Interventions the US Government May Adopt to Tackle Obesity in Children
Micheal David
University of The Missouri
Composition II / ENGL 1312
Professor David Danaho
18th April, 2022.
Draft
Interventions the US government may adopt to tackle obesity in children.
Obesity in children is among the most serious public health problems facing the United States today. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one third of American children between the ages of 2 and 15 are either fat or overweight. Furthermore, young people are becoming overweight at a younger age, and the majority of them remain fat for a longer period of time, while some may develop into obese adults. It is possible that addressing the obesity issue in youngsters would result in more lives being saved because obesity is connected with a doubling of the risk of dying prematurely. Unfortunately, the increasing prevalence of obesity in the younger generations poses a significant danger to this goal of healthy living. Type-2 diabetes, cancer, hypertension, and other cardiac issues are all associated with obesity in children. Obesity also increases the risk of developing cancer in children (Stavridou et al., 2021). Furthermore, obesity may predispose youngsters to bullying, which may lower their self-esteem and lead to depression or other mental health issues later in life.
Furthermore, the financial expenditures associated with obesity and overweight-related poor health are enormous. It is said that the yearly cost on obesity treatment is disproportionately larger when compared to the total expenditure on police, the legal system, and the fire department combined. According to Stavridou et al. (2021), the yearly clinical expense for obese adults is predicted to be $147 billion, but the annual clinical expenditure for obese children is $14.3 billion. Children from low-income homes bear a disproportionate share of the economic burden. Obesity rates are typically highest among children from low-income families and communities, with children as young as 5 years old being twice as likely as their counterparts from higher-income families to be obese, and by 11 years old, they are three times as likely as their counterparts from higher-income families to be obese. This article, which is based on the idea that prevention is preferable than treatment, lists some of the reasons why the government should intervene to assist in the fight against this disease. In the case of the government’s actions, for example, it is possible to significantly reduce the amount of money spent on the treatment of obesity-related ill-health such as type-2 diabetes, hypertension, and mental diseases, among others (Forgione et al., 2018: 2024 – Write My Essay For Me | Essay Writing Service For Your Papers Online). Second, the government’s goal of reducing health inequalities among minority groups and low-income families via policies such as the Affordable Care Act (ACA) would aid in the promotion of health among the general public in the United States.
Children and adolescents who are overweight or obese are suffering from a complex condition that is made worse by a variety of factors such as their own behavior as well as heredity, environment, and society. However, the primary cause of obesity is an imbalance in energy intake and expenditure, which occurs when more energy is consumed via food than is expended through physical activity. A variety of health benefits for children are associated with physical exercise, including bone and muscle development, improved sleep quality, maintenance of a healthy weight, and general excellent health and fitness, among others (Forgione et al., 2018: 2024 – Write My Essay For Me | Essay Writing Service For Your Papers Online). In order to manage most of these variables that contribute to the development of childhood obesity, the government, via policy formation and execution, may play a significant role in this effort. Sugar reductions and calorie reductions to guarantee youngsters consume healthy foods, public education, and physical activity management to maintain an energy balance are all possible strategies for achieving this goal.
A Soft Drinks Industry Levy is being introduced and enforced.
The majority of youngsters in the United States are now consuming a lot of calories and surely too much sugar. Children and teenagers in the United States, for example, are reported to constitute the biggest demographic in North America who consume sugar-sweetened beverages (Browne et al., 2020). Several studies have established that the consumption of sugary foods increases the risk of consuming too many calories, increased susceptibility to tooth decay, and that the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages increases children’s vulnerability to type 2 diabetes and is associated with excessive weight gain. Consumption of a single 300ml bottle of soft drink with added sugar, which has 35g of sugar, for example, may result in a youngster exceeding the recommended daily sugar consumption for children (Sanyaolu et al., 2019: 2024 – Online Assignment Homework Writing Help Service By Expert Research Writers). In order to combat the obesity epidemic, the government may impose a tax on the soft drink business across the United States. The charge should be applied to both producers and importers, and it should be designed in such a way that it encourages producers to consider decreasing the sugar content in their goods while also encouraging consumers to choose healthier alternatives. Additionally, the United States government should utilize the cash generated by the tax to fund initiatives targeted at lowering obesity and encouraging children to eat a balanced diet and participate in physical exercise at school.
