Relationship between Canada’s Children Obesity and their Eating Habits
Although obesity among children has been increasing over the last three decades, there is still not enough research in this field in Canada (Grenier, 6). This is a relatively new subject that interests the researchers and the few papers that are already made are, in general, not conclusive. This research paper will discuss about overweight and obesity in childhood and its contributing main factors which are: critical periods, genetics, nutritional, environment, and physical activity. Since research tends to demonstrate that genetics is the most important factor, this research will try to show that the nutritional aspect is the main factor which contributes to childhood obesity. Then two questionnaires will be distributed: one to elementary grade students and another one to their parents. Finally, the questionnaires will be analysed and compared according to the factors stated above. I hope to reiterate undoubtedly that nutrition is the major factor. Hopefully new views that could change already known points will be found. This research will also highlight how to read the nutritional facts labels from Kurtzweil and US Food and Drug Administration articles and compare products such as cheese, yogurt, chips, etc. to show that selected products, we purchase can satisfy our stomach and our health. The reason why I am interested in this subject is that the non-stop raise of obesity among children is epidemic and is now a real society problem. We have to find solutions to drastically decrease this alarming raise. But we have first to compare the factors starting with what is called by Dietz, professor of pediatrics (955), the critical periods.
In particular, she points out three critical periods that relate to the obesity development in childhood. They are ″gestation and early infancy,″ ″the period of adiposity[1] rebound that occurs
between 5 and 7 years of age,″ and ″adolescence″. Indeed, she relates the first period to early adiposity in adulthood, the second period, the adiposity rebound, to early maturation, and the last period to greater obesity in adulthood. While Deckelbaum et al. state that the worst time to be overweight[2] or obese is during adolescence not only due to prevalence of obesity during adulthood but even if surplus of weight is lost as adult, high risk of mortality remains. Deckelbaum also argues that urgent research is needed in the field of prevention and treatment of obesity in childhood. Dietz also adds that when obesity develops during these three critical periods, ″the risks of persistent obesity″ during span-life is higher than those who do not develop these factors at a young age. Jefferey (821) agrees that early development of fatness is a risk factor. These critical periods are possibly related to future obesity but we always have to take care of our health. If we cannot allow this when we are young due to parents’ control and that we are too young to understand what needs to be eaten and done to maintain health, we could suggest that it is never too late to start adjusting eating habits as recommended by the latest Canadian food guide.
In fact, Dietz (955) debates that over-nutrition or under-nutrition during prenatal period plays a role in overweight at a later time and that many studies show that birth weight is related to later obesity. However, in Seeley’s (14, 20, 21) review of the literature, she indicates that studies are still controversial since research do not all agree with the fact that breast feeding always lead to lean children and that this aspect is complex. However, she supports that a high saturated fat intake is a strong factor which many studies agree with. Jeffery (821) points out that research is missing about the relationship between fat intake and total energy intake (but prefers to say fat intake instead of energy intake) and adds that fat intake is more risky for developing fatness. Torgan also agrees that too much calories intake and too little physical activities are main factors. Statistics Canada (2006) highlights that the calorie intake should be measured according to age, sex, weight, height and activity level. Statistics Canada also note that the Canadians’ calories intake has not increased in 2004 compared with the survey made in 1970-72. Kiess, Marcus, and Wabitsch (80) extrapolates that "over consumption of fat-rich diets" and too little physical activities due to watching television and playing video games "heavily contribute" to gaining surplus of weight and conclude that more research is needed to measure excess energy intake versus energy expenditure[3] (viii). Părízková (7) says that the diet composition "with high intake of fat and/or sugar" has been studied. She also advances that “many studies have not shown any significant differences between the food intake of obese and normal-weight subjects". Kiess, Marcus, and Wabitsch (103-5) agree with Jeffery’s statement (821) that relationship of energy intake between normal and overweight children is difficult to control due to underreported intake energy from non normal weight children. But they advance that a fat dietary intake is a great aspect of fat increase. They report that more frequent daily meals help reducing the risk of gaining weight. On the other hand, they report that "most people believe that obese and overweight children have a higher energy and fat intake than normal-weight children. However, no clear-cut associations were found in nutrient and/or food intake and bodyweight." Although birth weight is considered being a good point from many researchers, we should not forget that all life-span, the fat intake and the total calories intake play the major role in obesity development.
