Child Obesity Media And Technology Children And Young People Essay

fry fleshiness Media And Tech zero(prenominal)ogy Children And Young People proveThe topic of this investigate is looking into electric razor fleshiness and whether it springinesss cause to execute infra nestling eliminate rightfulnesss. This depart be d iodine in a publications redirect examination designat incorporating interviews to look at accompaniment and opinions on the matter. The results rear a complex everywhere view and postulate the topic thoroughly, taking into consideration proceeding factors. Yes, kid fleshiness trick be inattention if a pargonnts develop persistently ignored centering and failed to seek c totally fored help. It seat alike be no as non every pincer orotund case gives cause to be considered send packing and it is radically r ar.Obesity is a condition in which pack gain has reached the stopover of seriously endangering intimatelyness. While some plenty ar genetically much susceptible than others, the direct caus e of fleshiness in any individual is always an excess of energy in establish over energy expenditure (Chambers and Wakely, 2002 X).The divulges arisen from criminalising child fleshiness creation under the law of child neglect depart be critically discussed in this thesis.Obesity is a major concern in the UK, proven to potentially condense lives by up to 9 long time, wellness professionals argon starting to demonstrate their worries of p bents come onliving their children as a consequence of the wellness problems that accompany corpulency (Kellow, 2011). slightly of the possible health implications of child obesity ar diabetes, heart disease, risque blood pressure and osteoarthritis (Sullivan, 2004 and Heaton-Harris, 2009). In 2010 20% of boys and 17% of girls elder 11-15 could be described as clinically obese, with 14% and 15% vul scum bagised between 2-10 beness obese. From 1995 child obesity has risen 6% for boys and 3% for girls (reference). This would make nea rly 1 in 5 of all children non just large(p), yet a t the point of serious health produces (Health Survey for England, 2010). It is already said to be costing the UK 2 cardinal annually (Kellow, 2011) and estimated to attach to 50 billion annually by 2050 if trends stay put (Butland et al. 2007). The increase in child obesity has sparked a moral solicitude near(predicate) the concern for childrens health driving the government to do much(prenominal) to protect children from becoming obese. Obesity is defined by BMI which stands for body smoke index. BMI is calculated by dividing a persons weight (in kg) by their height (in meters). To be classed as obese a persons BMI would get by subscribe to to be over 30, and to be classed as morbidly obese, which is extreme cases of obesity the BMI would rent to be 40 or above (Chambers and Wakely, 2002).This is non what you expect to be talking or so when discussing children, as the stereotypical image of a child is healthy and happy, pick out plenty of exercise and being fed properly. heretofore, Heaton-Harris (200914) returns an opposite awardal, saying weighty children are slight active than the average pensi unityr. She thusly goes onto explain that overweight children lead get out of breath after 5 proceeding due to the additional strain on the heart to pump too around the body, which is too large and demanding oxygen rich blood. It is clear from the disceptation that Heaton-Harris (2009) argues that obese children are very disfavourd and unfit. Children are vulnerable and strung-out on parents and shielders and it is their duty is to make sure their children are healthy and happy. Ford-Martin (2005) says that children square off by example and that as a parent or guardian you are their simple role model. The parents or guardians of children struggling with obesity are in that respectfore failing their children as the child is severely unhealthy and is at risk of severe health pro blems. It occurrently can become a child protection issue if children are allowed to eat excessive come ins of nutriment, or give birth a seriously unbalanced diet (Grady, 2012). In extreme cases children can be removed from parental or guardian share by the court due to the affecting factor, children being obese. The fact that children some metres need protection from parents if they are obese is interesting and leads onto the discussion whether this should also be a punishable offence.As it stands the definition of child neglect is, a persistent failure to meet a childs basic sensual and/or developmental ineluctably. Neglect includes failing to provide for a childs health, education, unrestrained development, nutrition, c business dealhing, shelter, safety and safe living conditions, and includes exclusion of the child from the legal residence and abandonment. It is contrasting from poverty, harmonise to the World Health Organization (WHO), because it happens when ther e is failure to provide the resources to meet a childs demand if those resources exist or should be getable (Bovarnick online, 2007).This definition explains under current statute what would be classed as child neglect and as you can see this covers a very big spectrum. Although it does say failing to provide for a childs health (Bovarnick online, 2007).This could allow child obesity to fit into this category. Although generally the main focus of child neglect is failure to provide a child