Background
Childhood obesity is a complex issue that requires consideration from the perspective of several areas, including economics. Looking at the problem of childhood obesity from an economic point of view offers an understanding of a wider range of causes and consequences and the definition of government intervention in solving this problem. The economic explanation for the problem of childhood obesity, in general, refers to the inability of part of the population to provide themselves and their children with healthy food.
The Economic Principles
One of the main economic principles is directly related to the problem of childhood obesity. This principle is associated with the choice of efficiency, that is, what can be used to extract the maximum effect with the minimum expenditure of resources. When choosing high-calorie fast-food, a person chooses efficiency to the detriment of health, since high-calorie food is cheaper and satiates for a longer period. The second economic principle is related to the sacrifice in the name of value. Food, among other things, has an opportunity cost; for a cheaper product, people pay with spoiled health. In addition, this association correlates with the time spent preparing healthy meals and ordering fast-food quickly, so people are more likely to choose the second option. The third economic principle involves consumer response to incentives. Fast-food advertising encourages the population to make choices in favor of unhealthy food.
The Economic Impacts
The economic consequences of childhood obesity can be divided into direct and indirect. Direct economic impacts include spending on childcare, prescription drugs and emergency care. Obesity is a serious threat to all body systems, so medical costs will be quite high. Indirect economic consequences include situations when an obese child becomes an overweight adult. The risks relate to the potential employer, who may face low productivity and frequent sick days.
Socioeconomic Factors
The broader socioeconomic explanation for obesity lies in food prices, agricultural policies, and household incomes. Real food prices have generally declined over the past decades. However, prices for fruits and vegetables rose by more than 15% during the last decade (Mehta & Deshpande, 2018). Children and adolescents from families with low socioeconomic status are particularly sensitive to changes in the price of fast-food. The cheapening of this type of food is one of the main causes of childhood obesity. The decline in prices may be due to agricultural policy. The trend towards cheaper prices has led manufacturers to prefer to use fructose instead of sucrose. Fructose, in turn, does not regulate the level of food intake, unlike sucrose, which leads to overeating and obesity. Decreased incomes of the population can also lead to childhood obesity. Higher income may allow families to choose more expensive but healthier food.
Healthcare Organizations
The problem of obesity in general and childhood obesity in particular is of concern to the World Health Organization. The organization suggests that the causes of excess weight can be prevented or eliminated. WHO considers the main cause of obesity in the modern world to be a decrease in physical activity against the backdrop of urbanization (WHO, 2022). To solve the problem of obesity, WHO offers information about this issue, ways to solve it and raises awareness of citizens. The World Obesity Day initiative focuses on reducing the stigmatization of people with obesity (WOD, 2022). If there is a comfortable environment for people suffering from this problem, it will be easier to seek help and change their lifestyle.
References
Mehta, P., & Deshpande, R. S. (2018). Meeting the crisis and challenges in prices: In fruits and vegetables. Sustainable Horticulture Development and Nutrition Security, III.
World Health Organization. (2022). Obesity. Health Topics. Obesity (who.int)
World Obesity Day. (2022). People living with obesity. WOD.