Strategies for Tackling Childhood / Teenage Obesity Capstone Project

Community Advocacy Project-Health Policies

Course Project: Community Advocacy Project-Health Policies

Child obesity refers to a medical condition that mainly affects teenagers and children. This happens when their bodies store excessive body fat. A child can be classified as obese if his or her weight is above the stipulated average for the age and height bracket. Weight gain occurs when energy in the form of drink and food is more than the energy burnt off (Koplan et al., 2005). Few teenagers and children suffer from obesity because of uncommon genetic diseases. The following study endeavors to identify the existing policies that affect child obesity and explain whether they are adequate or need to be revised based on their limitations and strengths. It also explains the important aspects when addressing the issue of child obesity.

Current policies

The existing policies include early assessment of risk. This policy is necessary as early obesity in children can track to adulthood. It is shown that efforts to prevent obesity must begin early in a child's life. Experts recommend that in every routine pediatric visit, professionals should measure the child's height, weight and length in a standardized way using the most recent growth charts established by the World Health Organization.In fact, health professionals have the opportunities to alert parents of their children's excess weight early enough to allow prevention and intervention. These policies are not enough and more should be done to create and adopt others that will assist in the complete elimination of child obesity. This policy has a number of limitations in that equipment used in the collection of data is not consistent particularly in Philadelphia. There is racial discrimination evident in the collection of data in Philadelphia, hence, the disparities.

Suggested policies

Health practitioners should encourage parents and their children to create and practice healthier behaviors. Evidently, most individuals have increased the time spent in sedentary pursuits and reduced their participation in physical activity. Evidence suggests that increased physical activities reduce the chances of a child suffering from obesity. Early childhood educators and childcare providers should give children and….....