Risk Cluster Linked to Child Obesity Essay

With the increase in scientific inquiries, knowledge in science has become unavoidable (National Science Education Standards observe 1996). Nowadays, humans rely on scientific knowledge to tackle their everyday challenges.

In this essay, a 5th grade instructional project applying scientific methods and principles to assess a selected problem is presented. The problem selected is risk cluster linked to child obesity.

Currently, increasing cases of child obesity in the society have become a major health issue. If the current trends continue, two–thirds of the children in the US will be overweight within the next coming years (Hills & King, 2007).

The above health statistics paint a disturbing picture to most parents. What is more troubling is the fact that obesity cases among children are unevenly distributed in the society.

Instructional goals and problem solving skills to be addressed

In this project, pupils are going to be guided on how to identify risk cluster linked to child obesity. Through this, pupils will learn about the symptoms of obesity, means of controlling their weight, and diseases associated with the condition.

The problem solving skills to be addressed are observation, measurement, experimentation, communication, and critical thinking skills.

Just like any other scientific project, the project will heavily rely on observation. Pupils will begin by observing images of obese persons and non-obese persons. Thereafter, they can ask questions relating to their observations. With respect to measurement, pupils should be able to assign values to objects or events they assess.

As such, they should be able to tell the weight of an obese child or any other individual through the right measurement procedures. Through experimentation, the pupils will be able to test their hypotheses.

After carrying out their researches, the pupils should be able to convey their results through effective communication. With respect to critical thinking skills, the pupils should be able to exploit their inductive reasoning, deductive reasoning, and evaluation skills.

Selection and definition of the problem

Obesity in children is an abnormal medical condition in which excess fats accumulate in children’s bodies causing them to have more weights than expected (Hills & King, 2007). Obesity in children has been experienced since time immemorial.

Its origins are traced back to our prehistoric ancestors. The tendencies to store excess energy in the form of fats in children results from thousands of years of evolution in an environment characterized by limited uncertain food supplies.

Recent studies undertaken on child obesity indicate that more than half of obese children portray cluster of conditions that enhance the development of diabetes and heart diseases (Risk Cluster Associated to Child Obesity, 2004).

The studies have shown that the conditions are more prevalent among children and teenagers. The results contravene the existing results implying that more individuals are affected than earlier perceived.

In the past, the issues associated with child obesity were very few and rare. However, the percentage has increased with the availability of inexpensive high-energy food and reduced physical activities among children. Owing to this, obesity in the society has become a major health concern.

Formulation of the problem question

The above health statistics paint a disturbing picture to most parents. What is more disturbing is the fact that obesity is the leading cause of terminal diseases such as diabetes and hypertension among children and teenagers.

In America, physical health issues associated with obesity are widely documented (Risk Cluster Associated to Child Obesity, 2004).

However, a little effort has been focused on letting children understand about the dangers and effects of obesity. Equally, few researches focusing on the psychological and social effects in child obesity have been undertaken.

Determination of the sources of information

Healthcare books focusing on child obesity will provide the pupils with crucial information such as the present and the past obesity statistics and their effects. The sources are very efficient since they are bias free.

In addition, the children affected by the condition will provide useful information about the condition. The information includes obesity risks and their eating habits. Teachers will play a huge role in determining the authenticity of the sources of information.

Structure of the procedures for collecting data

Procedures for collecting data are an important aspect of every research project. For this study, appropriate procedures will be required to obtain credible information. The procedures entail acquiring health data from secure and reliable sources, face-to-face interviewing, and questionnaire.

Interviews and questionnaires will be used in collecting the required data. The face-to-face interview will require a participant to question those affected by obesity to collect their personal views. Equally, questionnaires will be used to collect private information from the participants.

Questionnaires will be appropriate because some participants might not be comfortable to detail some of information during a face-to-face interview. Therefore, the teacher should help the pupils in conducting questionnaires and interviews as these may prove challenging for them.

The questions asked in the questionnaires should be clear and open to ease the task. Reanalysis of related research will also be a utilized as method of data collection.

Description of how the data will be interpreted

The above data will be analyzed to give a clear interpretation. The pupils will be able to ascertain if obese children portray cluster of conditions that enhance the development diabetes and heart diseases.

By analyzing other children’s eating behaviors, physical activities, and other determinants of obesity, the children will be able to increase their awareness on obesity.

From a socio-ecological approach, determinants of child obesity can be fully understood by focusing on their behaviors rather than focusing on the disease (Risk Cluster Associated to Child Obesity, 2004).

Summary of the possible solutions to the problem

To address the prevalence of obesity in the American child population, government, schools, and parents must work together to find and implement appropriate measures to end the consequences of the diseases.

Researchers assert that to achieve this, all stakeholders must look for ways that will ensure that children increase their physical activities and reduce their intake of high- energy foods. To increase physical activity among the children, the children must be prepared psychologically to enjoy the activities.

Through these physical activities, youngsters should experience success for them to develop the habitual physical activity. The above initiatives are achieved by encouraging activities such as walk to school programs, emphasizing on physical education, and encouraging children to participate in sports.

Walk-to-school programs should take into consideration the children’s safety and comfort. To achieve this, schools, parents and the community should network to ensure that social structures are utilized positively to the benefits of the children.

Parental concerns about their children’s safety can be solved by engaging trained and accredited walking leaders and volunteers to supervise the walk-to- school programs.

Similarly, families also a have a role to play in ensuring that child obesity is reduced. Families should ensure that they feed their children with appropriate food and select for them appropriate activity choices. Parents must realize that they have a stronger influence on their children than their peers and their teachers.

As a result, it is important that measures and strategies aimed at preventing childhood obesity involve parents and the wider family units. Parents should put more efforts to regulate the food intake of their children.

Through this, they should ensure that they allow their children to choose from the food they offer and ensure that they control on the quantity of their children’s food intake.

Through these control measures, parents should be watchful to ensure that their children eat a variety of foods with all the needed nutrients to ensure that they have a balanced diet.

Similarly, parents should ensure that their children eat home-prepared meals as much as possible with plenty of fruits and vegetables.

A list of the activities (including main and extending activities)

Below are the lists of activities that are going to be undertaken by the pupils and their teacher.

• The teacher should come up with the project’s learning objectives
• The teacher should elaborate key scientific skills and vocabulary related to child obesity
• Introductions to challenging questions related to child obesity
• The space available to record differentiated activities
• Plenary research
• Carrying out the research
• Evaluation of collected results
• Teacher’s recommendations

A list of instructional resources

Below is the list of instructional resources.

• The local daily newspapers
• Healthcare books
• National Science Education Standards observe, interact, change, and learn by National Academy Press.

References

Hills, A. P., & King, N. A. (2007). Children, obesity and exercise: prevention, treatment, and management of childhood and adolescent obesity. London: Routledge.

National Science Education Standards observe, interact, change, learn. (1996). Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press.

Risk Cluster Associated to Child Obesity. (2004, June 2). The Salt Lake Tribune, p 12.