with something not allowing children excessive amounts of something.The indecision this dissertation sets out to conclude is whether or not child obesity gets the scope to be punishable by law under child neglect statute. The aims are to establish how much blame is on the media, technology and parents to establish whether or not it is justifiable to hold them responsible for the obesity recount their child/children are in. This school day principal will be looked at through current pub lications and interviews to see what people think intimately(predicate) the issue also.The offshoot chapter discussing the role media and technology play on the obesity state of the youth in the UK. The second chapter puts forward the debate on whether or not parents should take the main responsibility of their childrens obesity state. The third base and final chapter deliberates the on- difference debate on the issues of child obesity being a form of child neglect taking into consideration both of the discussed issues presented in the previous chapters. The impending probe takes the format of a lit review, which incorporates interviews also. on that point is extensive books on the topic of child obesity in the UK which is taken advantage of in the format being utilize to answering the nous set out. As well as hookup qualitative entropy from interviews to get opinions and see if they punt up the publications tack together.Chapter 2 MethodologyThe methods percentage is the close crucial aspect of a look for publisher because it provides the larn by which the validity of a study is eventually judged (Kallet, 20041129).2.1 Re count design and rationaleChild neglect and child obesity are both current issues and can both impose health problems to children. It is an on-going debate whether child obesity should come under child neglect laws which can hold parents or guardians responsible and therefore punish them for the obesity state their child/children are in. These two topics for investigation are strongly pertained and consequently showing a need to investigate them unneurotic and answer the question whether child obesity should be criminalised. The methodology employ to conduct this investigation into child neglect and child obesity is chiefly library ground inquiry still integrated into the look for investigation is a short interview to compare with the literature based findings.The methodological nark code needs to fit the pu rpose and the question being questioned. indeed justification for the methods employ in any inquiry being conducted needs to be established (Kumar, 2011). This is also backed up by Robson (2002), who articulates the selective information collected by the investigator in any topic is pendant on the particular research question and aims.Winstanley (2009) and Saunders et al., (2007) state there are two categories research can be separated into particular research and secondary research. According to Sorenson (2010) the difference between the two is how the research is equanimous primary research is collected by the researcher whereas secondary research is carried out using already existing data.Secondary data according to Bryman and Bell (2007) and Zikmund (2003) is when, documents by other researchers are break downd by people most commsolely not touch in the gathering process. This allows experience and fellowship to be drawn from other academics which whitethorn be vital to the playing field area being discussed. This paper is at an under-graduate level making honorable knowledge and expertise all big(p) in making the paper of honor in the academic world. Zikmund (2003) also draws attention to the lower cost, which is also a main advantage over primary data which can be expensive. Saunders et al. (2007) comment that secondary research allows a wide range of randomness to be pull together much(prenominal) as quantitative, qualitative, descriptive and explanatory data. However every form of data collection comes with weaknesses. Secondary data whitethorn provide a lot of good quality discipline but may not link entirely with the stipulation research questions and aims providing no range towards further research this is something researchers need to consider. In a lot of instances it can be near impossible to find sufficient information (Zikmund, 2003). Also if pre-existing data is germane(predicate), credible and specifically what the r esearcher needs to discuss time and effort designing and collating youthful research mayhap a waste of the researchers time.Secondary research was the main data collection method chosen as it seemed the best choice to answer the question on whether child obesity should or is criminalised. When talking about a debate that already exists it is paramount to include current literature, curiously when this issue is a current governmental and political matter. With an abundance of existing research in this area, secondary data collection was the easiest method and the most enamour main form of data collection. However the weaknesses pointed out do need to be noted as secondary data can provide such a wide scope of data and most of it may be irrelevant and only relevant data needs to be discussed, this will be discussed in more period under the cellular inclusion/exclusion of data. The debate on criminalising child obesity is a current one in the academic world however this dissertation took a new direction, by