This assignment is geared toward developing a nursing intervention to encourage healthy eating habits among teenagers. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, “obesity has more than tripled in adolescents in the past 30 years” (Adolescent and social health). Using a grounded theory study, I aim to determine how this astronomical increase has managed to occur, and explore strategies to reduce the risk as well as promote prevention of adolescent obesity through encouragement of healthy eating habits. The Mayo Clinic suggests that “the best strategy to reduce childhood and adolescent obesity is to improve the diet and exercise habit of the entire family” (Mayo Clinic Staff). Through this analysis of qualitative data, a nursing intervention with evidential backing could address and attack this serious epidemic.
Keywords: health, promotion, teenagers, obesity, eating, habits
Midterm Paper
Developmental Efforts Related to Adolescent Obesity Qualitative Research
“More than one third of our children and adolescents in our country are now overweight or obese” (Kids and Obesity). This epidemic is also skyrocketing the occurrence of disorders and other health issues such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, asthma and bone and joint problems (Weight problems and obesity). But obesity can also effect adolescents on a deeper level, especially those of lower socioeconomic classes. Depression and low self esteem is also directly related to obesity and has high tendencies to lead to substance abuse is males and eating disorders in females (Weight problems and obesity). Adolescent obesity is a very serious issue and the need for nursing interventions has never been more prominent. The majorit...
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...heir teens adopt better habits. Interventions that promote more time outdoors and active compared to time in front of a screen have also proved to not only decrease BMI over time, but promote self-esteem in adolescents (Weight problems and obesity).
Conclusion
Nursing thrives on evidence-based practice and continual implementation of the nursing process. Evaluation and reassessment are key components to the success evolving and adapting nursing interventions have had. After reviewing all the data, there is a trend that catches the eye. The most successful interventions are those that are incorporated within a family or group setting (Mayo Clinic Staff). The development of a new nursing intervention to encourage healthy eating habits among teenagers and combat the epidemic of obesity should not only be targeted to the teens themselves, but also their families.
Many would argue that children should not focus on their weight because children should lead a youth with little worries, yet obesity affects a child much more than people with that argument think. Being overweight can cause increased risks for several serious diseases and even can result in decreased mental health on account of low self-esteem and social discrimination. Children who are overweight also are at least twice as likely to have heart disease, diabetes, and orthopedic problems (Internicola, 2009). Sadly, children are being pressured into unhealthy lifestyles even more so than adults are.
In the recent decades, obesity has grown into a major health issue in the United States within young people. With 31 percent of the United States of children being obese, the United States has become the country with the highest rate of obesity in the world. Obesity is not only found among adults, but it is also now found mainly among children and teenagers. The childhood is a very important period for the initiation of obesity especially in this time. Eating practices that children are taught or learn during childhood affects a person later in their life whether they know or not. Multiple studies have confirmed that childhood obesity in the U.S has been on a rise for years. One out of three children in the U.S are obese, most of them face a higher risk of having medical, social and academic problems. Childhood obesity also leads to many health problems among young people. Those problems include diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and many more others. These problems cause a rise in health care costs that their families might have to pay sooner or later. The influence of parents and the media play a big role in causing these problems to happen. Some people believe that a family with an obese child should not raise child protection concerns if obesity is the only cause for concern (Callaghan, 2010). However, doctors should always be mindful of the possible role of abuse or neglect in contributing to obesity. The result of some research that was done on the symptoms of neglect shows a clear correlation between childhood abuse and obesity in childhood. A study of American school children has found that after controlling for socioeconomic status, those who were physically abused were more likely to be obese (Callaghan, 201...
Childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions with the one of largest subpopulations being African American girls. According to the (The American Public Health Association [APHA], 2003) nearly 22 percent of African American girls ages 6-11 years of age are overweight. Childhood obesity is a considerable predictor of obesity in adulthood and can lead to deleterious consequences if left untreated. Improving the health needs of this vulnerable populations needs to be paramount not only for the overall wellbeing of the individual, but to avoid placing additional burden on the health care system. Health promotions such as educational programs focusing on health risk or behaviors are successful in improving health behaviors (Bellows, McMenamin, & Halpin, 2010). The purpose of this paper is to provide an individual health promotion for an 8 year old African American female who is the 95 weight percentile for weight. Guiding change is a key component that a nurse display in order to combat childhood obesity (Berkowitz & Borchard, 2009).
Childhood obesity still considered to be an endemic problem and affecting the entire nation. Many programs are already established to help solving this matter. Among established programs is the kids’ night out at the Livonia recreation center, Michigan. Four nursing students continue planning to apply Rosswurm & Larrabee model of change .This model of change will be used by the change agents as a framework to help design the change project, Smart Choices Healthy Kids. Previously, the change agents had addressed the first three steps of this model. Now, they proceed to step four and step five, which cover the design and Implementation aspects of the model by: defining the need to reduce Obesity in children as included in the PICOT question and
Childhood onset overweight and obesity and its’ associated health consequences are quickly becoming major significant public health issues facing America today. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) define overweight as a body mass index (BMI) between the 85th and 95th percentile while obese is defined as BMI above the 95th percentile for children of the same age and sex . The prevalence of overweight children, defined based on 2009 CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics data, has more than tripled in the past 30 years. Between 1980 and 2006, the incidence of overweight among children aged 6 to 11 years increased from 6.5% to 17.0% while overweight levels for adolescents aged 12 to 19 years increased from 5.0% to 17.6% . Not only has prevalence of child and adolescent overweight and obesity increased dramatically over the last several decades, but being an overweight or obese child puts one at a heightened risk for adult overweight and obesity .
