Designing a Population Based Program to reduced Obesity among School Children - Essay Example

Population Based Program for Obesity Designing a Population Based Program to reduced Obesity among School Children Population Based Program for Obesity 2 Obesity has become the talk of many countries as a fast growing problem among the aged people, adults and even children. Obesity is the accumulation of excess fat in the body which might result in many complications such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Obesity arises due to many reasons, these factors grows from parents or family food habits, genetic factors, or other side effects of medications, or due to diet or nutrition imbalances. The root cause being the increased fat content in the body, as Priscilla Spencer [2006] points out “Obesity is defined as the excessive accumulation of body fat”. Recent researchers have brought forth the truth that obesity has a lot to do with type ii diabetes milletus. Literatures also speak of the same thought that obesity leads to diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Priscilla Spencer [2006] while talking on the impact of obesity points out that “It takes a toll both in physical health and psycho-social adjustment” Type ii diabetes is also a common type of diabetes where “either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin” says a website Diabetes .org [2006] Diabetes results from insulin resistance. Type ii diabetes milletus is an effect of obesity, where the body looses its insulin resistance slowly due to excess intake of high calories and fats. An increased or imbalanced diet will lead to obesity and this will result in diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The American College of Preventive Medicine [2005] has released an article emphasizing on the link and the risk between obesity and type ii diabetes, it says “overweight and obesity [particularly excess abdominal fat] are Population Based Program for Obesity 3 closely associated with insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome[i.e the insulin resistance syndrome ] an important risk factor for type ii diabetes and cardiovascular disease” On the whole the scientific factors that have been proved to be a major reason and connection with diabetes and obesity, make us really believe that diet restriction play a very important role in determining the health of a person, in an imbalance diet is followed without paying attention to nutritional values will result in fat accumulation in the body which in turn will end in obesity and obesity as discussed above will leave the person to the doors of either diabetes or cardiovascular diseases. Designing a population based program to reduce obesity among school children: Literatures and researchers say that obesity has been found out in children in many parts of the country like Untied States of America, Africa, China, etc. An article on obesity in children in the website Emedicinehealth.com [2006] says that “physical inactivity”, “popularity of television”, “increasing sedentary lifestyle” as some of the reasons leading to obesity in school children. This has become an often occurring one in countries like United States. A population based program would reduce to risk of further spreading obesity among children and through this parents could also be taught regarding the effects of obesity. “A population program encompasses the ability to assess the health needs of a specific population” says Tufts Managed Care Institute [Nov 2000]. This program should Population Based Program for Obesity 4 includes the whole members of a particular group or community of people, where the supposed health problem is found out to be prevailing in large amount, and admitting the help of ether health care providers or physicians or nurses to achieve what has been programmed. Aim of the program: The program is designed with the aim of bringing awareness among children and parents and school teachers regarding the obesity and its close link with type ii diabetes. Site Selection: All the districts in United States of America. As Priscilla Spencer [2006] say that “Between 5% to 25% of the teenagers and children in the United States are obese” . So while comparing the research results released in literatures it becomes clear that United States is found out to be the leading place where the problem of obesity has become a common one. Sample Selection: School children, who are found to be obese. Children from all the schools should be treated as a group. This could be done by allowing a link service system through the help of health care providers, who in turn will conduct the programs in different centers, but the aim will remain the same. Selected children should be given education regarding the effects of obesity, and they should be taught, what is a good diet? And the importance of nutrition and calorie amount in our daily intake. Population Based Program for Obesity 5 Research Team: A research team should be gathered with the help of physicians, health care providers in order to implement the treatment methods and enhance the group to accept their efforts to make them understand the seriousness of the issue etc. And finally this team should cooperate in finding out how long the program has reached the group. Supportive activities: The supportive activities includes teaching the parents on how to follow strict diet restriction at home, and how they should make their child engage in sports , exercise and other physical activities etc. As a health base d website called emedicinehealth.com [2006] argues that children’s “physical inactivity” will lead to obesity. That includes “popularity of television” among children, “video games”, etc, as these will reduce their movements quiet severely. Educating the parents with the help of care providers and nutrition specialists from the research team: This is also a very important part of the program, as this will give mass result and the whole community will be benefited by this. Monitoring and evaluating the program: This include frequent visits to the school and finding out the food habits of the children , finding out what kind of food they take in majority. And then to talk with the school children regarding their reaction towards the advices and education given on obesity. Finding out from the research team members whether any changes has been found out in the childrens as well as their parents, as a child is brought into a routine habit only from their parents, and finally analyzing of the results. References “Physical Inactivity”.Obesity in Children.online available from http://www.emedicinehealth.com/Obesity-in-children/htm Spencer, Priscilla Philadelphia. “A Prevention Guide for Parents”. National Association of School Psychologists .online available from http://www.nasponline.org/pdf/obesity.pdf The American College of Preventive Medicine “Diet in the Prevention and Control of Obesity, Insulin Resistance, And Type ii diabetes. Corresponding Author David.L. Katz c/o Jennifer K.Bretsch. online available from http://www.cnr.berkerly.edu/cwh/PDFs/ACPM_position_diet.pdf Tufts Managed Care Institute [Nov 2000], p- 1. “Population Based Health Care :Definitions and Applications”. Online available from http://www.academicmedicine.org/ Type II Diabetes .online available from http://www.diabetes.org/type-2-diabetes.isp Read More