Examining the Relationship Between Nutritional Access and Childhood Obesity in Low-Resource South Jersey Communities

BACKGROUND: Childhood obesity is defined as a child considered to have obesity when their body mass index falls in the top 5% compared to other children of the same age and gender. Unhealthy eating habits formed during childhood have been associated with diseases such as obesity and diabetes. We aim to examine the relationship between childhood obesity and barriers to optimal nutrition in our local South Jersey community. METHODS: We conducted a literature review through Google, Google Scholar, and PubMed utilizing the key terms, “low socioeconomic status (SES),” “Childhood obesity in NJ,” “Nutritional Intervention,” and “Health Risks.” RESULTS: Our study determined that the percentage of overweight and obese children in Camden, Trenton, and Vineland is higher than national data from NHANES. Moreover, all students in Camden, NJ public schools exceed the U.S. national average for childhood obesity percentages. Critically, most parents in Camden, NJ do not think their child is overweight or obese when asked about their child’s weight status. CONCLUSION: This literature review demonstrates that the lack of acceptance from parents poses a barrier to acknowledging the existence of the problem and accepting any offered help. Interventions should be aimed at designing a comprehensive nutrition intervention program to address dietary challenges like access to fresh fruits and vegetables and ways to incorporate them into daily meals planning to reduce childhood obesity rates. One of the potential programs can help create a partner buddy program where high schoolers educate middle schoolers about nutrition using fresh produce.