Several stakeholders in the community can be involved in the control and management of childhood obesity. Some of the key personalities proposed by the writer include healthcare professionals, education officials across the board, parents, and guardians. These stakeholders are in a position to devise intervention measures that can solve the challenges posed by childhood obesity. This essay seeks to incorporate theory into the issue of childhood obesity.
Lev Vygotsky extensively explores the sociocultural theory. From the key elements of this theory, the challenges posed by childhood obesity can indeed be expounded and addressed (Ball & Crawford, 2008). For instance, this theory attempts to highlight the dynamic nature of society from a psychological point of view. It is crucial to mention that society can make vital moves and advances and consequently influence various social issues.
Society can significantly influence its members at the individual level. Hence, socio-cultural theory correlates the dynamic nature of society and the social way of life. This theory may also be used to offer myriads of solutions to problems facing society. The individual lifestyle of people and the impacts of their behaviors can equally be demonstrated using the socio-cultural theory. One of the social issues that the theory can explore is obesity.
The nature of our modern social culture or lifestyle is the major impetus towards obesity. The latter is a lifestyle complication that the same society can reverse by embracing both a healthy diet and regular physical exercise. In particular, childhood obesity is a growing problem that can be best addressed by the socio-cultural theory. Besides, the theory can offer ways to adopt a healthy diet. It is possible to use the ideals of this theory to convince society of the need to change lifestyle for better living.
The proximal development zone is a crucial terminology in socio-cultural theory. This zone is used to assess two different development gaps when seeking solutions to problems facing society. In reality, there is an actual development level based on the prevailing challenges that society can set. The purpose of such a development platform is to offer a reliable and independent method for solving emerging challenges. The other level is referred to as potential development.
This level gives estimates or rough guidelines on measures that can be taken to resolve challenges affecting society. Capable peers or professionals can offer the required guidelines on dietary intake and regular physical exercise. Therefore, the challenges of childhood obesity can be solved by this concept bearing in mind that a collective or bipartisan approach is required to effectively combat the problem. Functional solutions cannot be reached by a single party.
In this regard, parents and guardians can closely work with teachers and other education officials to devise efficient methods of preventing and controlling childhood obesity (Trasande, 2010).
On a final note, the collaborative approach can also be used by teachers, parents, and guardians to decide on the number of meals taken by children while at home and school.
References
Ball, K. & Crawford, D. (2008). The role of socio-cultural factors in the obesity epidemic. New York: Oxford University Press.
Trasande, L. (2010). How much should we invest in preventing childhood obesity? Health Affairs, 29(3), 372-378.