Summary
There are associations between socioeconomic and behavioral characteristics and physical activity (PA) and inactivity among children. Prevention of obesity in children and youth is, greatly determined by the community, comprising individuals and families sharing similar values and beliefs. Public health professionals have recognized the need for community involvement in promoting healthful lifestyles by capitalizing on the naturally occurring social structures of local communities to bring about health changes.
The vision of Healthy People 2010—“healthy people in healthy communities” depends on communities:
- which can foster social norms
- support energy balance and a physically active lifestyle (DHHS, 2000b).
Community-based obesity prevention
Provide informal settings to children and adolescents. Can offer environments that are more conducive to trying new activities and foods. Can offer the potential for parental involvement and adult role models to promote healthful behaviors.
Can enhance local assets for promoting physical activity by designing and revamping community facilities such as health clubs, playgrounds, etc.
Community-wide interventions
Efforts aim at initiating dietary change and increased physical activity through interventions:
- media campaigns
- education programs for health professionals and the general public,
- modifications of physical environments
- health screenings and referrals
- home- and school-based interventions.
The bias of race and gender in Medical Treatment
Inequality in the delivery of healthcare has been confirmed in studies in the US (Brian et al, 2002). Studies indicate that white patients are more likely than black patients to undergo various invasive cardiac procedures. Differences occur depending on age, sex, clinical factors, socioeconomic status, and insurance status of patients (Whittle, et al., 1993).
The policy for childhood obesity fails to meet its goals
Since the 1970s, obesity prevalence has more than doubled for preschool children and adolescents. The increasing prevalence of childhood obesity has led policymakers to rank it as a critical public health threat. For children born in the U.S. in 2000, the lifetime risk of being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes is estimated at 30% for boys and 40% for girls (Feeg, 2004).
Reduced Funding
Funding is available to local teams of researchers, policymakers, and other stakeholders to identify research questions that are relevant to obesity-related policy needs and to design the research and use its results collaboratively. A project period of up to two years and a budget for direct costs of up to two $25,000 modules, or $50,000 per year, maybe requested (i.e., a maximum of $100,000 over two years in four modules of $25,000 each). Commensurate Facilities and Administrative (F&A) costs are allowed.
Current Legislation being discussed regarding childhood obesity
The Senate’s bill (S.2551), “Childhood Obesity Reduction Act,” was introduced on June 21, 2004, by Senator Bill Frist (R-TN) and Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR). The second bill has the same title and was introduced to the House of Representatives (H.R. 4941) on July 22, 2004, by Congresswoman Kay Granger (R-TX) and Congressman Steny Hoyer (DMD).
Both bills are directed toward schools and school districts.
Affects of CIA Budget cuts
President’s Fiscal Year 2006 Budget Proposal cuts $19 million to the Carol M. White Physical Education for Progress (PEP) Program which provides funds to schools for the purchase of sports/fitness equipment and for training/hiring of more Physical Education teachers. The proposed budget also includes a $92.5 million cut in the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) which provides money for parks, trails, soccer fields, baseball diamonds, basketball courts and playgrounds making them available and accessible to the general public.
References
- Brian D. Smedley, Adrienne Y. Stith, and Alan R. Nelson, eds., Unequal Treatment. Confronting Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care, Institute of Medicine, Washington, DC, 2002.
- Childhood Obesity Reduction Act. (2004a). House of Representatives’ Bill Number 4941.
- Childhood Obesity Reduction Act. (2004b). Senate Bill Number 2551.
- Feeg V., (2004). Combating childhood obesity: a collective effort, Pediatric Nursing
- Whittle, et al., “Racial Differences in the Use of Invasive Cardiovascular Procedures in the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical System,”JAMA, 1993, pp. 621-627.
- US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), 2000