Introduction
Childhood obesity is an environment-related health behavior that has affected many children worldwide. The World Health Organization describes childhood obesity as a medical condition that affects adolescents and children. It has been highlighted as one of the dangerous diseases that have been neglected for long. Various reasons have been highlighted, which lead to children becoming obese and overweight (Harrist, 2016). Genetic factors have been associated with many cases that have been studied in the recent past. Most of the children who are obese traced the same problem from their parents who, at one point, were obese. According to WHO, the number of kids being affected by this condition has doubled since 1980. Forty-two million kids under the age of 10 years were obese (Skinner, 2016). These conditions are caused by problems that affect how these children interact with others in society in the long run.
Possible Interventions
The possible interventions to change childhood obesity include behavioral interventions that are designed to change the actions of a child or a parent takes concerning the health of a child. Such interventions include clinical trials consisting of drugs, supporting devices, or surgery. Other possible interventions include lifestyle behavioral changes whereby a child will be required to take the right diet, drink a lot of water, and exercise regularly (Gómez, 2018). The WHO has also highlighted some interventions that will help the society to solve the problem facing its children. Who advocates for social marketing campaigns, community-based interventions, healthcare interventions, and behavioral interventions.
According to studies by WHO, children and adolescents who do not get involved in enough physical activities have found themselves in situations where they add weight continuously. The foods they consume are composed of fats that are stored in the body. Eating habits also contribute to this medical condition among children. When children eat unhealthy foods such as animal proteins, they end up accumulating fats in their bodies, which adds to the total body weight (Harrist, 2016). At times, all these factors are combined, resulting in overweight babies. Medical conditions, in rare cases, cause overweight. Obesity has significant health consequences that are associated with premature death and disability
Application of the Social Cognitive Theory in the Environmental Health for Childhood Obesity
According to the Social Cognitive Theory, obesity as a social problem occurs because society has failed to set values and norms that can guide child development in terms of their well-being. In some communities and societies, few rules allow children to eat whatever they want and also to live how they wish. Other parents restrict their children from joining others in playing, which makes their children lazy, and as a result, they start gaining weight. These states of normlessness have affected how parents raise their children, which affects their well-being in the long run (Skinner, 2016). These children have found themselves in situations where they are isolated and abused in their settings since they cannot do tasks done by others comfortably. These children are likely to be attacked by heart diseases and strokes, which affect society directly and indirectly.
Outcomes of Behavioral Intervention in Childhood Obesity
The behavioral intervention prevents obesity in children, which in turn minimizes the chances of problems associated with it in the long run. It calls for cooperation between parents and various agencies to ensure that children are taken care of well to avoid overweight cases. When those children are attacked by various diseases associated with obesity, society will be required to set aside resources to treat them (Harrist, 2016). Another outcome of this type of intervention includes saving money, which would have been used in treating obesity-related diseases. The funds are strained, which leads to low economic development and low productivity from the affected children. For instance, when a child has been attached by heart attach research, society will be required to raise funds to facilitate heart transplant collectively (Gómez, 2018). Funds raised during the fund-raising process could be avoided if these children are subjected to an intervention that will treat their condition. The community is always affected in the long run; hence, there is a need to join hands in ensuring obesity and overweight is kicked out of society.
Conclusion
Conclusively, childhood obesity is a health problem that can be prevented with the right innervations in place. Children with these conditions have found it difficult to socialize with other children—the emotions and behaviors of these children been affected, which leads to depression and stigmatization. According to sociologists, the social behaviors of these children have been compromised, which in turn has dictated their overall actions. One’s behavior largely depends on his or her social interaction and background, which dictates his or her behavior. Every individual in the society has a uniquely personal experience that differs entirely from other people’s experiences.
