Tiffany Lewis, MSCRA, CCRPDrPH-Epidemiology Student

Walden UniversityPUBH 8165(2)

Instructor: Dr. Raymond ThronWinter 2011

Environmental Health Significance of Childhood Obesity Causes of Childhood Obesity Environmental Causes of Childhood

Obesity Implications of Childhood Obesity Stakeholders How Schools can Improve Environmental

Factors Contributing to Obesity How to Accomplish these Goals

Environmental health addresses all factors external to an individual that may harm the health of that person.

It is the aim of environmental health to prevent these factors before the development of a disease or ailment.

Models of Environmental Health Public Health Intervention Model

Environmental Stewardship Model

Clinical Intervention Model

References Moeller, D. W. (2005). Environmental health (3rd ed.). Boston: Harvard University Press

Childhood obesity ranks among the world’s most significant health problems.

Picture : Battling childhood weight problems at home. Accessed from http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/05/28/battling-childhood-weight-problems-at-home/

References Ogden, C., Flegal, K., Carrol, M., & Johnson, C. (1999-2000). Prevalence and trends in overweight among US children

and adolescents. Journal of the American Medical Association,288(14), 1728-1732.

Obesity is defined as a body mass index (BMI) above the 95th percentile for age and height (CDC, 2011).

Obesity has tripled in the past thirty years (CDC).

Eleven percent of children in the US are considered obese (Dehghan, Akhtar-Danesh, & Merchant, 2005).

References CDC, (2011). Childhood obesity. Retrieved April 13th, 2011 from http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/obesity/ Dehghan, M., Akhtar-Danesh, N., & Merchant, A. (2005). Childhood obesity prevalence and

prevention. Nutrition, 4(24), 1186.

Georgia ranks third in childhood obesity in the US.

One out of every four third graders, in Georgia is obese, which is five times the average of the entire US population.

Georgia’s medical costs associated with childhood obesity soars over $2.5 billion yearly.

References College of Education (2011). COA researchers receive grant to reduce childhood obesity. Retrieved April 13th,

2011 from http://www.coe.uga.edu/news/2010/09/08/coe-researchers-receive-grant-to-reduce-childhood-obesity/

Picture: National Conference of State Legislatures accessed from http://www.ncsl.org/?tabid=13877

Genetic Dimensions- Leptin deficiency, hypothyroidism, growth hormone deficiency, steroids (Dehghan, Akhtar-Danesh, & Merchant, 2005).

Behavioral Dimensions- Diet, physical activity (Dehghan, Akhtar-Danesh, & Merchant, 2005).

Psychosocial Dimensions- Depression, low self esteem (Schwimmer, Burwinkle, & Varni, 2003).

References Dehghan, M., Akhtar-Danesh, N., & Merchant, A. (2005).Childhood obesity prevalence and prevention.

Nutrition, 4(24),1186. Schwimmer, J., Burwinkle, T., & Varni, J. (2003) Obese children and their parents report impaired quality

of life. Journal of the American Medical Association, 289(14), 1813-19

Parents, economics, access to healthy foods and sites for physical activity (Wardle, Guthrie, Birch, & Plomin, 2001; Scott & Wilson, 2011).

School nutrition and environmental obstacles

Picture: Parents who are ‘too fat to work’ say £20,000 worth of benefits is not enough. Accessed from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/5004431/Family-who-are-too-fat-to-work-say-22000-worth-of-benefits-is-not-enough.html

References Wardle, J., Guthrie, C., Birch, L., & Plomin, R., (2001). Food and activity preferences in children of lean and obese parents.

International Journal of Obesity, 25(7), 971-977. Scott, A., & Wilson, R. (2011). Upstream ecological risks for overweight and obesity among African American youth in a rural town

in the Deep South, 2007. Prev Chronic Dis, 8(1).

Unresolved childhood obesity may lead to diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, asthma, or sleep apnea.

Obesity may also lead to psychological disorders such as low self esteem or depression which may ultimately lead to suicide attempts.

References Dehghan, M., Akhtar-Danesh, N., & Merchant, A. (2005). Childhood obesity prevalence and prevention. Nutrition,

4(24), 1186.

Overweight children have increases in absenteeism from schools (Geier, Foster, & Womble, 2007).

Lower scholastic performances (Sabia, 2007).

Increased drop-out rates (Geier, Foster, & Womble, 2007).

Lower socioeconomic status into adulthood (Kaestner, Grossman, & Yarnoff, 2009).

References Geier, A., Foster, G., Womble L. (2007). The relationship between relative weight and school attendance among

elementary school children. Obesity, 15(8), 2157–2161 Kaestner, R., Grossman, M., Yarnoff, B. (2009). Economic aspects of obesity. (1st ed). Chicago: University of Chicago

Press. Sabia, J. (2007). The effect of body weight on adolescent academic performance. Southern Econ J. 73(4):871–900

Schools Federal and state government Parents Healthcare industry Media Food/beverage companies.

