Article Review
Purcell, Megan. “Raising Healthy Children: Moral and Political Responsibility for
Childhood Obesity.” Journal of Public Health Policy 31.4 (2010): 433-446.
PsycINFO. Web. 22 Nov. 2011.
Purcell’s article titled “Raising Healthy Children: Moral and Political Responsibility for Childhood Obesity” explore the complex, multi-factorial health issue of childhood obesity. The aim of the study was to provide insight into the state of childhood obesity in North America and to suggest recommendations for its prevention and treatment. The author observes that the public health issue has reached crisis levels yet the remedies remain out of touch. It is the author’s overall opinion that the insistence on lifestyle self-management is no longer practical in addressing the increasingly problematic issue. The study advances both moral and political issues relating to childhood obesity by scrutinizing the gaps of current political and health responses to the entire problem. As a response, the author suggests adherence to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. This article is best suited for public health policy makers, educators, students, and parents to get insight on the issue of childhood obesity.
Critique
The author’s main argument, however, is less persuasive in the sense that assumptions are made to the effect that childhood obesity in North America is purely due to bad eating habits and lack of physical activities, inability of informed parents to provide healthy diets due to socio-economical reasons, in addition to overlooking of the significance of family autonomy in the upbringing of children.
Conclusion
Purcell’s article discusses the state of childhood obesity in North America, where the overriding argument is the inefficiency of the existing policy interventions on the health issue. The article recommends that the responsibility for childhood obesity should be on parents, caretakers, the government, public sector and the community at large. It invites further policy deliberation in addition to offering suggestions for further cross-sector policy development.
Reference
Purcell, Megan. “Raising Healthy Children: Moral and Political Responsibility for
Childhood Obesity.” Journal of Public Health Policy 31.4 (2010): 433-446.
PsycINFO. Web. 22 Nov. 2011.