The Encyclopedia Britannica emphasizes the increasing significance of the epidemic of childhood obesity and its complex biological, social, and health in today’s American Children with just increases year over year since the early nineteen eighties from just fewer than twenty percent from the adolescent and childhood life stages into adult transition. {Britannica} One out of every three children in the U.S. are obese, with the majority facing higher risks of developing medical, social and academic problems as a result of this health crisis. Over the past ten years, the United States rates of obesity in children have been on a steady incline. Various public health problems like obesity paired with attempted solutions to its consequences dating back years but hidden by all with differing views on exploring certain areas of life experiences. Parents’ early interventions with proper training slow the disease increase trend. The Gale Encyclopedia of Nursing and Allied Health asserts the prevalence of early diagnosis and treatment in children will help improve transitional health into adulthood by encouraging main factors in adult health complications when a cycle of weight loss followed by weight gain begins. {Gale} Parents are not provided enough conventionally accessible education to support children in prevention of the disease. We need to focus our efforts on teaching children how to lead consistent and healthy lives and eradicate this excessive weight disease by an overall healthy lifestyles starting with parents, by setting the groundwork for culture principals while providing guidance which will lead to healthy weight development into the adolescent and latter adult years. The CDC estimates studies show kids before school age ar...
Many children who are obese are the targets of bullying from other children. Self-esteem can be greatly damaged from a disease that can be prevented. Having an obese or once obese person tell the stories of struggle, difficulties and how life is greatly impacted by not eating right and exercising could have a great influence on just how serious obesity is. In the academic journal, “Childhood obesity and Self-Esteem”, has found that there are social and emotional effects from childhood obesity. Other than just low self-esteem, obesity can lead to “Smoking and consuming alcohol” (Strauss 3) compared to children who are not obese. Preventing obesity could also decrease the rate of smoking and drinking in children underage. The more than one solution to how this can be done, for parents and students, for schools “Replacing vending machines containing unhealthy foods and drinks and replace with healthy items” (Green 4). This has been increasing in many schools and even colleges; Montgomery College has also taken the steps of changing the vending machine. Another resolution for schools is to “Provide quality daily physical education for all students. Be sure to select activities that are fun, challenging, and aerobic in nature” (Green
There are many intervention strategies a family health nurse can employ to improve or promote the health of a family. A nurse can use their skills and knowledge to maximize the health of a family by providing guidance that will encourage families to value the benefits of health promotion into their daily lives (Kaakinen, Coehlo, Steele, Tabacco, & Hanson, 2015). Positive life changes occur when one’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are guided along a pathway that leads to success and accomplishment. This discussion post will explain the major point of the family meal and healthier eating. Specific nursing interventions will help a family that is in need of developing and practicing health-promoting practices.
It is apparent that living an unhealthy lifestyle, as well as eating poorly, negatively affects one’s health. From a young age it is quickly learned which foods are considered healthful as opposed to junk food. It is a parents responsibility to supervise the intake of their child's food, however there is a higher risk than ever before of childhood obesity.
"The increased prevalence of overweight and obesity particularly among children and adolescents is a severe public health problem" (Bray, 2005). According to our text, health education and health promotion are recognized increasingly as ways to meet public health objectives and improve the success of public health and medical interventions around the world (Gollust, 2014).
Obesity is a modern epidemic in America and is starting to become our society’s “norm.” According to an article in Progress in Health Sciences, childhood obesity is the most frequent eating disorder (Koukourikos). There are several factors that contribute to the childhood obesity epidemic. Should we solely shun the parents of obese children for this? No, we should not. There is not one single person to blame, but several people, along with our society. Family, friends, and schools all play a very important role in teaching children about healthy food choices and exercise. Children may have a greater risk for obesity due to genetic factors. We need to constantly remind our children how important it is to maintain a healthy lifestyle so that
Thirdly, it is important to determine how the data will be collected (Hodges & Videto, 2011). In this case, data will be collected in middle or high school settings. Adolescents within the target group will be asked to fill out the Youth Risk Behavior Survey questionnaire regarding their eating behaviors and what types o...
Teens used technology consuming excessive amounts of exercise time throughout the day that caused the physical health problem of obesity. Teens were physically active throughout the day before technology was fully exposed to teens. According to the article, Obesity in Children and Technology, Cespedes (2013) stated “The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that approximately 10 percent of preschool age children and 15 percent of 6- to 19-year olds, can be considered overweight. In addition to eating more processed, high calorie foods, active play has been supplanted by technology” (para.4). Teens would take more time outdoors riding bikes, playing at the parks, walking with friends, and swimming at indoor pools that caused them to burn calories while having fun. Most of technology today was at a sedentary state that replaced many of the outdoor activities with teens playing sport video games, using their smartphones, and browsing the internet on the computer or tablets for coun...
...xican american youths' and mothers' explanatory models of diabetes prevention. Journal for Specialist in Pediatric Nursing, 15(1), 7.
Childhood obesity is a health problem that is becoming increasingly prevalent in society’s youth. For a number of years, children across the nation have become accustomed to occasionally participating in physical activities and regularly snacking on sugary treats. In result of these tendencies, approximately one third of American children are currently overweight or obese (Goodwin). These grim statistics effectively represent all the lack of adult interference, in regards to health, has done to the youth of America. The habits of over consuming foods and under participating in physical activities are all too common in the children of today. Children cannot solve this issue alone, though. These young people need to essentially be given the opportunities to make positive health decisions and learn about good, nutritional values.