Alison Burton Shepherd

De Montfort University, UK

Title: The nutritional impact of failing to recognise childhood obesity lessons to learn

Biography

Abstract

The early years of a child’s life are critical for their health and wellbeing not only in the present day, but also for later on in their lives. Obesity in young children is deemed as one of the most serious public health issues in the 21st Century. Research suggests that the prevalence of childhood obesity has increased significantly in recent years and more of concern, is that many parents are not able to recognise when their child is overweight or obese. Evidence is now emerging which proposes that the causes of obesity are different depending upon the age of the child, which it is suggested could have significant implications for future healthcare. The aim of this presentation is to identify the barriers associated with the recognition of childhood obesity and suggest practical measures in which nurses may be able to work with parents in order to increase parental knowledge and perception of both overweight and obesity, in an attempt to address this public health concern.