Theoretical Framework
Various theories attempt to explain how specific health determinants contribute to the childhood obesity. The theoretical framework focuses only on three major theories: Life Course Theory, Health Lifestyle Theory, and Cultural Capital Theory. Life Course Theory suggests that humans pass through various stages and social roles in life that affect their health, including body weight. That means people born at the same time transition to different roles and experience different life events, forming life trajectories that lead to specific results (Cockerham, 2022). On the contrary, the Health Lifestyle Theory maintains that behavioral habits people adopt positively or negatively affect their weight and other elements of their health (Cockerham, 2022). Smoking, drinking, eating habits, and exercising are among the primary practices influencing an individual’s health. Cultural Capital Theory emphasizes that individual social distinctions affect health status (Cockerham, 2022). Education, social class, race, and culture influence a person’s health. Comparing the three theories, Health Lifestyle Theory is the most appropriate for the research since it focuses more on practices that apply to the targeted population. Life Course Theory and Cultural Capital Theory are more relevant to research on adulthood obesity.
Overview and Guiding Propositions(s) Described in Theory
The underlying principle of the Health Lifestyle Theory is that health is determined by collective health-related practices depending upon choices or options available. Another essential guiding proposition is that, even though people choose these lifestyles, the chances are determined by material resources, values, and norms (Cockerham, 2022). The last principle is that four structural variables- class status, age, gender, and ethnicity, living conditions, and collectivities- constitute a person’s life chances (Cockerham, 2022). Therefore, the options and opportunities interact to determine the formation of habits leading to practices involving food, drinking, exercising, and other health behaviors.
Application of Theory to Childhood Obesity
In the study of Childhood Obesity, the theory helps explain how food choices contribute to increased weight among children. It also guides in understanding how the social status of a family influence a child’s health. For instance, the theory explain how children from low-income earning families are more prone to obesity than those from wealthy backgrounds (Cockerham, 2022). Lastly, the Health Lifestyle Theory emphasizes how drinking, eating, and exercising habits influence children’s body weight. Therefore, Health Lifestyle Theory perfectly fits the research since its guiding prepositions explain in-depth how social determinants influence childhood obesity.
References
Cockerham, W. C. (2022). Theoretical approaches to research on the social determinants of obesity. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 63(1), 8-17. Web.