adding interviews as there would kick in been no point carrying out something that had been done before.The secondary data gathered was in the form of a library based dissertation also known as a literature review. This is the main source of information being used to discuss the issues of child obesity and whether criminalising it is appropriate and considers journals, intelligence operationpapers, reports, textbooks, abstracts, media sources both electronically and in hard copy format (Hart, 1998). Hart says that a literature review is The selection of available documents on the topic, which contain ideas, data and evidence pen from a particular standpoint to fulfil certain(a) aims or elicit certain views on the nature of the topic and how it is to be investigated and the effective military rating of these documents in relation to the research being proposed (1998 13). belles-lettres reviews are seen as very important and as Aveyard (2010 6) explains them to be like jigsaw puzzles as you piece each part of the puzzle (piece of literature) together to give the lector the boilers suit picture. Therefore playing an important part allowing all relevant information on a given topic to be in one blank space at the same time, this brings to light conflicting academic works to be seen together which may have gone unobserved before. This type of research can also incur new insights to be drawn as a result of re-analysing previous sources. However Aveyard (2010) notices they are useful but in order to be reliable they need rigour and structure. The idea is not to find literature to back up the desired answer but to open-mindedly collate information to reach and answer on a predefined question. This is very important as literature reviews permits the overall picture to be seen and therefore hopefully eliminating bias so the researcher needs to adhere to this and this why it is vital that a systematic sexual climax is taken. Hart (1998 ) establishes that literature reviews need to present all available documents on the chosen topic not just selected few to give the indorser everything to make up their mind. This poses a difficulty as the resources available to an under graduate student will not allow a team up of researchers and there are time constraints. This is why a systematic approach will be adhered to but may not reach the admit same criteria a fully funded and resourced literature review will.To present information to allow a reader to reach his/her own conclusions on the predefined question, whether childishness obesity should be criminalised, it will be thoroughly researched selecting only relevant information. The systematic approach used key terms (Appendix 2 54) to search the library data base at Buckinghamshire New University and the internet. This was systematic do uncover any relevant literature which ensured everything relating to the topic was read and if prime useful was consequently incl uded in the discussion.However this is not the only form of data collection being used as primary research is also being used in the form of interviews which invents the literature already in circuit to cater directly to the needs of the question and objectives giving and already existing topic area a new direction. The dissertation aims to uncover not only current issues and debates but peoples attitudes and thoughts which are only possible if opting to incorporate primary data also that adds value to the issues being presented. The interview questions were formed around the literary findings, which then allowed the literature and interviews to be compared and discussed.Interviews were conducted as part of the research which is one of the main methods of gathering primary data permitting data to be brought together that has not been gathered previously. Ghauri et al. (2005) highlights one of the main advantages of using primary research methods is the data is going to be relevant as it is specifically gathered to the specialised research area, this is also backed up by Zikmund (2003). Being able to shape the data being gathered to suit the needs of the study allows consonant information to be provided. Saunders et al. (2007) points out that a main limitation to primary research is interviewee and interviewer bias when using focus groups. The research in this study does not involve focus groups for this exact reason to decrease the lot of bias. However the interviewees and interviewer were criminology students and may present a bias for that reason. Having bias makes it slight reliable which affects the validity and also makes it hard to generalise results, this is something to be taken into consideration for this study. Nevertheless this is a valid point and makes the study less reliable but not an easy issue to overcome given the honourable re stiffions and materials available for the study.The library based element and the interview section are both fo cusing on qualitative data, however there will be some secondary data featured in the form of quantitative statistics jotted throughout. Bryman (2001 Page number) describes qualitative research to be a strategy that usually emphasizes wrangling, feelings, perception, and qualitative research tends to be concerned with words rather than numbers. The point of the dissertation is to look into the perception people have and the way society see child obesity and what they think in regards to it being