There is increasing evidence that social influence and social network structures are significant factors in childhood obesity. The worldwide increase in obesity has led to changes in what is considered normal or desirable weight, especially among populations at higher risk. According to Shoham et al., (2015), social norms are important in understanding the childhood obesity epidemic, and social influence mechanisms provide a necessary linkage between individual obesity-related behaviors and population-level characteristics.
Stakeholders provide experience on the appropriateness and feasibility of evaluation questions, insights, and suggest methods to access the target populations. They provide ongoing feedback and recommendations and help make evaluation results actionable. According to Ganter et al., (2015), stakeholders are well-positioned to influence both childrens and their families lifestyle choices and can significantly affect the outcomes of childhood obesity prevention programs and initiatives. Understanding stakeholders perspectives regarding childhood obesity prevention programs are essential in the planning and implementation process in dealing with the social aspects of childhood obesity.
Reducing obesity requires policy changes that improve the food and physical activity evasions not only for children but the general population. Environmental policies such as physical activity promotion and efforts to improve access to healthy food are some of the policies to start with. The government’s role in obesity has largely focused on interventions and policies such as national surveillance, obesity education and awareness, grant-based food subsidy programs, school-based nutrition programs, dietary guidelines, nutrition labeling, and food marketing. By reforming approaches to nutrition, exercise, and health in schools, and policies on development and infrastructure projects that support healthy lifestyles will have an impact on childhood obesity. Stakeholders can also influence policies by influencing the food and beverage industry to reduce the sugar level in beverages sold in schools and our communities.
Obesity is associated with increased healthcare costs than those for normal-weight individuals. Donors can help bring an end to the childhood obesity epidemic by implementing one or more of the following interlocking prevention strategies; start early life influences by providing support and education to pregnant and new mothers, increase access to healthy foods and physical activity, and provide comprehensive nutritional education to preschool students and their families.
Organizational-wise, parents, caregivers, and non-governmental and governmental organizations can help prevent childhood obesity by providing healthy meals and snacks, daily physical activity, and nutritional education. Healthy meals and snacks provide nutrition for growing bodies while modeling healthy eating behavior and attitudes.
Community hospitals reach a large population of patients and visitors and can have an impact on the community. This makes them an important setting for obesity prevention efforts such as providing education on the available food and beverage options that are healthy and help youths to meets dietary recommendations. Create a local wellness policy to promote student health and reduce childhood obesity.
On the part of the social sector, there is evidence that obesity is socially distributed, with minority populations at increased risk. Social and economic factors, such as income, education, employment, community safety, and social supports can significantly affect childhood obesity. These factors affect the ability to make healthy choices, afford medical care, and more.
References
Ganter, C., Aftosmes-Tobio, A., Chuang, E., Blaine, R. E., Land, T., & Davison, K. K. (2015). Community stakeholders perceptions of major factors influencing childhood obesity, the feasibility of programs addressing childhood obesity, and persisting gaps. Journal of Community Health, 41(2), 305-314. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-015-0097-y
Shoham, D. A., Hammond, R., Rahmandad, H., Wang, Y., & Hovmand, P. (2015). Modeling social norms and social influence in obesity. Current Epidemiology Reports, 2(1), 71-79. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40471-014-0032-2
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