Nutrition Physical activity Walking/Biking Benefits of breakfast Community based teachings Health status report cards Advertisements

Funding Teacher Volunteers

Picture: Manatee students, teachers make exercise video to promote good health. Accessed from http://www.baynews9.com/article/news/2010/october/158989/Manatee-students-teachers-make-exercise-video-to-promote-good-health

Childhood obesity had tripled in the last 30 years.

Obese children grow into obese adults. Environmental factors/barriers need to be

considered as facilitators to obesity and schools can play a major role in combating these issues that may lead to obesity.

Picture: Exercise and fitness for kids. Fun fitness activities to keep kids healthy and fit. Accessed from http://fitnesslines.com/health-tips/exercise-and-fitness-for-kids/

References CDC, (2011). Childhood obesity. Retrieved April 13th, 2011 from http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/obesity/

ABC News Health (2011). Beyonce’ joins Michelle Obama’s initiative to fight childhood obesity. Retrieved April 30th, 2011 from

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/beyonce-drops-music-video-fight-childhood-obesity/comments?type=story&id=13482133

Arif, A. Rohrer J. (2006). The relationship between obesity, hyperglycemia symptoms, and health-related

quality of life among Hispanic and non-Hispanic white children and adolescents. BMC Family Practice, 7(13), 1-7.

CDC, (2011). Childhood obesity. Retrieved April 13th, 2011 from http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/obesity/

College of Education (2011). COA researchers receive grant to reduce childhood obesity. Retrieved April 13th, 2011 from http://www.coe.uga.edu/news/2010/09/08/coe-researchers- receive-grant-to-reduce-childhood-obesity/

Dehghan, M., Akhtar-Danesh, N., & Merchant, A. (2005). Childhood obesity prevalence and prevention. Nutrition, 4(24), 1186.

Fallon, E., et al (2005). Health-related quality of life in overweight and non overweight black and white adolescents. The Journal of Pediatrics,147, 443-50.

Geier, A., Foster, G., Womble L. (2007). The relationship between relative weight and school attendance among elementary schoolchildren. Obesity, 15(8), 2157-2161

Georgia Department of Education (2011). School nutrition. Retrieved April 13th, 2011 from

http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/fbo_nutrition.aspx Kaestner, R., Grossman, M., Yarnoff, B. (2009).

Economic aspects of obesity (1st ed). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Mayo Clinic (2011). Why does eating breakfast help control weight? Retrieved April 13th, 2011 from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/food-and-nutrition/AN01119

McGuire, L. Smith, N. (2000). Cycling safety: injury prevention in Oxford cyclists. Injury Prevention, 6(4), 285-287.

Moeller, D. W. (2005). Environmental health (3rd ed.). Boston: Harvard University Press.

Montague, C. (1997).Congenital leptin deficiency is associated with severe early-onset obesity in humans. Nature, 387, 903-908.

Ogden, C., Flegal, K., Carrol, M., & Johnson, C. (1999-2000). Prevalence and trends in overweight among US children and

adolescents. Journal of the American Medical Association, 288(14), 1728-1732.

Sabia, J. (2007). The effect of body weight on adolescent academic performance.

Southern Econ J, 73(4), 871-900.

Schneider M.J. (2010). Introduction of public health. Sudbury, MA. Jones and Barlett Publishers.

Schwimmer, J., Burwinkle, T., & Varni, J. (2003) Obese children and their parents report impaired quality of life. Journal of the American Medical Association, 289(14), 1813-19.

Scott, A., & Wilson, R. (2011). Upstream ecological risks for overweight and obesity among African

American youth in a rural town in the Deep South, 2007. Prev Chronic Dis, 8(1).

Wardle, J., Guthrie, C., Birch, L., & Plomin, R. (2001). Food and activity preferences in children of

lean and obese parents. International Journal of Obesity, 25(7), 971-977.

CDC, (2011). Make a difference at your school. Key strategies to prevent obesity. Retrieved April 13th, 2011 from http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/keystrategies/index.htm

CDC, (2011). The role of schools in preventing childhood obesity. Retrieved April 14th2011 from http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/physicalactivity/pdf/role

ofschools_obesity.pdf Penn Live (2010). Combating childhood obesity: schools

offer kids exercise, education and health assessments. Retrieved April 13th, 2011 from http://www.pennlive.com/bodyandmind/index.ssf/2010/05/combating_childhood_obesity_sc.html

US News (2004). Tackling childhood obesity in the schools. Retrieved April 13th, 2011 from http://health.usnews.com/usnews/health/articles/041011/11fat.htm