Childhood obesity is one of the most critical Maltese health issues. In 2010, Malta had among the worst child obesity rates in Europe. Moreover, according to research conducted in 2013, Maltese kids were the second most overweight and obese in Europe, especially those aged between 10 and 11.
This shows the urgent need to identify the causes and find ways to tackle childhood obesity in Malta.
Obesity is a solvable issue and is easier to accomplish if it is caught and controlled at an early stage. Furthermore, in many cases, no medical approach is required but a better lifestyle consisting of a well-balanced diet and by doing more physical exercise.
If uncontrolled, obesity can become a serious medical condition that may lead to other more harsh health-related problems. It is characterised as having an excessive amount of body fat in relation to the body muscular density. In more medical terms, obesity is caused by an imbalance between energy intake and energy expenditure.
Body mass index (BMI) is an outcome measure to determine obesity by dividing body weight by height squared (kg/m2). Childhood obesity is interpreted as a BMI at or above the 95th percentile. Those that are between the 85th and 95th percentile are considered at risk of becoming overweight/obese.
Factors that highly influence obesity include genetics, behaviour and the environment.
Certain genetic factors may lead to obesity in children and maximise the child’s liability for obesity. Metabolism could also be influenced by genetic factors. Obesity can also be heritable from parents to children and, therefore, taking action when early signs emerge and trying to avoid obesity through natural means, that is, by doing physical activities and controlling food consumption, would be beneficial to the child.
Children who are obese tend to have a negative body image, which, in turn, leads to low self-esteem
Behavioural factors that may lead to obesity are poor diet, lack of physical activity and a sedentary lifestyle, especially in modern days where everything is controlled by digital means and less physical movement is required. These factors are a vicious cycle, with one leading to another.
Another factor that has an impact on promoting obesity among children is the environment, whether at home, in school and in the community.
Health-related problems are linked to obesity in children; these problems are not only physical but also psychological and social. Childhood obesity increases the risk of having cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure, higher cholesterol levels, type 2 diabetes, respiratory problems such as asthma, shortness of breath, sleep apnea etc…, musculoskeletal and liver problems such as hepatic steatosis.
Children who are obese tend to have a negative body image, which, in turn, leads to low self-esteem (children feel depressed and nervous) and a negative effect on their behaviour. This could also impact negatively on their academic and social development (children feel socially segregated and stigmatised by their peers).
The complications mentioned above are severe and could eventually affect the health of a child even in adulthood. Therefore, there’s a need to address this problem at every possible step through adequate interventions and motivational strategies.
Governments, communities, schools and parents can cooperate in the prevention and management of obesity. A strong format in the behavioural moulding of the child is family bonding because the family can have an impact on the child’s behaviour and lifestyle. Therefore, effective interventions in a family ambience can be a favourable way to change the child’s behaviour with regard to poor diet and lack of physical exercise.
It is of utmost importance that parents are aware enough of the risks a child faces due to obesity and to take preventive measures to manage the problem. Both the school and the community also play an important part in the life of the child to adopt a healthier lifestyle.
Schools can encourage children by promoting physical educational skills and healthy nutrition as can the community, which plays a very essential role because it can organise social events that include healthy food and physical activity-based programmes as well as providing facilities that make for a healthy lifestyle. Moreover, the community can have an impact on the media by stimulating healthy educational/ preventive programmes aimed at parents and children to make them more aware of childhood obesity.
Childhood obesity is one of the most serious public health crisis both nationally and internationally. This problem can be minimised by educating children and parents about the importance of a balanced diet and being physically active.
Effective measures and governmental policies are in place for the prevention and management of childhood obesity to help children endorse a healthier behaviour throughout their life, thus leading to a healthier lifestyle in the future.
The children of today are the future, thus, by changing the course of this growing epidemic by sustainable interventions we would be immensely contributing for a better tomorrow.
All four are second-year diploma nursing students.