Obesity Research in Children. Overweight

¶ … OBESITY RESEARCH in CHILDREN. Overweight and obesity has emerged as a serious health issue in the United States. Currently, the overweight/obesity rate among American adults is nearing the fifty percent mark with childhood overweight/obesity rates at thirty percent. Since overweight/obese children are at a tremendously increased risk of adult (and lifelong) overweight/obesity, the medical community has begun emphasizing the crucial importance of identifying the factors that contribute to overweight/obesity in children (Epstein, Paluch, Gordy, et al., 2000).

By understanding how children become obese and what types of behavioral and dietetic changes are most likely to help them achieve and maintain excess weight loss, researchers hope to reduce the overweight/obesity rate among children. Given the established connection between childhood obesity and adult overweight/obesity and the many related significant adult health problems associated with overweight/obesity, reducing childhood obesity is considered a tremendously important goal (Epstein, Paluch, Gordy, et al., 2000).

Contemporary Research Studies A series of empirical research studies spanning more than a decade from 1991 to 2004 has included investigations into the casual relationship between behavioral choices available to children: More specifically, one study determined that behavioral choices are directly related to weight loss and that increased activity is instrumental to obesity reduction in children (Epstein, Valoski, Vara, et al., 1995). Another similar subsequent study determined that children who are already obese are significantly less likely than non-obese and moderately obese children to engage in non-sedentary (i.e. active vs.

passive) play and recreational activities (Epstein, Kilanowski, Consalvi, et al., 1999). That research also examined the motivation of children to pursue active play activities instead of passive or sedentary play activities and strongly suggests that obese children are inclined to ignore opportunities for more active types of recreation than either non-obese or moderately obese children. On the other hand, there is empirical evidence that positive reinforcement and reward is an effective means of promoting more active behavioral choices in obese children (Epstein, Paluch, Kilanowski, et al., 2004).

However, early research determined that obese children will persist in choosing sedentary activities much more than non-obese children even when the difficulty (as measured by immediate cost) of doing so increases in relation to the difficulty (as measured by immediate cost) (Epstein, Smith, Vara, et al., 1991).

Implications and Recommendations The implication of the collective weight of empirical research into factors affecting childhood obesity strongly support the approach of positively reinforcing healthier food choices and also of positively reinforcing the voluntary selection of active play activities instead of sedentary play activities in children who are either at risk of obesity or already obese. (Epstein, Paluch, Gordy, et al., 2000; Epstein, Paluch, Kilanowski, et al., 2004).

Since highly obese children are less capable of being motivated in those directions than moderately obese and non-obese children (Epstein, Kilanowski, Consalvi, et al., 1999), it would also seem especially important to intervene before children reach the point of extreme obesity. Ultimately, both methods should be widely incorporated into contemporary childhood education and healthcare responses to overweight and obesity. References Epstein, Leonard H., Kilanowski, Colleen K., Consalvi, Angela R., and Paluch, Rocco a. "Reinforcing value of physical activity as a determinant of child activity level." Health Psychology, Vol 18(6), Nov, 1999. pp. 599-603.