Sugar consumption might increase the risk of consuming too many calories. Sugary soft drinks are also linked to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and an increase in body weight. The implementation of levies on soft drinks is thus necessary to combat childhood obesity. It is anticipated that the tax income would go toward initiatives aimed at combating obesity and increasing dietary diversity and physical exercise (Bably et al., 2021). Primary physical education (PE) and the sport premium will both be increased by double. Exporters and manufacturers are exempt from the tax. It will be aimed at persuading businesses to reduce the sugar level in their goods and to offer healthier alternatives.
Introducing sugar reduction program
Several studies have shown that little modifications in the balance of components in everyday items, as well as changes in the quantity of the product, are effective methods of promoting better diets. It is believed that this technique brings about universal modifications that are not dependent on individual behavior, as Forgione and colleagues (2018: 2024 – Write My Essay For Me | Essay Writing Service For Your Papers Online) explain. As a result, the government’s introduction of a new sugar reduction program, with the goal of reducing the total amount of sugar in items that children eat the most, would aid in the fight against obesity. For example, the government should implement a sugar reduction program, which would likely apply to the entire food and beverage industry sector, with the goal of reducing overall sugar by at least 20 percent across a variety of products consumed primarily by children, such as biscuits, yogurt, confectionery, cakes, and ice cream, among other things (Forgione et al., 2018: 2024 – Write My Essay For Me | Essay Writing Service For Your Papers Online).
Taking away 25 percent of the sugar content in foods and beverages. A growing body of evidence indicates that a gradual shift in the component balance of daily items is an effective means of improving diets. The reason for this is because the improvements are broad-based and do not depend on individual behavior modification. The consequence will be the implementation of a systematic sugar reduction program, which will guarantee that sugar content is decreased from goods that are mostly eaten by youngsters. All sectors of the beverage and food industries will be obliged to cut sugar content in their goods by 25 percent if their products contribute to the consumption of sugar intake (Bably et al., 2021). This will be accomplished by lowering the sugar content of goods, decreasing the share of the market, or shifting purchases to items with lower sugar content. Public Health England will be in charge of overseeing this initiative (PHE). Initial product categories to be covered by the initiative include ice cream, puddings, sweet spreads, confectionary, cakes, biscuits, yoghurt, and morning cereals, among other things.
PHE will advise the government on how to set objectives for items based on the amount of sugar they contain per 100g and the amount of calories they contain. The program’s success will be announced after four years, at which point it will be updated (Bably et al., 2021). Progress will be measured in terms of declines in sales of beverages and foods with a weighted average sugar content of 100 grams or in a demonstrable movement toward the purchase of sugar replacements with a lower sugar content.
PHE will adjust its plans for progress in order to ensure that they correspond to expectations. In the future, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHE) will provide preliminary reports on progress every six months. This will include analyzing the reductions that have been achieved via the examination of food composition and sales statistics, as well as developing plans for further reductions. Furthermore, PHE will make public an assessment of the technique used by the industry at the end of the 18th and 36th months (Bably et al., 2021). Later, the government will examine the data to determine whether or not sufficient progress has been achieved and whether or not further levers should be used by the government to reduce the amount of calories and sugar in beverages and foods consumed by youngsters.
Developing an updated nutrient profile model
It is necessary for the government to develop a new framework in order to aid families in identifying better alternatives. This framework should include information on which beverages or food items are less healthy, as well as information on which goods are healthier. A nutritional profile tool is often used in conjunction with regulations on beverages and food advertising that are already geared to protect minors. For each drink or food product, an evaluation is conducted based on a calculation of the amount of sugar, salt, fat, vegetables, fruits, fiber, proteins, and nuts included in the product or beverage (Browne et al., 2020). An updating of the model by the government to reflect current health standards would push corporations to develop goods that are healthier in order to avoid possible fines from the European Union and other countries. Additionally, the government should update its dietary standards to comply with recommendations from the Food and Drug Administration to increase the nutritional quality of meals (Sanyaolu et al., 2019: 2024 – Online Assignment Homework Writing Help Service By Expert Research Writers). Additionally, the government should encourage producers to clearly identify the nutritional profile of their products so that families may make better choices when it comes to feeding their children.
Taxes are being raised.
The government of the United States must raise taxes on unhealthy goods such as chips and margarine, among other things. An increase in the tax on junk food will result in a rise in the price of such goods, making it more difficult for residents to acquire them, hence limiting their consumption and so avoiding obesity. Chips, hard margarine, and chocolates are rich in cholesterol, and as a result, their use leads to a rise in overall body weight in individuals. The imposition of higher tariffs on unhealthy foods will result in a change in demand toward healthier foods such as vegetables and fruits, hence reducing juvenile obesity (Bably et al., 2021). When the government gets worried about the rising rates of kid obesity and takes steps to lower the supply and demand of junk and fast meals, their consumption will decline, and the obesity rate in the nation would decrease as a result. As a result of the government’s increased taxes on junk food, the people will be more aware of the significance of eating nutritious food items, which will assist to lower obesity rates in general.
