The Childhood Obesity Epidemic: Threats and Opportunities

2010 ◽  
1970 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Arhlene A. Flowers ◽  
Katalin Lustyik ◽  
Emese Gulyás

Unhealthy foods and drinks are among the top products advertised to young children. Considering the growing childhood obesity epidemic and the soaring number of children accessing the Internet, even online junk food advertising has come under increasing scrutiny. Many countries are in the process of expanding and revising existing regulation to account for the realities of the digital age and to respond to health and other social concerns. This paper focuses on two European countries in particular to examine and compare these processes through the lens of junk food advergames aimed at children. Our questions are: 1) Given the differences in the media landscapes of the UK and Hungary, what types of junk food advergames target children?; and 2) In light of the growing childhood obesity problem faced by both nations, how have government bodies, advocacy groups, and advertisers approached junk food advertising targeting children in general and online advertising including advergames in particular? The United Kingdom represents a country with the highest Internet usage by children and the most developed online advertising market in Europe, while Hungary, a post-communist country, represents an emerging media market where young people have less access to the Internet and buying power but constitute a crucial “entry point” for food advertisers.


2012 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
pp. 218-225
Author(s):  
Yvonne Larrier ◽  
Jimmy Kijai ◽  
Michelle A. Bakerson ◽  
Lynne Walker ◽  
Jeremy Linton ◽  
...  

2007 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 148-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terry T-K Huang ◽  
Mary N. Horlick

Childhood obesity continues to rise in the United States, with now over 17% of children and adolescents considered overweight. Childhood obesity predisposes an entire generation to increased risk of chronic diseases and disabilities and is a severe threat to the economic well-being of the nation. At first thought, the solution to the obesity epidemic may seem simple: encourage people to eat less and exercise more. However, the reality is that behavioral change is difficult to achieve without also considering the interplay of genetics, biological processes, and social and environmental mechanisms. As such, investment in obesity research has been considered an important tool to combat obesity and obesity-related diseases. Childhood obesity research, in particular, has drawn considerable attention, given the lower cost of prevention relative to treatment and the high potential for long-term benefits at a population level.


Author(s):  
Michael Pizzi ◽  
Kerryellen G. Vroman ◽  
Cynthia Lau ◽  
Simone V. Gill ◽  
Susan Bazyk ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. S3-S21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafael Pérez-Escamilla

Public–private partnerships (PPPs) have been recognized as central for addressing the childhood obesity epidemic. However, very few real-world examples have been published documenting the workings of effective PPPs. The objective of this article is to identify the factors that enabled the successful implementation of school-based PPPs focusing mainly on nutrition and physical activity in 7 countries located in Asia (China and India), Africa (South Africa), Europe (Germany, United Kingdom), and Latin America (Brazil and Mexico). We triaged qualitative data from (1) proceedings from 2 school-based healthy lifestyles program evaluation workshops in October 2013 and in May 2016; (2) Mondelēz International Foundation (MIF) annual country reports and MIF project reports; and (3) interviews with key program leaders from each program. Extracted data were mapped into each of the 11 guiding principles for effective PPPs recently developed by a multisectoral public–private group of stakeholders in the United States. Three of the 7 countries met all, and the remaining 4 met between 4 and 7 of the guiding principles. Therefore, it is not surprising that there is strong evidence that all programs are having a positive impact on healthy lifestyles knowledge and practices in the target populations. This MIF-led initiative provides important lessons as to how to establish effective PPPs designed to tackle the childhood obesity epidemic globally.


2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 461-472 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leigh M. Vanderloo ◽  
Patricia Tucker ◽  
Ali Ismail ◽  
Melissa M. van Zandvoort

Background:Preschoolers spend a substantial portion of their day in childcare; therefore, these centers are an ideal venue to encourage healthy active behaviors. It is important that provinces’/territories’ childcare legislation encourage physical activity (PA) opportunities. The purpose of this study was to review Canadian provincial/territorial childcare legislation regarding PA participation. Specifically, this review sought to 1) appraise each provincial/territorial childcare regulation for PA requirements, 2) compare such regulations with the NASPE PA guidelines, and 3) appraise these regulations regarding PA infrastructure.Methods:A review of all provincial/territorial childcare legislation was performed. Each document was reviewed separately by 2 researchers, and the PA regulations were coded and summarized. The specific provincial/territorial PA requirements (eg, type/frequency of activity) were compared with the NASPE guidelines.Results:PA legislation for Canadian childcare facilities varies greatly. Eight of the thirteen provinces/territories provide PA recommendations; however, none provided specific time requirements for daily PA. All provinces/territories did require access to an outdoor play space.Conclusion:All Canadian provinces/territories lack specific PA guidelines for childcare facilities. The development, implementation, and enforcement of national PA legislation for childcare facilities may aid in tackling the childhood obesity epidemic and assist childcare staff in supporting and encouraging PA participation.


2011 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 158
Author(s):  
B.W. McCrindle ◽  
C. Manlhiot ◽  
D. Gibson ◽  
N. Chahal ◽  
H. Wong ◽  
...  

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