Obesity is one of the most prevalent health disorders not only in the USA but entire globe affecting millions of people. Nonetheless, obesity is a preventable disorder through observing a healthy lifestyle habit. The rates of obesity amongst adolescents’ have been on the increase over the years. This has put this group of the population at a risk of developing the health disorders associated with obesity. The adolescents from the core of a nation’s future and in case they continue suffering from obesity, it is an indication that the future of the entire nation is hanging on a loose thread. Therefore, the aim of this essay is to highlight the increasing obesity rates amongst adolescents using various scholarly articles and come up with a health promotion project aimed at reducing the prevalence of the disorder . Additionally, the essay will also focus on the various strategies used by health promotion in educating adolescents on the harmful impacts of obesity and how to eliminate it from society.
Obesity and Adolescents
There has been a global increase in the prevalence of obesity and overweight in children and adolescents. As a result of this, obesity is now one of the most chronic disorder in this group even as they transition into adulthood. Obesity in adolescents put them at a higher risk of suffering from sleep-disordered breathing, obstructive sleep apnea, insulin resistance, hypertension and hyperlipidemia (Ahn & Nelson, 2015). In the USA, the rate of obesity has increased over the years despite the numerous national health interventions and campaigns target this group. Currently, more than 33% of all school going children are overweight in the USA, while 25% of children aged 2-5 are considered as being overweight and obese (Ahn & Nelson,2015).
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According to Healthy People 2020, it aims at promoting the health of its citizens and reduce the prevalence of chronic illness resulting from the consumption of unhealthy diets. This will make sure that the people have a healthy body weight. More importantly, the Congress has raised an alarm in relation to the increasing obesity rates in children and adolescents and this has seen the development of a comprehensive action plan that includes the government, communities, industry, schools, and families in eliminating obesity (Koplan et al., 2004). In the case of health care professionals, they have an ability to ensure they eliminate the disorder in adolescents. This is through encouraging the adolescent and their parents to observe a healthy lifestyle. As such, the Healthy People 2020 guideline on the role of the healthcare professional will align with the health promotion project as it is based on the role of healthcare providers in eliminating the disorder through creation and dissemination of evidence-based clinical guidelines and other educational content on adolescent obesity reduction (Koplan et al., 2004). These actions called for by Healthy People 2020 will be the foundation of the promotion project.
Articles Summary
According to Birken and Hamilton (2014), obesity is determined by calculating the body weight and dividing it by the height or length of a child. The value obtained is then plotted against the specified World Health Organization growth curve. The disorder is linked to adverse health disorders such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Obesity is measured using a fasting lipid profile or screening of children in the USA and Canada respectively. The treatment of obesity is linked to various approaches such as parental involvement and reduced consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages. Reduce television viewing time, increased consumption of vegetables, and engagement in some form of physical activity.
Ahn and Nelson (2015) conducted a study to determine the food consumption eating patterns of children in a daycare setting. According to the researchers, they were able to find out that the environment through which children spend most of their time has a huge influence on their eating behaviors. The researchers also found out that parents have a huge role to pay towards their children’s eating patterns and behaviors. The researchers found out that communication between peers and teachers had a huge influence on the children’s eating patterns. The authoritative and authoritarian feeding styles from teachers were observed and the children reacted more positively to an authoritative feeding style, unlike an authoritarian one whereby they trashed their food when asked to eat food they did not like.
According to Rodhain and Aurier (2016), they conducted a study to determine the impacts of child brand relationships and their relationship with teachers, peers, and parents. The article states that the interpersonal relationships a child has with the other members of the society will impact his/her affiliation with a particular brand. As children grow from a young and tender age, they are able to have an awareness of the various symbolisms linked to consumption patterns and this is what forms their food preferences choices as they transition into adolescent and adulthood. However, the researchers were able to find out that an increased social interaction between parents, teachers, and peers with the young children will allow them to make the right brand choices especially related to their consumption behaviors. Parents, teachers, and peers should have the ability to assist children in making brand choices that will have positive impacts on their lives.
