Abstract
Childhood obesity is a growing challenge in both the developed and developing world. At the global level, the severity of obesity is continually rising even among the youngest of children. Before the close of 2010, approximately 43 million school children were diagnosed with overweight. This marked close to a 60 percent rise since 1990. The figures also depicted a major increase within a period of one decade.
Such a high rise in obesity instances is critical to the health of preschoolers. The main responsibility of the nursing fraternity is to launch an education program that can sensitize parents, children and caregivers in regards to the prevention of obesity. Lifestyle change stands out as one of the most prudent measures that can be taken by the vulnerable groups to prevent and control obesity (Grossklaus & Marvicsin, 2014).
Due to increased national awareness through commercials and advertisements, modern parents vividly understand that a change in diet and regular physical exercise can lower the chances of overweight and obesity. Nonetheless, it is unfortunate to mention that the health challenges posed by obesity are yet to be resolved. It appears that the well known obesity control and prevention methods have not been put into action. Therefore, implementing a collaborative education program with school officials, parents and children can be beneficial in minimizing obesity especially among elementary school goers. The effectiveness of the proposed program calls for a bi-partisan approach among all the concerned stakeholders.
Problem Statement
Childhood obesity is a major healthcare challenge among several households in the modern world. In spite of the magnitude of health problems associated with obesity, a number of healthcare professionals are still not willing or ready to create a close and cordial working relationship with parents of the affected children. To a large extent, the issue of obesity among children merely demands lifestyle change.
If healthcare providers cannot cooperate with parents, obesity might remain a chronic healthcare issue in several decades to come. On the same note, parents and guardians should also have an express mandate to seek medical assistance for affected children (Trasande, 2010). The demeaning effects of obesity cannot be overstated. While it deteriorates the health of victims, it creates a psychological torment. It is equally a health burden to manage obesity especially at the advanced level.
A number of stakeholders in the immediate community can be involved in the control and management of childhood obesity. Some of the key personalities proposed by the writer include healthcare professionals, education officials across the board, parents and guardians. These stakeholders are in a position to devise intervention measures that can solve challenges posed by childhood obesity. (Grossklaus & Marvicsin, 2014).
Incorporated theory
Lev Vygotsky extensively explores the socio-cultural theory. From the key elements of this theory, the challenges posed by childhood obesity can indeed be expounded and addressed (Ball & Crawford, 2008). For instance, this theory attempts to highlight the dynamic nature of society from a psychological point of view. It is crucial to mention that society has the ability to make vital moves and advances and consequently influence various social issues.
The society can significantly influence its members at the individual level. Hence, socio-cultural theory correlates the dynamic nature of society and the social way of life. This theory may also be used to offer myriads of solutions to problems facing society. The individual lifestyle of people and the impacts of their behaviors can equally be demonstrated using the socio-cultural theory. One of the social issues that the theory can explore is obesity.
Implementation plan
It is vital to mention that obesity still remains as a major health challenge in the United States. Usually, childhood obesity can swiftly transcend into adulthood if proper prevention and control measures are not put in place. Various stakeholders such as parents, children, school officials, and healthcare workers can come together and develop a collaborative education program to prevent or reduce incidences of childhood obesity.
Obesity is still a major risk factor for quite a number of serious diseases such as hypertension, heart complications, diabetes, and stroke. In any case, it has grown to an epidemic level. There is urgent need for a robust solution to prevent and control childhood obesity. As health care workers, we need a solution to this problem for the well-being of children. There is also need to minimize healthcare costs associated with childhood obesity.
Different stakeholders such as parents, children, school teachers and healthcare workers ought to be involved in implementing an education program that is suitable and useful in preventing this epidemic. Joining forces and different ideas from various stakeholders will provide a different outcome in solving the current spates of challenges associated with childhood obesity. Parents of children who are still at the elementary stage can be trained by practitioners so that they can be in a position to prevent childhood obesity.
From our research study, we noted that the HENRY approach offers a suitable mechanism for making sure that both a healthy diet and physical exercise are used to reduce instances of obesity. Doctors and nurse practitioners should be more aware of this incidence and diagnose it at an early stage. Studies have shown that childhood obesity is poorly diagnosed by some physicians. The HENRY approach trains practitioners to study this epidemic closely and to work more effectively with parents and their children in regards to prevention and management measures.
A thorough assessment should be done with parents of obese children in order to find out their daily routines, dietary intake and general understanding of obesity. Healthcare workers such as doctors, nurses and nutritionists can educate parents on ways to prevent their children from being obese or overweight.
Evaluation plan
As much as the above collaborative education program can be put in place, it is also necessary to establish an evaluation plan that can assess the effectiveness of the program. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of the program, a questionnaire was used to obtain opinions on obesity prevention from different stakeholders
Evaluation is a process of examining data collection to determine the effectiveness of the plan. It also finds out issues that need to be adjusted for best results. Even though evaluation is the fifth step of the nursing process, it should be done throughout a research study.
The method used to evaluate the effectiveness of the solution was a survey that assisted in obtaining feedback from physicians on how overweight children who participated in the study were progressing. Researchers made a survey in which they inquired from participants if the education plan was effective. One of the variables put into consideration was research evaluation on whether the rate of obesity was decreasing in the community.
Dissemination
Finally, establishing a thorough and effective communication with the nursing fraternity and stakeholders is an excellent strategy for disseminating results (Trasande, 2010). Both the writer and other participants who took part in the research study are planning to hold a major convention whereby all the stakeholders in the obesity prevention program will be requested to attend. The attendees at the meeting will also publish the proposed solutions and results of the research study.
References
Ball, K. & Crawford, D. (2008). The role of socio-cultural factors in the obesity epidemic. New York: Oxford University Press.
Grossklaus, H. & Marvicsin, D. (2014). Parenting Efficacy and its Relationship To the Prevention of Childhood Obesity. Pediatric Nursing, 40(2), 69-86.
Trasande, L. (2010). How much should we invest in preventing childhood obesity? Health Affairs, 29(3), 372-378.