Nature and Nurture Contribution to Child Obesity
Introduction
Nature's contribution to childhood obesity is based on the genetic disposition meaning that it is developed from genes that are inherited from the parents. This means that the child has no control over it because it is biological. Nurture contribution to child obesity on the other hand is based on lifestyle and family characteristics. This includes the child’s diet, food intake, leisure time, eating patterns, social-economic status among other lifestyle habits. Both nature and nurture contribute majorly to child obesity because the lifestyle a child is raised with is as important as their genes.
According to Fleming, weight gain is influenced by genetic mechanisms. Research shows that an obese child is more likely to have obese parents and siblings and in this case, their weight is attributed to genes. Twin and adoption studies have been used to show the effect genetics has on obesity on children. The studies show that 40-70 of the disparity between children concerning their weight could be accredited to genes. These disparities are closely related to those of height that have already been proven to be genetic. Studies also show that 80% of children with obese parents are bound to become obese at one point in their lives due to the child’s genetic metabolism. The fat gene that causes obesity delays the ability of the body to feel satisfied because it blocks the Leptin hormone. This hormone tells the brain that the body is full and it has had enough but when it is blocked, a person continues to feel hungry and therefore takes in more food slowing down their metabolism rate. It is believed that there is a break in the leptin hormone that makes a person not to starve but does not stop him from overeating.
Various genetic syndromes are connected and contribute to obesity. These syndromes may cause behavioral and health concerns that lead to an increase in energy intake or a decrease in activities. They may also cause disruptions in the central control of appetite resulting in hyperphagia (Skelton, Grzywacz & Miller 2011). Hyperphagia that results from a lack of melanocortin increases the intake of food and is related to obesity. Several genetic abnormalities that have been discussed by researchers include the deficiency of leptin, mutations in POMC that result in a lack of signal to the central appetite which leads to hyperphagia. Other abnormalities include melanocortin 3 and 4 receptors which are important in feeding behaviors.
Lifestyle changes in recent years have resulted in children taking part in very few physical activities which is a nurture contribution to child obesity. Children are most likely to use a school bus to school rather than use a bike or walk. Playing time has been occupied by watching television or playing video games. The environment that the children are growing up in with lots of calorie intake and less physical activity has contributed to child obesity (Thompson 2016). Most of the school time is spent on academics and no time for engaging in physical activity. With less physical activity, children are consuming a lot of calories and this includes even in schools where students buy chips, candy, and all the other junk food being sold. Some of the low-income areas lack quality healthy food to purchase and most of them get their food from fast-food chains.
Parents on the other hand have become more drawn to their jobs making it hard for them to prepare a healthy meal for their children. In most cases, it is easier to order out food or buy something that is easy to prepare and doesn’t consume a lot of time (Campbell 2016). The family’s attitude and behavior toward food can contribute to child obesity. If the family engages in unhealthy eating, the children too will develop these unhealthy habits. Also, overweight parents tend to serve their children large portions of food and this contributes to weight gain. Another contribution to obesity is the type of food that is consumed. Studies have shown that most obese children eat more fatty foods and fewer carbohydrates. Fatty foods are linked to obesity because of their increased energy intake and they are more likely to be stored in the body. We cannot change the genetic makeup but we can change and control our environment and this includes eating healthy and engaging in physical activities.
Conclusion
Nurture gives the strongest contribution to child obesity. This is because of its connection to poor eating habits, lifestyle changes, high-calorie intake, and lack of physical activity. I feel it is the strongest because, for nature contributions, there is not much that can be done about it. For the nurture contributions, it is more of engaging in unhealthy habits and luring the children into the habits as well. These are habits that could be altered by consuming healthy diets and changing their eating patterns. Parents should introduce and encourage their children to engage themselves in physical activity other than sit down and watch television.
References
Campbell, M. K. (2016). Biological, environmental, and social influences on childhood obesity.
Pediatric Research, 79(1), 205-211.
Fleming, G. CHILDHOOD OBESITY: NATURE OR NURTURE? Retrieved from
https://psychology.tcd.ie/spj/past_issues/issue02/Reviews/Grainne%20Fleming.pdf
Skelton, J. A., Irby, M. B., Grzywacz, J. G., & Miller, G. (2011). Etiologies of obesity in
children: nature and nurture. Pediatric clinics of North America, 58(6), 1333–ix. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pcl.2011.09.006
Thompson, T. (2016). Childhood obesity. Farmington Hills, Mich. : Greenhaven Press, A part of
Gale, Cengage Learning, [2016]
