The problem of childhood obesity is a significant issue that researchers have focused much on the impact it has had on both an individual and society as a whole. In the social science interdisciplinary framework, this critical essay will dwell on the implications of child obesity (Tiwari & Balasundaram, 2023). With this method, we are able to witness how the issue plays out in other institutions, find elements that can benefit from change, analyze its merits and demerits, and determine what modern social conduct brings about.
The social science lens used for treating childhood obesity discusses how this issue will change politics, community, family, economy, and education structures combined with market-oriented institutions. In terms of politics, childhood obesity can influence policymaking related to health and nutrition. In this way, policies can be built on the fact of increasing childhood obesity to emphasize more prevention education and healthcare interventions. Communities can notice changes in public spaces and initiatives promoting physical activity and altered dietary habits. People will start paying more attention to their parenting methods, taking proper nutrition and regular exercise into consideration. The costs of tending to obese children continue increasing and bringing serious financial problems. Schools and colleges can adapt what they do to include classes on how to be healthy, as well as methods of keeping people free from diseases. The food industry, which focuses on profiteering, can be mandated to promote more beneficial standards.
It is important to find new ways to prevent and help kids who are overweight. One way is to make sure schools offer healthy food choices. The way kids eat at school can also make them more likely to become obese. Schools can help students make better food choices by teaching them about nutrition. According to Smith et al. (2020), these programs can have school lessons and also activities like cooking classes and working with healthy food. Also, offering different types of healthy food options in school cafeterias could influence how children eat. Schools provide a place where you can get fit and delicious food to help you make good choices. Working together with teachers, parents, and nutrition experts can make these changes last and be communicated well. Finally, this all-around approach in schools helps solve the problem of kids being overweight and encourages a healthier way of living for the next generation.
There are good and bad things about critiquing childhood obesity. According to the World Health Organization (2021), helping kids stay healthy and not too big can make everyone healthier, save money on healthcare, and help people work better. However, there are many different challenges, such as people wanting to stay the same, unfairness in society and the economy, and the need for everyone to work together. The hardest thing is to make sure people are healthy while also letting them make their own choices. Studying how being overweight as a kid affects how people interact with each other.
It has had a big effect on how people communicate, express their culture, govern, and take care of others in today’s society. However, talking about staying healthy and feeling good has changed to include campaigns to inform people and educational programs. The media often encourages people to live healthily through cultural events and activities (Koivumäki & Jallinoja, 2023). Rules that promote exercise and healthy food at school can be part of the government’s plan. Raising children may focus on helping them be healthy and happy.
In a nutshell, looking at childhood obesity from a social science perspective shows how it affects different parts of society and highlights where we need to make things better. It also looks at the good and bad sides of trying to promote healthy living and how it affects what we think is important in today’s world. This study helps to create better ways to fight childhood obesity and make future generations healthier.
Koivumäki, T., & Jallinoja, P. (2023). The good, the bad, and the blameless in parenting: a thematic analysis of discussions of childhood obesity on an internet forum. BMC Public Health, 23(1), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15314-6
Smith, J. D., Fu, E., & Kobayashi, M. A. (2020). Prevention and Management of Childhood Obesity and Its Psychological and Health Comorbidities. Annual review of clinical psychology, 16, 351–378. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-100219-060201
Tiwari, A., & Balasundaram, P. (2023). Public Health Considerations Regarding Obesity. PubMed; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK572122/
World Health Organization. (2021, June 9). Obesity and overweight. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight