Recent orders
Childhood obesity is becoming a severe threat.
Childhood Obesity NameSchoolCourse ProfessorDate
Childhood Obesity
Childhood obesity is becoming a severe threat. Over 14 million children are estimated to be affected by childhood obesity, accounting for the prevalence rate of 19.3%. The prevalence rate of 13.4% among children between the ages of 2 and 5 emphasizes how childhood obesity can become a significant issue compromising the country’s children’s well-being (Anderson et al., 2019). Additionally, childhood obesity serves as a risk factor that can contribute to other medical conditions such as hypertension and diabetes in the future. An extrapolation of the current situation depicts how childhood obesity can increase liability. As a result, the health care system can be jeopardized since substantial resources are used to manage childhood obesity without allocation to other medical conditions. Throughout the years, numerous initiatives have been launched aimed at combating childhood obesity. The repercussions of childhood obesity mandate evaluating “The Kids and Teens Weight Program at Weill Cornell Medicine” program to comprehend efficacy.
Background
Notably, the program mentioned above is dedicated to combating childhood obesity. The program will be implemented at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York to provide valuable information and instill healthy eating habits among children. The program’s fundamental themes include innovation and creativity, contributing to the application of technological advancement (Duran et al., 2021). Consequently, online meeting platforms such as Zoom will combat childhood obesity while also promoting healthy eating habits. The program will entail the creation of zoom classes. Children can join the meeting from 5:00 p.m. after completing their academic classes. The program will run from September 20 to November 1, 2021, and will include six sessions. It is worth noting that October 11 will be excluded from the schedule (Weill Cornell Medicine, 2021). The rationale for utilizing zoom technology is to ensure accuracy during program evaluation. With the need to better understand the situation, a large number of respondents will be included. Zoom meetings will be beneficial in ensuring that all respondents participate fully. Similarly, zoom technology accounts for people living in various areas. Hence, the approach is the most cost-effective because it eliminates the need for respondents to provide feedback on their perceptions of the implemented program physically. The program’s guiding mission statement assures comprehensive medical care in the future. As a result, a dynamic process is included in the program. The program encompasses activities such as providing care, discovering, and teaching. It is worth noting that the program benefits the facility as well, as it is consistent with the objective of self-care promotion as a preventative measure within the community. In this context, the facility has invested in integrating community members in medical solutions.
Thus, the program will be instrumental in advancing the self-care campaign in the community. As mentioned previously, the program’s primary goal is to decrease childhood obesity rates in the United States. The program aims to impart helpful knowledge among children capable of acquiring the information necessary to promote healthy eating (Weill Cornell Medicine, 2021). Similarly, extensive information will be provided on preparing nourishing foods and choosing an appropriate diet to reduce the likelihood of childhood obesity. Additionally, the project’s dynamic approach envisions emphasizing the importance of physical activity and teaching children how to evaluate the nutritional content of foods purchased in supermarkets. The targeted population of the program is diverse, composed of children, members of the family, and caregivers. This rationale is based on the fact that the targeted population actively participates in food preparation and purchase. Therefore, it is critical to provide necessary information and knowledge that can aid in preventing childhood obesity.
From a different angle, the evaluation of programs is a critical component. Program evaluation provides an opportunity to determine whether or not the established goals and objectives are being met through implemented initiatives. Consequently, involved stakeholders can identify points of weaknesses where updates should be implemented. As a result, the assessment increases the effectiveness of the decision-making process as it enables the implementation of therapeutic strategies if the set of activities are not met (Mayne, 2020). Program evaluation is also critical for managing costs during the project. Critical planning and strategy are essential to avoid resource loss. Assessment of the project guarantees that the available resources are being utilized effectively and that the utility is being increased to stakeholders involved: parents. As stated previously, the program’s objective is to partake in a dynamic approach to implementing initiatives. Thus, it would be possible to comprehend both effective and ineffective components through the assessment. Project evaluation can also ensure the program’s objectivity while reducing childhood obesity throughout the country (Mayne, 2020). Additionally, it is critical to note that the novel programs frequently contain multiple instances of inefficiency. However, through program evaluation, it is possible to identify areas for improvement, increasing future efficacy in the fight against childhood obesity. Similarly, the importance of program evaluation cannot be overstated. It stems from the belief that lifestyle is a significant factor in childhood obesity. As a result, the assessment will determine whether implemented initiatives result in a lifestyle change, with children adopting healthier eating habits and physical activity.
