignment
Title
Local Government Actions to Prevent Childhood Obesity
Authors
Lynn Parker, Annina Catherine Burns, and Eduardo Sanchez
My interest in the Article
I selected this article because it sheds light on the local government and how it can help address the issue of childhood obesity. This is an ongoing healthcare concern that governments have found challenging to address. The youths are the future of tomorrow and unless they are healthy, cannot help us meet our generational goals. Parents, guardians, educators, public health officials, local governments, and other concerned stakeholders should hold it together and develop insights
into the whole problem of childhood obesity.
Interesting Things About the Topic
Many lifestyle choices that we make today affect our health. Fast foods are increasingly becoming the order of the day for most of us but we continue to assume their negative health implications. Our current community norms are as well preventing children from the ability to engage in healthy life practices such as taking part in physical activities. This topic is interesting because it takes us to the basics of what is required of us in finding a solution to the problem of
Student’s Surname 2
childhood obesity. There is a direct evaluation of the role of the local government and some of the strategies that can be adopted to assist with the same.
Abstract
This article analyzes actions that are being undertaken by the local government to help prevent childhood obesity. Childhood obesity has increased dramatically in the past three decades with experts singling out various conditions at the community level as contributing factors. Childhood
obesity is a serious health condition that not only has adverse effects on individuals, but also families and communities. Concerns have been raised about the potential implications of childhood obesity on the life expectancy of children in different parts of the world. As officials from the local government try to understand the assets, needs, and characteristics of their communities, it is increasingly important to involve the members of the community in the building, recommending, and examining certain actions. The lessons that are learned through formal evaluation and experimentation can help communities in making better decisions about long-term actions on how communities can prevent childhood obesity.
Introduction
Childhood obesity is a recent healthcare issue that requires a lot of attention. Various efforts have
been established to find a solution to the issue of childhood obesity. The article targets township, city, and county commissioners, officials from health departments, public entities, relevant health commissions, city and transportation planners, and local boards of health. Promising strategies that can help prevent obesity among youths and children have been identified to help find a lasting solution for the same. The article takes us through a summary of successful strategies that deserve funding and other financial support initiatives from the local government. Methods
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More than 600 peer-reviewed articles were identified to help develop recommended actions for preventing childhood obesity. The objective was to identify possible obesity prevention measures
in children as well as determination of useful tools for coming up with future actions. The online database for Scopus and the Transportation Research Information Services was used to conduct a
literature search. The initial research strategy that was used included the pairing of overweight and obesity terms concerning food access in federal food programs, community gardens, youth programs, after-school programs, menu labeling, breastfeeding, grocery stores, supermarkets, and neighborhoods. A scan was carried out to single out actions that can help prevent childhood obesity in the last 10 years by corporations that work in collaboration with the local government. Numerous research articles were reviewed about the actions that are being undertaken by the local government to prevent childhood obesity.
Results
Various actions can be undertaken to prevent childhood obesity. To begin with, access to the consumption of affordable, safe, and healthy foods should be improved. This could be attained through a couple of strategies such as the essence of improving the ability to identify and improve healthful foods in restaurants and increasing community access to healthy foods via corner/convenience stores, grocery stores, and supermarkets. Children are further encouraged to engage in physical activity. Some of the measures that can be undertaken to attain this objective including promoting programs that can support bicycling and walking for transportation as well as the promotion of other recreational physical activities. The results further demonstrated the importance of raising awareness about the significance of increasing physical activity. Social marketing programs should be developed to emphasize the significance of sustained physical activity for families and children.
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Student’s Surname 4
Discussion
Obesity is a healthcare concern that many governments have found challenging to address. In the
United States, there has been an increased rate of childhood obesity in the past couple of years. This has mainly been a result of unhealthy life choices. Children with obesity have higher chances of developing other health complications such as diabetes and heart disorders. The healthcare issue not only affects individuals but also communities. The local government can offer a lot when it comes to preventing childhood obesity. It is increasingly vital to engage all concerned stakeholders including the government in making critical decisions about public health. Some of the actions and decisions that are made by the local government such as providing room for cycling activities can be pivotal in finding a lasting solution to the challenge of childhood obesity. It is also important to enlighten community members about the significance
of addressing the issue of childhood obesity because the youths are the future of tomorrow. Research should be carried out to determine some of the things that contribute to the increased rate of childhood obesity at the community level and find the solution for the same.
Opinions
Childhood obesity is compromising life expectancy. The local government should take the health
concern seriously and help in establishing policies and other supportive measures that can help find a lasting solution. It is critically vital to enlighten the members of the community about the importance of making healthy life choices such as engaging in physical activities and eating healthy foods. The dietary culture that we are developing is not good for our health and children are increasingly becoming victims. Unless we address some of the issues that affect children such as childhood obesity, it will be impossible to hold the future together.