But associated with nutrition, Seeley (14, 19) illustrates that for the physical activity factor, all studies seem to correlate that the more a child is active, the less fat amount he has but confirms that more research is needed since it is a complex factor. Jeffery (821) claims that not enough exercise is one of the factors and reports that the obese are less active than those who are not. The research made by Statistics Canada in 1994/95 shows that many factors are related to physical activity. Indeed, Statistics Canada narrate that ″people who are young, well-educated, healthy, former smokers, or had a high sense of mastery tended to begin or continue to be physically active.″ But their study relies on adults from 20 to 65 years of age. Kiess, Marcus, and Wabitsch (105) noticed that even if overweight children do not change their high fat diet intake, they can lose some percentages of adiposity by doing physical training. Although it is difficult to allow enough time to practice a sport in our today’s life, we have to make regular efforts to do so. Being tired or not having time for physical activity should not be an excuse because health is what is said being the most important in life and a life-span without the healthy feeling is a long difficult life to go through.
This is why Jeffery (819) researched about prevention and environment and indicates that research showed that to lose weight, the environment has to be changed. However, prevention remains the secret to stay lean and adds that ″obesity is not innate, but rather develops over time.″ The prevention aspect has not yet been studied. He also highlights that obesity is difficult to treat. Even if Mela et al. (62-3) think that genetics is the major factor, they lessen its importance saying that prevention diet in childhood may control later obesity. The environment includes changing our habits when we go to the restaurants, when we eat meals with our family, and when we sit down and watch tv, the snacks should be modified. Although prevention helps to stay healthy, we should not forget the genetic factor.
According to Jeffery (819-21); Cameron et al. (8, 62); and Părízková, Hills (47) who mention that genetic predisposition is the strongest factor. Jeffery also calls that ″family history″ and adds that this factor equals around 50% of why people are fat. He also claims that if children develop early fatness, it is an important factor that will predispose them to obesity. However, he states that obesity is not innate but instead develops in time. Seeley (16) attests that the family history is an important factor which indicates that children who have 2 obese parents will probably be overweight during their youth. She adds that although many studies have been made about the genetic factor, the results are still not conclusive and Statistics Canada (Heart disease 24) agrees with this statement but add that it has to be researched together with environments, behaviour, and lifestyle factors. On the other hand, Carol Torgan counter argues the fact that genetics is the most important. Indeed, she claims that doing exercises and eating less weigh a lot in the balance. And the question would be do sick genes evolve from generation to generation? It is difficult to believe so due to the rapid increase of youth obesity. The genes could not change as fast as that.
Finally, the latest factor, socioeconomic, has been, according to Seeley (14, 18), researched and studies show that this factor has been studied and showed that when parents have a low level of education and have low-income, children overweight could be associated to these factors but that more studies are needed since this factor is complex. Statistics Canada tends to reflect Seeley’s statement with the study made in 1998/99. Statistics Canada found that due to low income (and middle-income), people changed their usual food intake because they were afraid to have not enough money. This is what they call ″food insecurity″. Statistics Canada also showed that 29% of children below 18 already lived a situation of not having the necessary food. Most of low-income family children do not suffer from under-nutrition because parents sacrify themselves instead. Statistics Canada adds that ″during infancy and childhood, a poor nutrition diet is related to many development problems″ but do not discuss about later obesity problems. Statistics Canada concludes that children need more calories and nutrients than adults. It is almost unbelievable in our country that children cannot eat recommended food due to economical purpose. Indeed, it is possible to eat healthy food and the quantities required with little money. Often, the most expensive products are the ones that are called ″other foods″ in the Canadian food guide. Even this guide is a good reference, there are however some important points that are not taken into consideration such as height and weight of people. In fact, by looking at this guide, we cannot know if our daily diet is for 1500, 2000, or 2500 calories intake.
It is difficult to believe that genetics would be the most responsible factor that contributes developing fatness among children because no study shows that genes evolve over time. According to me, the causes that would be involved are mostly nutritional and physical activity aspects that will be highlighted in my both questionnaires submitted to elementary grade students and to their parents.
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[1] Adiposity: to have sufficient fat to be calculated as obese.
[2] Overweight does not mean obese. People who are overweight have a surplus of weight but are still not obese.
[3] Energy intake vs Energy expenditure: Total calories intaked vs total calories spent.
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