The topic of interest for today is the crucial role of socioeconomic
status (SES) in the development of obesity. Recent years have
witnessed dramatic escalations in the prevalence of obesity, particularly in
countries such as New Zealand and Australia. There is a wealth of literature
documenting the various causes of obesity. Nonetheless, it is worth of note
that the approach to obesity has frequently been general across the board. With
a narrow focus, this critical review will explore one of the rarely studied
connections between SES and obesity. To achieve this objective, five
peer-reviewed articles were selected and examined to establish the crucial role
of SES in the development of obesity. Three quantitative and two
qualitative research articles were considered in the review of the literature.
All the research articles, irrespective of the research approach, focused on
the relationship between SES and the prevalence of obesity in New Zealand.
Firstly, the review will take a general point of view by defining obesity and
the SES before narrowing down to the connection between them.
Virtually all research articles
selected agree that obesity is a health condition in which the body has
accumulated excess body fat, which is harmful. Nonetheless, a perfect
definition that seems to have attracted no criticism is one offered
by Gearhart Jr, Gruber, & Vanata (2008): “…. in that intake of
calories is greater than caloric expenditure.” In essence, this definition
rules out the consideration of fats as the main cause of obesity. It is worth
including the term calories in the definition as it emphasizes the biological
cause of obesity. For this reason, the review will regard Gearhart Jr,
Gruber, & Vanata (2008)definition of obesity as the most valid one now.
Studies focusing on obesity can be
classified into two important groups. Those examining childhood obesity and
those targeting adulthood obesity. However, there is an intermediate category
of studies examining the link between adulthood and childhood obesity. In
such studies, childhood obesity is regarded as a causative of the adulthood
overweight. One such study was conducted by Venn, et al. (2007), who
followed up participants from childhood to adulthood in Australian
schools. Venn, et al. (2007) pursued a quantitative approach in
studying the link between childhood obesity and adulthood overweight. The
height and weight of the participants were measured, and self-reported at
follow-up. The validity of the self-reported data was checked in the
participants. To avoid biases, the research used the international standard
definitions of BMI. The strength of this study resides in its sample size,
national sampling as well as the quality of height and weight measurement at
baseline. However, the drawbacks reside in the lack of objectivity because the
subjects were supposed to self-report their height. Further, with little
focus on the influence of socio-economic factors on the transition of childhood
obesity to adulthood overweight, it is imperative to look at the issue from a
new angle (Venn, et al., 2007). It is arguable that changes take place in the SES of
individuals as they transition from children to adults. Based on these
studies, there are two categories of obesity (childhood and adulthood).
Nonetheless, it is worth noting that most research consider the causes
of both childhood and adulthood obesity to be the same. Consequently, the
role played by SES is arguably the same in both childhood and
adulthood obesity. Two of the selected articles concentrated on childhood
obesity, whereas the rest examined obesity in general.
Of key interest is the article
published by Walton, Signal, & Thomson (2009). The researchers
aimed at establishing the link between household economic resources and
childhood nutrition. Obesity is an outcome of poor nutrition. Consequently, it
is arguable that the researchers aim indirectly attempted to associate
obesity and household economic resources. Based on a qualitative research
model that used the narrative view of the literature, the researchers
investigated childhood nutrition within household setting. These model identifies
cost hindrances to adequate healthy food as a primary factor in the foods
consumed and purchased in the household (Walton, Signal, & Thomson,
2009). Additionally, this model was significantly and explicitly informed
by complexity theory and systems theory. By definition, complexity theory
concentrates on the study of sophisticated system. In this case, a system refer
a collection of objects or processes regarded to be of interest.
Viewing childhood obesity and overweight as social
phenomenon that arises from the relevant social system as a whole makes the
qualitative model appropriate. Consequently, to comprehend childhood overweight
and obesity, the social system must be understood. The only limitation linked
toWalton, Signal, & Thomson’s (2009) research model in identifying the
economic determinants of childhood obesity is the lack of objectivity. A
qualitative study is based on the researcher’s interpretation of the findings.
The overall findings of the research showed that the socioeconomic factors
influencing childhood obesity include cost of food, food purchasing practices,
food available in the community, economic resources available in the house, and
the time available for cooking and shopping.
