Lifestyle Choices and Childhood Obesity

Over the past thirty years, childhood obesity trends have increased steadily, reaching epidemic proportions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that the percentage of obese 2-5 year olds more than doubled as it increased from 5.0% in 1980 to 10.4% in 2008, while in 6-11 year olds, it tripled and reached 19.6% during the same time frame (Ogden & Carroll 2010). Unhealthy childhood weight can trigger increased health risks at a young age, including high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes, and can lead to more serious problems in adulthood. Causes of obesity include genetics, underlying medical problems, poor nutrition, bad eating habits and lack of exercise. While numerous studies support these factors, how many of them are linked to the parents' historical and present day decisions? Parents' educational and career choices are at the root of income and/or environmental factors, which negatively affect the family's nutrition and exercise habits, and promote childhood obesity.

The educational level reached by a parent affects numerous aspects of the family's life as a whole, especially if they do not graduate and surpass high school. The knowledge that a person receives in completing twelfth grade has advantages that extend beyond present day living. Education is the fuel needed to obtain a decent paying career and secure housing in an environment suitable for raising a family. Without these criteria, which a good education provides, the chances of childhood obesity increase.

When a parent fails to reach or exceed twelfth grade, knowledge and skill-set limitations set in, which affects job possibilities, income potential, and childhood obesity. The lower the income, the more sacrifices a parent will need to make when raising a child, especially as it relates to nutrition. Fresh fruits and vegetables provide valuable nutrients to a young child's development, as do lean proteins, such as fish and poultry. However, produce like this costs more and does not keep as long as canned, frozen, or processed foods. Processed foods are less expensive, but they contain more chemicals, artificial sweeteners, and calories. One study found that children "with less educated parent or parents had higher consumption of fast food and sweets, [and] lower consumption of healthy food" (Ding & Parks, 2007, p. 6). The increased intake of processed foods by children has a negative effect on their development. The body has a harder time breaking down and digesting processed food. The slower the process, the greater the chance that food will be stored as fat in the body. Ultimately, an insufficient parental income leads to poor family nutrition and a greater risk of obesity. It's affect on exercise, however, only enhances the problem.

Low levels of education and income also have a profound effect on childhood activities and exercise. As a child, it is important to become and remain active, especially when nutrition is not satisfactory, to avoid obesity. In order for a child to be active, parents must engage them in family activities or after school sports. School sporting programs are a consistent and effective way to engage children in exercise. However, when parents fail to make a decent income, they are less likely to support their children in joining sporting activities as registration fees, equipment, and uniforms cost a great deal of money. When parents are struggling to raise and feed a family, extracurricular activities like team sports are compromised and obesity risks are increased. Income relates to the parents' education, which affects obesity from the standpoint of nutrition and activities. Unfortunately, it does not end there. One more aspect that is tied into education and obesity is the environment.

Insufficient parental education not only limits income potential, but it affects the family's environment, which also plays an important role in the childhood obesity epidemic. Impoverished neighborhoods are considered home to many low income families. While these communities provide shelter and a place for children to learn, they lack valuable assets like sidewalks, parks, or recreational centers. If these types of amenities are missing from a child's life, the opportunities for exercise from riding a bike, playing in a park, or joining community programs diminish. The safety of these neighborhoods is just as important, if not more, in understanding the environment's affect on obesity. If the neighborhood is plagued with a high crime or drug conviction rate, parents may discourage outdoor activities or exercise. This element has a direct impact on childhood obesity as children are forced to remain indoors for their own safety.