Consumption of Unhealthy Food Products Must Be Restricted.
It is imperative that the government teach and educate different parents and their children about the harmful consequences of eating junk food on their health, given that the government has played a leadership role in raising taxes on unhealthy items. The public would be made aware, as a result of this government program, that it is important for people to eat nutritious foods and to restrict or minimize their intake of junk foods, which have a high quantity of calories and provide little nutritional value. Many children will change their eating habits and participate in activities that will help them lose weight as a result of the government raising awareness and informing the public about the increasing mortality rate in children as a result of obesity (Sacks & Looi, 2020). For example, participating in various physical activities will help them lose weight. It is possible to raise awareness and give information in a variety of settings like healthcare, education, and childcare facilities, where there is a high prevalence of persons who eat harmful food items.
The government is funding an idea to aid the food business in producing healthier goods. This strategy should be supported by a joint research program between the public and commercial sectors that encourages the development of innovative products and processes that expand consumer access to healthier food options. Furthermore, the establishment of a food technology organization will aid in the provision of leadership in areas such as nutrition and health.
Making the General Public Aware
Healthy food items should not be sold at educational institutions, healthcare facilities, or child care facilities, and the government should guarantee that this does not happen. Childhood obesity may be prevented by reducing the availability of harmful food items in a community, hence limiting their use. In addition to lowering the prevalence of obesity in the nation, lowering the intake of junk foods by youngsters may assist lower the prevalence rate of obesity. In order to reduce the prevalence rate of childhood obesity in the country, the government has instituted methods that have contributed to curbing the production of unhealthy food products in the country, which has been beneficial in reducing the country’s supply of unhealthy food products in general (Sacks & Looi, 2020). In order to raise awareness among parents about the consequences of poor childhood eating habits, the government has organized a number of seminars to educate them on the types of foods that are high in nutritional content and that they should provide to their children.
The government may aid in the alleviation of the obesity epidemic by offering civic education on the nutritional advantages of eating a balanced diet. Offering civic education on obesity will aid in the development of information and skills in order to comprehend the link between eating a nutritious food and leading a healthy lifestyle. Moreover, it contributes to addressing the issue of safe food preparation as an important and joyful component of one’s life. Furthermore, giving civic education aids in the discovery of any hurdles that may prevent people from choosing healthy food choices, as well as the development of solutions to overcome the obstacles that have been found (Sacks & Looi, 2020). Civic education will also serve as a type of therapy, with professors assisting fat kids by instilling health lessons about how to maintain a healthy lifestyle in their minds. Furthermore, the government may employ civic education to combat obesity by airing television programs in the media to educate people on the need of leading a healthy lifestyle.
Sponsoring Physical Activity Promotional Campaigns
Other methods of poverty alleviation that the government may implement and finance include numerous physical training programmes that encourage people to lose weight and improve their overall health and fitness. This organization may support initiatives such as general healthy eating campaigns, keeping one’s body fit campaigns, and change for life campaigns, among others (Bjerke & Elvekrok, 2021). Youth who are fat would benefit from the initiatives because they will learn how to eat and exercise in a healthy manner. More importantly, using the campaigns will aid them in addressing all aspects of their lives in order to have a better health future free of ailments. As a result, the government’s involvement in financing physical activity programmes will aid in the reduction of the number of obese persons.
Children’s health advantages from frequent physical exercise have been shown in several studies. Children should participate in physical exercise for a minimum of sixty minutes every day, preferably more. Furthermore, thirty minutes of physical activity should be made available in school each day via physical education, active break periods, active classes, and extra-curricular clubs (Bjerke & Elvekrok, 2021). The remaining thirty minutes should be spent enlisting the assistance of parents and exploring options for employment outside of school.
Partnerships between the public and commercial sectors are a possibility.
To attain the above-mentioned aims and objectives, the government and firms who create consuming items for children will need to collaborate. To get better goods on the market that are healthy for children, it is necessary to work in close collaboration with them and to adhere to strict timeframes to guarantee that the objectives are accomplished (Konty et al., 2022). In addition, schools and nursing groups should collaborate closely to ensure that children get the best possible care as they strive to live healthier lives.
Decide that all manufacturers must label their products with the correct number of calories.
