Childhood Obesity - An Emerging Area in OT That Shouldn't be Emerging

Childhood obesity as a speciality was identified as an emerging niche in 2011 and since then has become more mainstream - which is mind. blowing. At the time, it was emerging because childhood obesity had tripled over the past thirty years. I could only imagine what those number look like now in 2017... enough to mainstream this speciality. The area came about because children were having trouble meeting physical demands inside and outside of school. These physical demands also put a damper on their cognitive demands, such as stress and depression, due to actions such as bullying. 

Rising obesity rates in children and epidemiology is something I am highly interested in and familiar with. In 2011, my younger sister contributed to those obesity rates. At first it was something that we just looked over and thought she would "grow out of". Then I became more aware. I started taking health classes and became more knowledgable about the long-term effects of childhood obesity. What some people are unaware of is in fact the long-term effects of obesity - in children, adolescents, and even adults. Once diabetes took my grandmother's life at a relatively young age, my viewpoint on healthy lifestyle became even more adamant - especially when diabetes is hereditary and prominent on both sides of my family. I have been wanting to find more ways to promote healthy living for my younger sister and do it in a positive way rather just emphasizing that she is over weight and needs to lose weight. 

An OT's role with childhood obesity is developing activities for children that promote health and fitness while keeping it light and positive. Individualized programs are highly encouraged to consider specific needs of each child, what they child wants to be able to do, and the resources that are available in that child's community (Hey look - it's a holistic approach!!). Not only can the programs promote healthy living to the child but also their families - highlighting healthy food and exercise/play resources that can come cheap and easy! 

This area is highly relatable to AOTA's Vision 2025- it is in fact maximizing health, well-being and quality of life for children. Now, hopefully with all this commotion and promotion about childhood obesity, maybe we can stop this area from emerging anymore! 

Resources:

The American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc. Childhood Obesity. (2011). Retrieved on May 2nd, 2017, from http://www.aota.org/Practice/Children-Youth/Emerging-Niche/Childhood-Obesity.aspx