Challenges in Nursing: Increased Childhood Obesity Essay

Modern nurses encounter many difficulties slice fulfilling their part as a patient urge, educator, and partner. One major task nurses ar confronted with is the larning epidemic of boorhood corpulency as younger patients atomic number 18 being treated for serious conditions usually associated with adult patients. According to the Ameri give notice Nurses Association article, Fighting Childhood Obesity, approximately 13 million weighty boorren in the United States, and the rate of clawhood corpulency has increase from 14.8% in 2003 to 16.4% in 2007 (Jones, 2010, p.1). These numbers are alarming to healthcare providers such(prenominal) as nurses as this issue has grown from a common disease to an epidemic. Childhood obesity is a challenge for nurses due to cultural, socio-economical, and physiological barriers however, overcoming these matters testament take just initiative from nurses as they educate parents and children of the importance of healthy living.Cultural Barri ersWhen rift down the barriers of childhood obesity, one significant factor is culture. Many cultures pay off different views on the determining factors of obesity. Penn and Kerr (2014) explain, childhood obesity is a consequence of dietary neglect, with parental choices causing detriment to a childs health and well-being (p.20). Parents have a major impact on their childs daily activities and overall routines thru unhealthy customs such as poor alimentation habits and sedentary lifestyles. As a result, these practices are position on the child observing these type of behaviors. Many parents instigate behavioral factors in obese children by making their children eat everything on their plate. Children grow up with this learned behavior of eating unhealthy meal proportions, and it trends unendingly through generations. Likewise, children who do not see their parents actively engaged in physical activity tend to develop the same fitness practice. As parents acknowledge the r isk factors for childhood obesity and become better voice models, childhood obesity will become obsolete.Socio-economic BarriersEconomic deprivation may pose significant problems on many different levels in a society where many families are living from one pay image to the next. The cost of healthy food is considerably higher than the cost of degraded food, convenient meals, and school lunch. Fast food chains often can dollar menus with foods that are high in fats, sodium, and MSGs. Grocery stores in slump income areas have a poor selection of fresh produce and perfect food, yet the same grocery stores are abundantly stocked with incase and frozen meals full of preservatives. Federally funded school lunch programs are not sufficiently financed to provide a nutritional variety to children. Berkowitz and Borchard (2009) state, foods which children are routinely exposed shape preferences and consumption (p. 3). This suggests that children will eat the foods that are acquirable to them. Eating fruits and vegetables is a solution in decreasing caloric usance of fatty food thereby reducing obesity link issues.physiologic BarriersPhysiological barriers associated with childhood obesity encompass aspects that inhibit a childs bodily function and psychosocial wellbeing. Today many children prefer to introduce in sedentary activities such as watching television/ acting video games instead of going outside to play on the vacation spot (Rabbitt and Coyne, 1995, p.731). Inactivity leads to weight gain and decreased vitality by decelerate down the childs metabolism. Weight gain reflects a childs physical appearance, which is an element that influences a childs self-concept. The authority a person view themselves and how new(prenominal)s view them are established end-to-end adulthood. A sedentary lifestyle as a child affects relationships with peers by causing bullying, social isolation, and low self-esteem. It is also a precursor to other illnesses that may last throughout life. Increased physical activity help in overcoming the obstacles cogitate to childhood obesity.Effects on breast feeding and Nursing InterventionsChildhood obesity has an effect on nursing by the increased number of medically treated children with serious conditions such as perfume disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, and asthma thus creating a vast spectrum of challenges related to this epidemic. Nurses may enlighten parents in a non threatening direction by identifying defining characteristics of childhood obesity. Information can be provided to bring sentiency through sharing comprehensible literature and clear health related statistics. School nurses can actively advocate for healthier lunch options to be made available in schools and help children and parents understand healthy proportions by putting together nutritious selections. Nurses may promote practice routines that children and their family can actively participate in by implementing strategies tha t are cohesive to the interests of the children. These interventions will reverse childhood obesity by incorporating a collaborative private road among nurses, parents, and children.ConclusionThe rising epidemic of childhood obesity is an area of caution in American healthcare. Nurses experience direct effects of childhood obesity as children are being treated in school clinics, elemental care offices, emergency rooms, and other healthcare facilities. Nurses face many challenges while educating patients on the importance of lifestyle changes that influence a healthier way of life. Cultural, socio-economical, and physiological barriers are challenges that must be considered in the process to chasten childhood obesity. The nursing role transitions from an educator to a patient advocate and finally a partner along with other stake holders such as parents, schools, communities, food and beverage companies, as well as political science officials in the initiative to create an equal o pportunity for all children to exsert a healthy life. This opportunity may be created through educating the state-supported on the factors of obesity, maintaining access to affordable healthy foods, encouraging healthier eating habits at home and school, and developing a child friendly exercise regimen. Since the fight against childhood obesity is a great concern, more form must be done in the effort to resolve this issue.ReferencesBerkowitz, B., Borchard, M. (2009). Advocating for the ginmill of childhood obesity A call to action for nursing. The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 14(1), 1-9. Jones, Trinna. (2010). Fighting childhood obesity Taking a stand to soften an epidemic one child at a time. ANA Issue Brief, 42(4), 1-3. Penn, S., & angstrom unit Kerr, J. (2014). Childhood obesity the challenges for nurses. Nursing Children &type A Young People, 26(2), 16-21. doi10.7748/ncyp2014.03.26.2.16.e398 Rabbitt, A., & Coyne, I. (2012). Childhood obesity nurses role in addres sing the epidemic. British Journal of Nursing, 21(12), 731-735.