The United States government may also help to combat obesity by requiring that all food producers label their containers with the appropriate calorie counts. As a result, people will be better able to understand the appropriate calorie intake and will be able to avoid eating items that are high in calories. Meal labels are also significant since they display the components of the item that will be ingested, which communicates crucial information about the food. The government must thus guarantee that food items are approved and that the information given on food labels is accurate in order for persons suffering from obesity to consume the appropriate goods (Konty et al., 2022). It may also educate the public on the proper quantity of calories they should consume. According to the American Heart Association, the recommended daily calorie intake is 2000 calories, with the amount varying based on the person’s gender and other physical features. Even more concerning, fat accounts for 30% of total calorie consumption. Consumers must also be aware of which meals are most suited to their needs. Consuming meals that are high in fiber, protein, and vitamins, for example, may assist to minimize the risk of obesity.
Conclusion
With the increasing prevalence of the obesity issue among youngsters, there is a pressing need for comprehensive solutions that benefit the whole community. The government, the public sector, business, and schools all have a role to play in ensuring that children’s food and beverages are healthy, as well as in encouraging them to choose better alternatives. It is possible to raise awareness and give information in a variety of settings like healthcare, education, and childcare facilities, where there is a high prevalence of persons who eat harmful food items. The government, for example, might make a significant contribution to the eradication of the pandemic by taking the steps outlined above. This would allow the country to lower the number of lives lost as a result of the disease while simultaneously exposing the younger generation to more promising career and educational prospects. The government of the United States must raise taxes on unhealthy goods such as chips and margarine, among other things. Furthermore, the establishment of a food technology organization will aid in the provision of leadership in areas such as nutrition and health. In addition, schools and nursing groups should collaborate closely to ensure that children get the best possible care as they strive to live healthier lives.
References
Bably, M. B., Paul, R., Laditka, S. B., & Racine, E. F. (2021). Factors Associated with the Initiation of Added Sugar among Low-Income Young Children Participating in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children in the US. Nutrients, 13(11), 3888.
Bjerke, R., & Elvekrok, I. (2021). Sponsorship-based health care programs and their impact on employees’ motivation for physical activity. European Sport Management Quarterly, 21(2), 194-217.
Browne, N. T., Snethen, J. A., Greenberg, C. S., Frenn, M., Kilanowski, J. F., Gance-Cleveland, B., Burke, P. J., & Lewandowski, L. (2020). When pandemics collide: The impact of COVID-19 on childhood obesity. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2020.11.004
Forgione, N., Deed, G., Kilov, G., & Rigas, G. (2018: 2024 – Write My Essay For Me | Essay Writing Service For Your Papers Online). Managing Obesity in Primary Care: Breaking Down the Barriers. Advances in Therapy, 35(2), 191–198. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12325-017-0656-y
Konty, K. J., Day, S. E., Napier, M. D., Irvin, E., Thompson, H. R., & MD’Agostino, E. (2022). Context, importance, and process for creating a body mass index surveillance system to monitor childhood obesity within the New York City public school setting. Preventive Medicine Reports, 101704.
Sacks, G., & Looi, E. S. Y. (2020). The advertising policies of major social media platforms overlook the imperative to restrict the exposure of children and adolescents to the promotion of unhealthy foods and beverages. International journal of environmental research and public health, 17(11), 4172.
Sanyaolu, A., Okorie, C., Qi, X., Locke, J., & Rehman, S. (2019: 2024 – Online Assignment Homework Writing Help Service By Expert Research Writers). Childhood and Adolescent Obesity in the United States: A Public Health Concern. Global Pediatric Health, 6(6). https://doi.org/10.1177/2333794×19891305
Stavridou, A., Kapsali, E., Panagouli, E., Thirios, A., Polychronis, K., Bacopoulou, F., Psaltopoulou, T., Tsolia, M., Sergentanis, T. N., & Tsitsika, A. (2021). Obesity in Children and Adolescents during COVID-19 Pandemic. Children, 8(2), 135. https://doi.org/10.3390/children8020135
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Interventions the US Government Might Take to Combat Childhood Obesity
Micheal David is a writer and a musician.
University of The Missouri
Composition II / ENGL 1312
Professor David Danaho
18th April, 2022.
Draft
Interventions the US government may adopt to tackle obesity in children.
Obesity in children is among the most serious public health problems facing the United States today. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one third of American children between the ages of 2 and 15 are either fat or overweight. Furthermore, young people are becoming overweight at a younger age, and the majority of them remain fat for a longer period of time, while some may develop into obese adults. It is possible that addressing the obesity issue in youngsters would result in more
