Science Daily, a news article published on April 7,2008 discuses Psychology in terms of how children who appear to have problems in controlling their behaviour or to withhold satisfaction in exchange for larger rewards are inclined to gain extra weight as their age advances. According to this article relying on the two reports published differently in April in Archives of Pediatrics as well as Adolescent medicine, obesity during childhood tends to advance as the child develops into an adult consequently increasing the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus as well as various cancers.
According to the article background information concerning the issues involving a child’s etiology overweight and Obesity is essentially very crucial so as to have effective preventive efforts being carried out by medical professionals.
These findings are as a result of a study carried out by Lori A Francis and Elizabeth J Susman both of Pennsylvanian State University College on 1,061 children assessing self regulation. This study entailed recording of Data from these children while they were 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 12 years old. At the age of 3 the children’s response to a toy in a secluded room was noted after 150 seconds. Children who delayed for 75 seconds before starting to play with the toy were ranked as being high in self regulation. At the age 5 these children were subjected to another test involving choosing of food immediately or several minutes later. Those who waited for around 20 seconds were noted as having high self regulation.
The findings of this study were that children with highest body mass index (BM) scores at age 12 were those who could not regulate their behaviour at both ages. In a follow up these children who were unable to regulate their behaviour depicted rapid BMI increment
Psychology concepts
This discussion revolves around the issue of behavioral psychology. It reinforces psychological understanding that people with elevated dietary restraint scores have an increased risk for obesity onset. This suggests that weight control behaviors can promote weight gain due to the fact that they tend to enhance metabolic efficiency or other alterations in homeostatic processes as analyzed by Klesges et al., (1992) and (1989).
Reactions/Conclusion
This article is very important as it highlights that closely intervention can help prevent adulthood Obesity. As per the article interventions geared towards achieving or increasing energy balance regulation in young children are realizable upon encouraging self regulations in other fields that affect energy intake such as encouraging self control as well as delay of gratification.
The article further reinforces good parenting techniques that attempt to mould children towards delayed gratification. The article radically challenges parents to practice techniques that strive to enhance a child’s self-regulation as well as delay of gratification as a method of holding later adulthood Obesity and consequential health hazards(Cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus etc).
Reference:
Klesges, R. C., Isbell, T. R., & Klesges, L. M. (1992). Relationship between restraint, energy intake, physical activity, and body weight: A prospective analysis. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 101, 668–674.
Klesges, R. C., Klem, M., & Bene, C. (1989). Effects of dietary restraint.