Stakeholders and Stakeholder Roles
Leadership is critical to the project’s success. The registered dietitian and pediatric endocrinologist will provide valuable guidance during the project’s evaluation. This rationale is based on the fact that the two professionals possess extensive knowledge of children’s nutritional needs and how the information can be used to create and implement initiatives to promote healthy eating habits and physical activity (Papamichael et al., 2021). The internal stakeholders involved in evaluating the project include medical researchers and data analysts who will collect and present derived from the respondents. Thus the two groups of individuals will focus on data collection and analysis to determine the program’s success. Parents, caregivers, and children will be external stakeholders who will provide vital information explaining lifestyle choices. Decisively, children will be the primary beneficiaries of the project as they come to understand the relationship between lifestyle factors and childhood obesity. As a result, students can take a more proactive role in lifestyle management and incorporating healthy habits to help prevent childhood obesity. Parents and caregivers will also benefit from the project by understanding healthy eating habits that they should encourage among children. Similarly, the evaluation of the project will help the medical profession by providing supporting literature on promoting more nutritious eating habits in the community. In the long run, the project will improve the health status of the community by preventing the condition. Thus, the project is likely to address childhood obesity, which has reached epidemic proportions in the country.
Literature Review
In “The Kids and Teens Weight Program at Weill Cornell Medicine,” the focus is on managing weight and obesity through structured initiatives anchored on evidence-based practices. It requires assessing the relevant literature for feasibility. The focus is on how the evidence-based interventions can be part of the sustainable initiatives to advance the core deliverables of the project (Weill Cornell Medicine, n.d). As mentioned, innovation and technology are fundamental parts of the system, making it crucial in defining the project’s outcomes. Cardel et al. (2020) observed that the objective is to ensure that the activities and frameworks are consistent with the practices and research conducted in the field related to obesity and the associated health risk factors. Therefore, the study focuses on the available literature and how it defines the core elements of sustainable outcomes, including the measures to improve the children and teenagers’ wellbeing through “The Kids and Teens Weight Program at Weill Cornell Medicine.”
An integral part of the program is subjecting teens and children to healthy eating initiatives that include evidence-based interventions. In this regard, the project underlines the relevance of eating healthy through a balanced diet. This aspect includes prioritizing vegetables and fruits and limiting the use of sweetened beverages and drinks. As pointed in Kebbe et al. (2020), the objective is to define the importance of eating or avoiding certain foods to control the weight of the kids and teens through the program’s core deliverables. Moreover, healthy eating entails highlighting the need to avoid junk foods such as fast food, snacks, and other sugary products. Moreover, there is a need to highlight communication about diet, which entails consulting the relevant experts and professionals on how the dietary perspective can solve obesity and weight issues (Mayo Clinic, 2021). Children are also introduced to family dynamics, including eating the right portion of food to make it possible to advance the long-term needs and goals.
At times, “The Kids and Teens Weight Program at Weill Cornell Medicine” can include physical activities that are meant to maintain a healthy weight for children. Martin et al. (2018) found that physical activity is part of a scientifically proven intervention that enhances burning calories and strengthens the muscles that improve the children’s mental and physical health. Thus, Cardel et al. (2020) asserted that instilling these practices and values at childhood can help improve the adolescent and early adulthood lifestyle. Therefore, it is crucial to introduce and teach the children the practices that define their relevance and importance to society through such interventions as lifestyle changes modeled around physical, emotional, and mental health and wellbeing.
Parents and other stakeholders have a role in shaping the program’s needs, goals, and expectations. They need to have active roles and influence in defining the essence of management practices to achieve the set goals and objectives. For instance, children must be inducted into limited TV and internet browsing timeline. Weill Cornell Medicine (n.d) determined that emphasis should be on the specific activities, rather than mere exercise, which has objectives for the individual learners. The parents and other stakeholders in the project should understand the activities that each child likes or associate with and use such models, as cited in Martin et al. (2018). These frameworks make it possible to advance the long-term implications and ensure that the outcomes are realized.
In essence, overweight and obesity management practices through “The Kids and Teens Weight Program at Weill Cornell Medicine” can benefit from the published literature with evidence-based models. The information from these sources underlines the frameworks for sustainable models that influence the study’s outcomes’ core mechanisms. The program will benefit from the articulate interventions that advance knowledge transfer on the self-care and evidence-based perspectives to realize the core deliverables.
