Childhood Obesity: A Global Public Health Crisis

Abstract

Introduction:Childhood obesity is a major public health crisis
nationally and internationally. The prevalence of  childhood obesity has increased over few years. It is caused by imbalance between calorie intake and calories utilized. One or more factors (genetic, behavioral, and environmental) cause obesity in children. Physical, psychological, and social health problems are caused due to childhood obesity. Hence, effective intervention strategies are being used to prevent and control obesity in children. The purpose of  this manuscript is to address various factors infuencing childhood obesity, a variety of interventions and governmental actions addressing obesity and the
challenges ahead for managing this epidemic.
Methods: In order to collect materials for this review a detailed
search of  CINAHL, MEDLINE, ERIC, Academic Search Premier
databases was carried out for the time period 1999‑2011.
Results: Some of  the interventions used were family based, school based, community based, play based, and hospital based. The effective school‑based interventions were seen targeting physical activity along with healthy diet education. The major challenges faced by these intervention programs are financial, along with stigmatization of  obese children. Governments along with other health care organizations are taking effective actions like policy changing and environmentally safe interventions for children to improve physical activity.
Conclusions: In conclusion, childhood obesity can be tackled
at the population level by education, prevention and sustainable
interventions related to healthy nutrition practices and physical
activity promotion.
Keywords: Calorie imbalance, childhood obesity, interventions,
physical activity, policy changing