INFLUENCE OF PARENTAL FEEDING PATTERN ON CHILDHOOD OBESITY

1.1 Introduction

Childhood obesity is a chronic disease that affects both developed and developing countries, and it affects children. Obesity is now so common that it is displacing more traditional public health concerns, such as malnutrition (Park 2004). Obesity in children and adolescence has adverse effect on premature mortality and physical morbidity in adulthood (Reilly & Kelly, 2011) and is associated with impaired health during childhood itself. Once obesity is established in children it is hard to reverse (De Onis and Lobstein, 2010). Psychological consequences of obesity range from lowered self-esteem to clinical depression. Many of these conditions are revisable through weight loss and maintenance. Weight reduction may be life saving so it is necessary to reduce weight (Stone, & Saxon, 2005).

As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.

1.2 Background of Study

Obesity which was majorly associated with adults in the past unfortunately becomes one of the major health challenges now faced by children. Hence it is now referred to as child obesity. Child obesity can simply be defined as’ a state of being excessively fat or over weight. A lot of reasons have been given by several researchers like center for disease control and prevention in (2012) as to why obesity has persistent in the world and especially in West African sub region. The Chief among these reasons are the influence of the feeding philosophy or pattern of parents. For the purpose of this study, the researcher intends to evaluate the perceived effect of parental feeding pattern on childhood obesity. Therefore this study is guided by the following objectives

Obesity is now a major health challenge among children. Outcomes associated with obesity in adults are now affecting children. The prevalence of overweight status has tripled worldwide in the last 2 to 3 decades, including in developing countries like Nigeria and regions that are increasingly urbanized (Lobstein, Baur, and Uauy. 2004). An international obesity task force (IOTF) analysis has shown that overweight and obesity affects one in 10 children in the world today, but the rate is almost double in Europe and three times as great across the entire American continent (IOTF, 2003). Over nutrition is a growing problem in segments of sub-Saharan African society, particularly where lifestyles become urbanized and westernized and data have accumulated on the adverse health effects of obesity in advanced and developing countries (WHO, 2004). Increased risk for diabetes, dyslipidemia, coronary heart disease, atherosclerosis, and hypertension, high blood cholesterol concentration, stroke, certain cancers and arthritis have been reported to be associated with childhood obesity (Vander et al., 2006).

In 2010, 43 million children (35 million in developing nations) were estimated to be overweight and obese; 92 million were at risk of being overweight. The worldwide prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity increased from 4.2% in 1990 to 6.7% in 2010. This trend is expected to reach 9.1%, or ’60 million, in 2020. The estimated prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity in Africa in 2010 was 8.5% and is expected to reach 12.7% in 2020. The prevalence is lower in Asia than in Africa (4.9% in 2010), but the number of affected children (18 million) is higher in Asia declared De Onis and Lobstein (2010).

Modern dietary patterns and physical activity patterns are risk behaviors that travel across countries and are transferable from one population to another like an infectious disease, affecting disease patterns globally. While age, sex and genetic susceptibility are non-modifiable, many of the risks associated with age and sex are modifiable. Such risks include behavioral factors (e.g. diet, physical inactivity); biological factors (e.g. dyslipidemia, hypertension, overweight) and finally societal factors which include a complex mixture of interacting socioeconomic, cultural and other environmental parameters (WHO, 2003). Furthermore, rapid changes in diets and lifestyles that have occurred with industrialization, urbanization, economic development and market globalization have accelerated over the past decade. This is having a significant impact on the health and nutritional status of populations, particularly in developing or third world nations. While standards of living have improved, food availability has expanded and become more diversified, and access to services has equally increased, there have also been significant negative effects in terms of inappropriate dietary patterns, decreased physical activities and a corresponding increase in diet-related chronic diseases, especially among poor people (WHO, 2003).

Overtime, obesity has been associated with excessive feeding and lack of adequate digestion which eventually leads to excessive fat being stored up in the belly and other fat storage areas of the human body. Since the pattern of feeding can be said to influence obesity in both adults and children, parents do have leading roles to play in either encouraging or reducing the prevalence of childhood obesity, undoubtedly most children who are obese are under the parental guide age, hence it can be said that the recent cases of obesity may not be unconnected to the feeding habit of their parents or guardians. The feeding pattern of parents may actually have a devastating effect on their children as children are generally known to be dependent on their parents for food shelter and clothing, this view hence propel the researcher’s thought of evaluating the perceived effect of parental feeding pattern on childhood obesity.

Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Influence of Parental Feeding Pattern on Childhood Obesity.

1.3 Statement of Problems

Investigation revealed that the menace of infant mortality in the sub Saharan African and Nigeria especially has been a cause for serious concern. Child hood obesity has over the years been a breeding ground for other diseases and health challenges like cardiovascular or heart related health challenges in children which has led to the increase of child or adolescent mortality and thus led to the depletion of the future generation which could in the future affect the productive capacity of the country.

In Nigeria today, many children who are obese are at risk of being isolated in the society, making them unhappy and withdrawn. This has most times contributed to the poor academic performance of such children. It has also affected their social relationship as they find it difficult to freely associate or relate with their contemporaries.

1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study

The aim of the study is to evaluate parental feeding pattern as a determinant for child obesity. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:

1. To determine the parental feeding pattern of the children with obesity;
2. To identify the perceived effect of the parental feeding; and
3. To assess the relationship between childhood obesity and academic performance.

1.5 Research Questions

The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:

• Is there a relationship between childhood obesity and academic performance?
• What is the actual feeding pattern of parents who have obese children?
• What is the relationship between parental feeding pattern and childhood obesity?

1.6 Research Hypothesis

In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.

Hypothesis One

• H0: There is no significant relationship between parental feeding pattern and childhood obesity.
• H1: There is significant relationship between parental feeding pattern and childhood obesity.

Hypothesis Two

• H0: There is no significant relationship between childhood obesity and academic performance.
• H1: There is significant relationship between childhood obesity and academic performance.

1.7 Significance of Study

The study will assist in educating the parents and guardians on the negative consequences of obesity in children and at the same time recommend ways of preventing obesity in children. This study would be immense benefit to the health sector and researchers who are interested in childhood obesity in Nigeria.

1.8 Scope of Study

The scope of the research is focused on the Influence of Parental Feeding Pattern on Childhood Obesity using Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State as a cases study.

1.9 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:

1. Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
2. Research Material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
3. Frequent Power Failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
4. Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

1.10 Operational Definition of Terms

Obesity: Obesity is a condition that is associated with having an excess of body fat, defined by genetic and environmental factors that are difficult to control when dieting. Obesity is classified as having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or greater.

Childhood: the state of being a child. The time of a child life that is between infancy and puberty.