Program Logic Model
The general idea of the program logic model is to illustrate the intersection of different components. Relevance is undeniable considering the impact of the interconnectedness of inputs, the activities undertaken, and the outcomes emanating from such output. For instance, without the corresponding staff for specific duties such as nursing and cooking activities, healthy eating and manageable weight are some of the issues that will be compromised. The holistic nature of the program logic model is equally instrumental because it gives an overview of various stakeholders’ budgetary funding and unique undertakings.
An overview of the model ascertains the need for planning to give the short, medium, and long-term goals and objectives. These frameworks mean society can sharpen its discretions and elements within the necessary weight loss programs through “The Kids and Teens Weight Program at Weill Cornell Medicine” program. The focus is on how the various strategies of this program are modeled to achieve the set goals and objectives and instill the relevant evidence-based goals. The activities, processes, and evaluation programs are meant to instill the appropriate components and aspects. In this regard, the focus is on the management practices that shape the views and discourse of the community that targets obese children. The model underlines the roles of each of the parties involved based on the inputs, outputs, and outcomes through the distinct activities. The stakeholders such as clinicians, nurses, dieticians, and therapists have to develop the necessary frameworks that define the long-term engagement practices to achieve its core deliverables.
In essence, “The Kids and Teens Weight Program at Weill Cornell Medicine” contains various activities that are relevant to the subject of obesity and weight loss. Weight loss and obesity management interventions create the necessary model for facilitating the implications and frameworks. Moreover, each activity and stakeholder impact the subjects on the distinct weight management practices. These frameworks make it possible for the strategic evaluation and critical analysis of the outcomes to make it possible to manage weight and obesity among children and teenagers. The model has a specificity of tasks, inputs, and outcomes within the various time ranges. These concepts shape the understanding of the processes and perspectives that are relevant to the weight loss initiatives. Moreover, it is crucial to define the responsibilities of each stakeholder or professional and understand how it impacts obesity management practices.
Program Evaluation Design, Methods, Data Collection, And Data Analysis
As an educative program, as opposed to medical intervention, the primary assessment would involve evaluating the participants’ attitudes and adoption of suggested practices. Thus, the best evaluation method would be using an online survey on the institution’s website. Notably, parents and their children attend the seminars voluntarily, making it difficult to estimate the number of participants in the program or those who will respond to the assessment approach employed. However, a link provided after each session would allow them to answer questions specifically designed to determine the benefits of the intervention. This approach will use the participants’ willingness to contribute to the program’s improvement to collect relevant data on their perception of the sessions. According to Shams and Dehghani (2015), participants who have a positive attitude towards a program are more likely to implement the suggestions it provides. Therefore, it may be vital to adjust the intervention to maximize positive reception, which would improve its effects in promoting behavioral change among parents and children attending the session.
Concerning this observation, the survey will employ questionnaires with both open-ended and closed questions. Nonetheless, each one has to be direct and easy to answer. According to Dewaele (2018), placing ambiguous questions in a questionnaire will likely confuse the participants, undermining the ability to collect uniform responses suitable for a comprehensive assessment during analysis. Besides, these questions should avoid promoting bias or be provocative. Eventually, the survey has to draw uniform responses instead of guiding the participants’ attitudes. Furthermore, given that the study will employ an unpaid survey, it would be vital to minimize any barriers undermining the participants’ willingness to participate. According to Dewaele (2018), individuals are less likely to respond to an item if they find it pretentious, complicated, provocative, or full of mistakes. Therefore, each survey should go through critical assessments to determine their ability to collect the desired information. Notably, the research will employ a questionnaire based on personal clinical experiences.
The survey will only be available after the session. Besides, the individuals will not receive any notification before the program regarding the questions or their intention. This move aims to ensure that there would be some questions to answer after each session does not interfere with their responses afterward. This aspect improves the internal consistency of the survey. Besides, the researcher will develop questionnaires critically, involving several steps of assessing each question’s viability and the items’ organization to ensure that they bear the required impacts. Applying professionals to help critically assess a questionnaire minimizes the likelihood of making mistakes, preserving the survey’s internal validity (Trakman et al., 2017). However, consent is a vital part of any study, necessitating that the researcher ensures all participants agree to the data collection before the research commences (Biros, 2018). Therefore, everyone who registers for the program must read and sign an informed consent form beforehand. The documents will only be available to parents since they have the legal capacity to provide permission. According to Harriss et al. (2017), any study that may involve minors necessitates that their parents or legal guardians consent to their participation. This move aligns with ethical research principles in any field, not just healthcare.