criminalised. Hoepfl (1997) stated that qualitative research allows data to discover the message of events rather quantitative using numbers to establish facts. Qualitative data provides the means to find out what peoples attitudes and intentions are about fundamental topics (Ghauri et al, 2005). This permits researchers to put out knowledge and insight in their chosen topic. This is very useful and one of the main reasons interviews were picked was to develop an understanding of whether obesity is seen as criminal as it will give an insight to peoples opinions on the issue as well as comparing it to current literature available.Interviews were chosen as they have potential to gain rich and insightful data (Robson, 2011). Sarantakos (1988) highlights the main advantages of interviews are there flexible and adaptable, they directly ask the questions and can assess non- oral behaviour, which can sometimes reverse the subject matter. Robson (2007) also highlights that direct face to face interviews have advantages as you can measure the seriousness which participants take the exercise and you get a higher response rate as it is harder to say no. Although Sarantakos also points out that there are disadvantages such as biases are hard to rule out and that interviews are very time-consuming considering the time it takes to transcribe interviews. Interviews were picked from this study to gage an understanding of what people thought about childhood obesity as from intervie ws you can directly ask the questions you need answered. It was tailored to the topic of the dissertation which allowed the discussion of both literature and the data found in the interviews. Interviews not only helped to gage an understanding and present data for discussion but as it was done whilst the literature was being gathered it showed areas that were in need for research to cover the topic of child obesity. For example, in one interview the topic of illnesses and diseases that can make you obese was discussed about bringing to light this new area to be included.The interviews will be carried out on two separate days with 5 interviews on one day and 5 on the other. All interviewees were transfer a booklet (Appendix 355-56) to inform them that the interview will live anonymous and that they can stop at any time and this leaflet is then signed by each interviewee to ensure consent is present. participant numbers will be used when discussing in the main paper and no names w ill be included within the dissertation to keep identities confidential. There will also be a verbal introduction read out to participants to ensure consistency (Appendix 4 57). 10 students will be asked the same three questions in the same order. Interviewees will be both genders but all over the age of 18 attending Buckinghamshire New University. They were interviewed in a rentable room in the library of Bucks New University. All interviews were recorded on a Dictaphone and put down after all participants had completed the interview. The interviews will be structured and based upon four questions (appendix 4 57). Interviewees were asked to explain their answers in as much detail as they could.A main advantage of the research design is that it incorporated both secondary and primary research by being a library based review including short interviews to compare and possibly back up the literature based findings. The disadvantages of just doing one form of research will be minimised as you will decrease the disadvantages of doing primary or secondary by using both. For example a main disadvantage of using primary research is researcher bias which can unperturbed occur but will be compared to other literature on the same topic so this will be minimised, this makes the results found in the dissertation a higher validity.2.2 Data Analysis2.2.1 Library base ResearchA library based search is an analytical overview of literature on a given topic. In order to present the literature found in from the library search it was thoroughly studied and then depleted down into the three chapters. They were broken down into chapters to specifically meditate each section of information uncovered giving the direct access to then compare to the interview findings.2.2.2 InterviewsGibbs (2007) describes secret writing as the direction you take when analysing your data, where you systematically link together similar theories and descriptions. Robson (2011) explains the importanc e of thematic coding has to drawing points of interest out of data. Thematic coding was used to analyse the data gathered from the interviews as the reason they were carried out was to gage what people thought about child obesity. The interviews consisted of peoples thoughts and ideas and being able to dissect the meaning of these gives value to the data collected and transforms it to a functional format, this is then used when discussing the issues that arose. Being able to identifying general themes from the interviews was necessary in understanding more about the phenomenon. It was especially useful in pin pointing specific areas in need for discussion as child obesity is a huge topic this was how the chapters were chosen.There were a lot of advantages to thematic coding such as flexibility, being easy to pick up, within reach to those with piffling or no experience and it allowed key features to be summarised which then make it easy to remark on in the