Health Promotion Project
According to the research conducted by Ahn and Nelson (2015), Birken and Hamilton (2014) and Rodhain and Aurier (2016), it is vital for the formation of the health promotion project. In the case of Ahn and Nelson (2015), their study found out that the environmental setting of children has a huge role to play towards their consumption behavior. This indicates that the school or home environment might have a part to play towards increased obesity prevalence in adolescents. In order to ensure that they adopt a better eating pattern away from their usual norm that is influenced by their surroundings, an effective style of communication must be used in delivering the message. As a result, in order to ensure that the project becomes a success , it will employ Ahn and Nelson (2015) authoritative style when educating the adolescents on proper feeding patterns. As indicated by Ahn and Nelson (2015), using an authoritarian style will make the children have a resistance towards the healthy foods and thus may end up avoiding it. Nonetheless, an authoritative style of communication will see the enjoy enjoying the conversations on proper food choices and thus they might end up considering consuming healthy foods. Additionally, according to Birken and Hamilton (2014), they indicated that obesity is eliminated using a variety of factors such as encouraging them to consume vegetables, reduce overconsumption of sweetened beverages, engage in physical activities and reduce television viewing time. These strategies will be used in pushing for obesity reduction strategies for the adolescents who will be part of the entire project. Furthermore, a considerable number of adolescents tend to have various brand relationships with food that might have negative impacts on their health such as “junk foods”. The project makes sure that it teaches the children the harmful impacts such foods on their health and rather advocate for much healthier food choices thus building a positive brand relationship with a healthy food diet.
The mots preemptive strategy that can be used in eliminating the ever-increasing obesity prevalence in adolescents is through prevention and one approach that will be employed by the project is the school-based intervention program using interactive multimedia such as the internet. The adolescents are regarded as being the highest internet users and thus, having an Internet-based obesity reduction program will make it capture more than 90% of the adolescent population. The reason for using the schools is that adolescents spend most of their lives in schools and additionally, the schools have the right infrastructure to integrate the obesity program in their curriculum. The internet program will ensure that it provides the adolescents with behavioral support and interactive education on physical activity and healthy eating habits. This will see the program having an interactive technology that allows for feedback, repetition, problem solving, simulations and self-assessments. The teachers, administrators, and parents will be included in decision making regarding the projects study protocols to guarantee it has been successfully implemented. The teachers will only be required to assist the adolescents in logging into the program and monitor student participation. The major lessons of the program will include topics on nutrition, portion control, metabolism, physical activity, and health coaching and self-monitoring.
Conclusion
The prevalence of obesity in adolescents been on the increase for a couple of decades not only in the USA but globally. According to the Healthy People 2020, there is a need to make sure there is an increased healthy consumption. .More importantly, the Healthy People 20202 calls for the participation of healthcare professionals, industry, government, community, and schools to aid in obesity prevention in adolescents. Various researchers have found out that to prevent obesity, pushing for better eating habits, increase physical activity, help adolescents make better consumption choices, among others is vital. The health promotion project will employ these strategies outlined in the researches. The educational approach to be used will be a school-based intervention using interactive media such as the internet.
References
Ahn, R., & Nelson, M. R. (2015). Observations of food consumption in a daycare setting. Young Consumers , 16 (4), 420-437.
Birken, C., & Hamilton, J. (2014). Obesity in a young child. Canadian Medical Association Journal , 186 (6), 443-444.
Koplan , J. , P. , Liverman, C. , T. , Kraak, V. , A. , Committee on Prevention of Obesity in Youth., Food and Nutrition Board., Board on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, & Institute of Medicine of the National Academies. (2004, September 29). Preventing Childhood Obesity: Health in the Balance. National Academy of Sciences . Retrieved on 23 November 2018, from http://www.nationalacademies.org/HMD/Reports/2004/Preventing-Childhood-Obesity-Health-in-the-Balance.aspx
Rodhain, A., & Aurier, P. (2016). The child–brand relationship: social interactions matter. Journal of Product & Brand Management , 25 (1), 84-97.