The survey’s mix of open-ended and closed questions will allow the findings to employ both thematic and statistical methods to interpret the results. A vital part of the closed-ended elements will be Likert scales that assess participants’ attitudes based on discreet magnitudes that are easy to represent numerically and graphically. This information would be relevant in determining averages and standard deviations that would later be used for statistical assessments. A Likert scale helps to transform otherwise opinionated responses into numerical form for statistical analysis (Chyung et al., 2017). For instance, the survey will assess the participants’ perception of the sessions’ helpfulness using magnitudes specified by the scale. In addition, response scales allow researchers to evaluate any changes in attitude after every session and graph the findings for easier graphical review. On the other hand, thematic analysis is suitable for difficult content to quantify (Kiger & Varpio, 2020). For instance, the study will ask what the participants found challenging about the survey. Assessing the responses and grouping them into themes will allow for a better understanding of what to change in the program to make it more effective.
The analysis results will be critical for determining what to improve about the program. The first is the number of participants attending the sessions. A steep decline in attendance will imply that people do not find it helpful. Thus, changing the sessions according to what the participants mentioned in the survey could facilitate better responses. This element will also depend on the attendees’ answer to whether they find the program helpful. An increase in negative comments will mean that the sessions need remaking. Lastly, the study will draw information on the participants’ perceptions of the program’s difficulty level. Increased complaints would imply that there is an issue with the sessions, necessitating change.
The proposed time for the completion of the project will be 12 months. The timeline for different activities to be performed along with their proposed times are presented in table 3 and assumes the form of a Gantt chart. This chart is effective in presenting processes in a timeline that gives a clear visual impression of how the different activities will be completed (Royse, Thyer & Padgett, 2016). Activities that come one after the other and those that overlap and can be completed together, are some of the key elements of the timeline that are visible in the chart. In the program evaluation, the leader will be a student who is working on this project. However, while the program is in operation, the head of Weill Cornell medicine takes lead.
In addition to the timeline, a budget will also help to evaluate the program’s cost before execution. The budget for this program is presented in table 4. Based on the student researcher’s evaluation, the main costs of the project will emanate from expert charge and staffing needed for the project. Since the program is already present, and the facility on which the experiment is conducted is a key stakeholder in this project, which means there will no charge for carrying out the project on their facility and database. However, an extra cost on staff needed to carry out the project is indicated in table 4. To make effective the project, there is a need to have the staff working at the facility still help in the project (Royse, Thyer & Padgett, 2016). As such, without adding new staff to the facility or if need be can be added from the estimation of the facility’s director. The time the staff gets involved in working on the new project can be estimated in terms of the hours during the working time that the staff has to work on this study’s tasks. Accounting for cost can be done as a percentage of the employees’ remuneration and multiplying this value to the staff’s compensation. This estimate yields the cost of conducting the experiment in terms of labor.
An important measure in research and especially one that has gained momentum in recent years is an ethical consideration. This is important especially for projects using human subjects. While humans are not used directly in this study as subjects, the outcome of this study will be used on human subjects. In other words, humans are secondary subjects of this program. As a result, the research should be subjected to the Institutional Review Board (IRB) to establish whether the program affects or has the potential to affect users in a manner that raises ethical questions (Kim, 2012). Besides, the program will be using and storing users’ data. As such, the program needs to be reviewed on whether it protects its users’ rights to privacy and confidentiality. Another concern would be whether the researchers if using user data have an ethical requirement to seek consent in the subjects before use of their data.
An additional issue to ethics is the culture of the subjects in use. In this case, the program evaluates obesity in children. Children as a culture are considered a special subject in research. The main issue regards their consent. In essence, the question that should be answered in this study is whether if any consent is needed, who will give consent. This is important especially important so that an adult in charge of the child does not feel their children should not have been input into the researcher without their consent (Kim, 2012). Further, children underage, more so in childhood have no capacity to give their consent for many things including research. With regard to this small culture, sensitivity must be applied not to cause legal or ethical issues. one must be sensitive to children’s young age who may be vulnerable to coercion and vulnerability. Further, the program should be careful not to harm obese children who are already subjects of bullying in school due to their weight.
Conclusion
Weill Cornel Medicine is one of the key institutions dedicated to tackling weight problems in its general goal of keeping the community healthy. The facility believes that weight problems may develop and extend to affect more than just physical health but also mental health. The Kids and Teens Weight Program at Weill Cornell Medicine proves as one of the active ways the facility helps in evaluation and managing obesity issues for children. This study provides an evaluation for this program. Key interests in this evaluation include the strengths of this program in dealing with health issues, further, this study also seeks to unveil some of the weaknesses in this program. Besides, key elements into the program’s effective and non-effective uses are considered. To ensure that the program is ready for evaluation or experiment, the study evaluates related literature that helps in guiding information on program evaluation. Lastly, a budget created attempts to assess opportunities for improving this program. Cost analysis and the timeline for implementation of the project are made, which gives in totality, a complete view of the project.