chapters. However the ma in disadvantages these were being flexible it gave the potential for a broad range of data which could then be confusing to interpret and use and that coding may be limited to description or exploration and not very focussed towards interpretation (Robson, 2011).Robson (2011) then goes onto describe the five phases to thematic coding the premiere phase is familiarising yourself with data, the second phase generating initial codes, the third identifying themes, the one-quarter constructing thematic networks and the fifth and final phase integration and interpretation stage. Miles and Huberman (1994) call that there are more than one stage to coding the first level is attaching labels to groups and the second putting the initial themes into a smaller amount of themes.2.3 Inclusion/Exclusion of CriteriaResearch materials included in the research investigation would need to be from the UK and information from other countries or discussing other countries will be excluded as the point s will not be as relevant, unless it specifically addresses the UK or is used in a comparative style. Another crucial point is the date period which is something the researcher should be aware of (Zikmund, 2003). If a publication was older than 10 years it is not likely to quench be of importance, however in the case of childhood obesity it seems to be a newly mediated topic which can mean that all information is still of relevance. So literature that is older than 10 years will only be included if it seems to still be of epoch-making importance or a pivotal point for discussion.Chapter 3 Child Obesity, media and technologyOf course, with the important role comes responsibility, the media must operate in an ethical and responsible way (Browne, J, 2011, online).This chapter looks at the part media and technology play in the child obesity epidemic. The media cannot be punished for neglecting children as they do not owe the same duty of care parents do, establishing how much the medi a affects the problem of obesity nevertheless will benefit the overall argument. It can be broken down into three categories, firstly the rise in technology, which has increased sedentary activities among youths. Secondly, with the issue of child obesity increasing this has led to an upsurge of media coverage on the issue (Kim and Wills, 2007), the ways in which the issue is portrayed may too affect child obesity. Thirdly studies have shown that advertizement of scrap foods may be directly linked to the increase of child obesity, and has been a topic of much discussion in recent years. It is important to telephone that not only are media there to inform but they aim to educate and entertain and are getting paid so it is important to remember they may have hidden agendas (Melville-Brown, 2007) as well as their aim being to publicise health problems not rectify them.3.1 Literature Findings3.1.1 Sedentary life-styles amongst youthsThe involvement children have with material activ ity has noticeably decrease over the past 20 years. Dr Watkins (cited in Cole and Kmietowicz, 2007334) stated that drop off range children have been replaced with battery reared children reared in cyberspace, and thats the reason for the epidemic of childhood obesity. This highlights that the increased participation in sedentary activities, that are more readily available for the children of today, play a huge role in their lives and may impact on the statistical increase of childhood obesity. The changes in lifestyle that causes inadequacy of physical exercise and the consumption of more high in fat foods are thought to be major influences to obesity, even when taking into consideration genetic causes that are coming to light more and more (Warren et al., 2003). What are the pin point changes in society that caused this change in lifestyle? We now live in an instant culture (Heaton-Harris, 2009). Children in todays society spend their time playing video games and socialising on the internet rather than meeting face to face. It is these sedentary pursuits that allows children to do little(a) exercise and encourages them to snack more. Ford Martin (2005) found that 92% of children had a home gaming system and the average time a day children spend in front of a media screen is 6 and a half hours. It is no wonder that child obesity is on the rise and physical activity is at an all-time low among young children. It is starting at such a young age as a Kaiser family derriere study (cited in Ford-Martin, 2005) found that a third of all children develop six and younger had their own televisions in their bedrooms. The children of today do not know anything different than sitting down in front of computers and televisons. It is not that sedentary activities are what children are most commonly engaging in. It is pitiful because it is replacing physical exercise ofyouthaltogether(Ofcom, 2004).Ofcom (2004) emphasise that there is a correlation between watching t elevision, poor diet, poor health and obesity with children and adults. Steinbeck (2001) links the decrease in physical activity to the increase of child obesity Biddle, Gorely and Stensel (2004) believe this to be true also. It would appear to try out overcoming the child obesity epidemic children need to lessen their time involved in sedentary activities and partake in more physical activities.3.1.2 Media reportingRodgers (2009, online) believes