Global Policy Approaches to Childhood Obesity

The increased rates of childhood obesity signal a critical public health crisis. Approaches to childhood obesity prevention range from policy changes to family based interventions. Kanik and Kanekar (2012) write that tackling childhood obesity involves adequately addressing the genetic, behavioral, and environmental factors that contribute to the problem.  Genetic indictors for obesity can be linked to endocrine disorders, and are also predicted by parental obesity status (Kalvaitis and Nadeau, 2008). When genetic, or medical, causes have been ruled out, obesity prevention strategies tend to address the behavioral and environmental factors such as:

• Learned eating habits/Diet
•  Inactivity
• Social Environment (family, school, etc.)
• Resource availability
• Socioeconomic status

The World Health Organization (2012) recently published an action plan for population-based prevention of childhood obesity as part of their Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health (DPAS). The plan includes three frameworks. The WHO Stepwise framework for preventing chronic disease was developed to be utilized by government health departments to assess the practicality, impact, and affordability of implementing policy. The Modified Problem/Solution Tree process (mPAST) is used to identify potential barriers to action and ways to resolve them. The Analysis Grid for Elements Linked to Obesity (ANGELO) process is used to develop community action plans (WHO, 2012, p. 17). 

           
All three approaches follow a four step method:

•             Problem identification and needs analysis
•             Identification of potential solutions
•       Assessment and prioritization of potential solutions
•       Strategy development

Governments considering the application of any of the WHO approaches to childhood obesity prevention are advised to identify key stakeholders and the potential roles and responsibilities they play in ensuring collaboration (p.19-20).

Karnik, S., and Kanekar, A. (2012). Childhood Obesity: A Global Public Health Crisis. International Journal Of Preventive Medicine, 3(1), 1-7.

World Health Organization. (2012). Prioritizing areas for action in the field of population-based prevention of childhood obesity: A set of tools for Member States to determine and identify priority areas for action. Geneva, CH: WHO Document Production Service.

Can be retrieved from: http://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/childhood/Childhood_obesity_modified_4june_web.pdf

Related Links:

Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health

Question: Do you support a global policy implementation to address childhood obesity? Can you think of any unforeseen consequences?