There is a number of community resources that may assist in the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity. According to the CDC (2020), the initiatives advocating for healthy diets, such as Salad Bars to Schools, may be employed at the community level to tackle obesity/overweight in school-age children. Schools can also ensure free access to fresh water and limit the sales of sweetened beverages in the area, following the example of water-only schools in London, England, supported by partnerships and collaborations (Baker, 2020). Additionally, healthcare facilities might introduce obesity education programs, healthy meal/exercise opportunities, and community meetings to promote healthy behavior changes. The gaps in service mainly affect children representing economically vulnerable ethnic minorities and cause considerable health inequity. There are gaps in access to primary care, health education, and personalized advice on nutrition or exercise for Hispanic, African American, and Native American children in our community.
The patient-centered approach involves culturally sensitive care that is vital to ensure equity, eliminate health disparities, and establish trust and respect between patients and providers. Confiac et al. (2019) noted that Mexican American parents often perceive obesity as a norm and create misconceptions about a child’s healthy body weight that the researchers titled ‘oblivobesity’ (p. 10). Moreover, Hispanic parents associate diets with food intake restrictions and view the abundance of food as an important factor for a child’s healthy growth. There is no conclusive evidence on genetic predispositions for obesity/overweight in ethnic minorities. However, Vazquez-Moreno et al. (2020) discovered a link between AMY1A and AMY2A copy numbers and their serum activity that can increase or decrease obesity risk depending on starch intake. A comprehensive approach is required to establish culturally competent behavior changes promoting health. Kumanyika (2017) suggests that interventions should target the settings, such as schools, hospitals, child care facilities, and homes, to positively change eating habits and physical activity levels. Thus, the adoption of a healthy diet, including fresh vegetables and water, and the establishment of a regular exercising routine in these settings can become the foundation of healthy behavior and obesity prevention in ethnically diverse children.
References
Baker, T. (2020). Clean, free drinking water everywhere: Starting with water-only schools. London City Hall.
CDC. (2021). Community efforts. CDC.
Confiac, N., Turk, M. T., Zoucha, R., & McFarland, M. (2019). Mexican American parental knowledge and perceptions of childhood obesity: An integrative review. Hispanic Health Care International, 18(2), 1–14.
Kumanyika, S. (2017). Getting to equity in obesity prevention: A new framework. NAM Perspectives.
Vazquez-Moreno, M., Mejia-Benitez, A., Sharma, T., Peralta-Romero J., Locia-Morales, D., Klunder-Klunder, M., National Obesity Network Mexico, Cruz, M., & Meyre, D. (2020). Association of AMY1A/AMY2A copy numbers and AMY1/AMY2 serum enzymatic activity with obesity in Mexican children. Pediatric Obesity, 15(8).