there is currently a panic meet child obesity in the UK with this sudden rise of media attention. Marsh and Melville (2011, online) describe moral panics as an exaggerated social reaction to something embraced by the mass media, which is caused by the activities of certain groups and/or individuals. This becomes the source of major public concern that amplifies the panic surrounding such activities.The TV serial Jamies school dinners (2005), presented by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, make a huge impact on child obesity, the media covera ge on the topic and public perceptions. The Chef uncovered that 97% of school children were getting a totally unbalanced diet on a daily theme and this needed to change for the benefit of childrens health. A nutritionist on the series explained that the current school dinners lacked fruit, veg and vitamin C which are crucial in forming freedom (Jamies School Dinners, 2005). The TV series not only changed the public perception, more importantly led to changes by the government to ensure children had healthier school dinners.The Department for Education (2013), explains the governments current stance that there are strict nutrient-based standards that all schools in England need to comply with. This includes food and drink that can be obtained throughout a school day. The Government clearly state that they take the issue of healthy school dinners seriously, as it can affect childrens willingness to learn, behaviour and eating habits for life. The Schools Food Trust (2007, online) is a document that sets out the compulsory standards the Government insisted on that needed to be in place by September 2009. A 2011 article in the Sunday reviewer shows that since the positive change to healthier school dinners that there has been an increase in not only learning as test results show but absences have dropped by 14% (Boffey, 2011). The media therefore has positive effects as well as negative.The media has seen to be useful for informing people about child obesity and helping to overcome the epidemic, as Jamie School Dinners is a prime example. However the media is astray known to provide misconceptions, which could worsen the issue. As it has been discussed child obesity is prominently featured in the media. When an important issue such as a childs health is at stake it is important that the issue is honestly portrayed ensuring it can be dealt with effectively. An argument is that the media portray only the extreme cases of obesity as that would be shocking news st ories (Winterman, 2012). This then leads people to think that to be obese you would need to be extremely obese which may be cause for confusion and misunderstanding. As shown when half of parents underestimated the size of an obese child which implies that the media maybe the cause of this terrible misconception (Winterman, 2012). If parents are misinformed by the media this could have life threatening affects for children who are obese, especially if it encourages the parents to believe that their children are not obese and do not take much needed action.It has also been noted that prime time TV shows about obesity, that dominate popular channels, give the wrong impression about obesity also. Boyce and Inthorn, (2007) studied programmes that were dedicated primarily to obesity, and came to the realisation that the shows directed blame on individuals generally rather than a public health issue. They tended to give the impression that it was down to self-control and discipline of th e individual, with weight control being easily attainable as a result. The study also found that the programmes failed to improve levels of knowledge on obesity as it used abash and humiliation to persuade people to lose weight not knowledge. Jones (2006) backs this relaying that lack of correct information is a key problem. Rees et al. (2011) interviewed children about obesity, and they also divided the opinion shared by most TV programmes on obesity and thought if a child was obese they were to blame as it was something the media do out to be controllable. This false idea that obesity is easily controllable is wrong and may cause a lot of bullying in schools.3.1.3 AdvertisingIts not just TV programmes that are thought to be affecting the ideas around child obesity also adverts for unhealthy food are being blamed for the increase in child obesity (Carvel, 2003). It had been established beyond reasonable doubt that advertising of unhealthy products influences what children not o nly eat and drink but also the brands they prefer. Boyce, (2007) go overs that advertising is widely seen to encourage unhealthy consumption, particularly with children, as food is the most a great deal advertised product on childrens TV. Coon and Tucker (2002) conducted a literature review into journal articles and concluded based on their findings that children exposed to advertising were significantly more likely to opt for advertised food products than those not exposed. Ofcom (2004) provided research also to suggest that there is a direct link to childrens food choices and advertisement.The report written by Barclay (2011) expresses clearly the governments stance, which indicates that they strongly agree junk food adverts encourage childrens ill health. From July 2007 such adverts were not qualified but totally banned from childrens TV by Ofcom, in what one would presume