childhood adversities

childhood adversities

Description

In the picture above, childhood obesity is prevalent throughout America and has impacted the livelihood of these individuals. Obesity has led these individuals to feel like outcasts or become the center of many jokes. The obese child is being point at in a negative manner, therefore, has led to him putting his head down and potentially develop a wide range of emotions. Childhood obesity impacts the child’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being throughout the stages of development.

State Statistics

The state I currently live in is California. It is estimated that in California 15.6% of children between the ages of 10-17 have obesity (State Obesity Data, 2020). In comparison to the national average of obesity rates in America, California was below the percentage of those aged 10-17. Childhood obesity in America from ages of 6-11 is 18.4%, and from 12-19-year-old was 20.6% (Childhood Obesity Facts, 2019). From the given statistics, California, has a slightly lesser percentage in childhood obesity compared to the national average throughout America. As advanced practiced registered nurses (APRN), it is important to be conscious and knowledgeable about obesity within our own community.

Health Disparities

Health disparities that are seen within the community of California by obesity are a wide variety of different issues. Health disparities that are experienced are an increase in heart disease, diabetes, and racial and ethnic disparities as well. Interventions are being implemented throughout California and other states through educating patients and families about healthy behaviors such as: consumption of fruits and vegetables, sugar sweetened beverages, screen time in relation to electronics, importance of sleep, and exercising everyday (Subica, 2018). These interventions are being utilized to further decrease the health disparities that are being experienced within California and the childhood obesity population. Racial disparities that are experienced by this vulnerable population is related to low-income communities that are often times unable to provide adequate and healthy food for their children (Subica, 2018). This is an obstacle childhood obesity patients have no control over, and it is important to bring awareness to these issues to ensure these patients are given an equal opportunity to receive the necessary nutrition needed to improve their lifestyle. Reducing Socio-economic inequalities in childhood obesity is an important goal because it will reduce long-term health consequences for these patients and improve their overall health status (Lockyer & Spiro, 2019). With these health disparities, childhood adversity, also plays a vital role within childhood obesity and how it cam impact their overall health. This type of adversity can be seen from parent substance abuse problems, parent separation or divorce, domestic violence, parent incarceration, living in poverty, and serious illness can impact a child’s healthcare journey (Kuhlman, Robles, Bower, & Carroll, 2018). These childhood adversities can serve as a enormous obstacle for the pediatric patient and can further lead to childhood obesity as eating can quickly become a coping mechanism for these patients. Therefore, as APRNs, it is important to identify this toxic situation or stress being experienced by the pediatric patient, in order to provide recommendations or necessary interventions needed to improve their quality of life.

Conclusion