References
Anderson, P. M., Butcher, K. F., & Schanzenbach, D. W. (2019). Understanding recent trends in childhood obesity in the United States. Economics & Human Biology, 34, 16-25. HYPERLINK “https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ehb.2019.02.002” https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ehb.2019.02.002
Biros, M. (2018). Capacity, vulnerability, and informed consent for research. The Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics, 46(1), 72-78. doi:10.1177/1073110518766021
Cardel, M. I., Atkinson, M. A., Taveras, E. M., Holm, J. C., & Kelly, A. S. (2020). Obesity treatment among adolescents: a review of current evidence and future directions. JAMA Pediatrics, 174(6), 609-617. DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2020.0085.
Chyung, S. Y., Roberts, K., Swanson, I., & Hankinson, A. (2017). Evidence‐based survey design: The use of a midpoint on the Likert scale. Performance Improvement, 56(10), 15-23. doi:10.1002/pfi.21727
Dewaele, J. M. (2018). Online questionnaires. In The Palgrave handbook of applied linguistics research methodology (pp. 269-286). Palgrave Macmillan, London. doi:10.1057/978-1-137-59900-1_13
Duran, A. C., Mialon, M., Crosbie, E., Jensen, M. L., Harris, J. L., Batis, C., … & Taillie, L. S. (2021). Food environment solutions for childhood obesity in Latin America and among Latinos living in the United States. Obesity Reviews, 22, e13237. https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.13237
Harriss, D. J., MacSween, A., & Atkinson, G. (2017). Standards for ethics in sport and exercise science research: 2018 update. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 38(14), 1126-1131. doi:10.1055/s-0043-124001
Kebbe, M., Perez, A., Buchholz, A., Scott, S. D., McHugh, T. L., Dyson, M. P., & Ball, G. D. C. (2020). Health care providers’ weight management practices for adolescent obesity and alignment with clinical practice guidelines: a multicenter, qualitative study. BMC Health Services Research, 20(1), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-020-05702-8
Kiger, M. E., & Varpio, L. (2020). Thematic analysis of qualitative data: AMEE Guide No. 131. Medical Teacher, 42(8), 846-854. doi:10.1080/0142159x.2020.1755030
Kim, W. O. (2012). Institutional review board (IRB) and ethical issues in clinical research. Korean Journal of Anesthesiology, 62(1), 3. https://doi:10.4097/kjae.2012.62.1.3
Martin, A., Booth, J. N., Laird, Y., Sproule, J., Reilly, J. J., & Saunders, D. H. (2018). Physical activity, diet, and other behavioral interventions improve cognition and school achievement in children and adolescents with obesity or overweight. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD009728.pub3.
Mayo Clinic. (2021). Childhood Obesity. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseasesconditions/childhood-obesity/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20354833
Mayne, J. (2020). Sustainability Analysis of Intervention Benefits: A Theory of Change Approach. Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation, 35(2).
Papamichael, M. M., Moschonis, G., Mavrogianni, C., Liatris, S., Makrilakis, K., Cardon, G., & Feel4Diabetes‐Study Group. (2021). Fathers’ daily intake of fruit and vegetables is positively associated with children’s fruit and vegetable consumption patterns in Europe: The Feel4Diabetes Study. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics. HYPERLINK “https://doi.org/10.1111/jhn.12945” https://doi.org/10.1111/jhn.12945
Royse, D., Thyer, B. A., & Padgett, D. K. (2016). Program Evaluation: An Introduction to an Evidence-Based Approach (6th ed.). Cengage Learning.
Shams, B., & Dehghani, M. (2015). Does attitude hinder or help selecting evaluation questions?. Journal of Research in Medical Sciences: the official journal of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, 20(6), 590–594. doi: 10.4103/1735-1995.165968
Trakman, G. L., Forsyth, A., Hoye, R., & Belski, R. (2017). Developing and validating a nutrition knowledge questionnaire: key methods and considerations. Public Health Nutrition, 20(15), 2670-2679. doi:10.1017/s1368980017001471
Weill Cornell Medicine. (n.d). Kids and Teens Healthy Weight Program. Weill Cornell Medicine.org. HYPERLINK “https://pediatrics.weill.cornell.edu/divisions[1]programs/endocrinology/obesity-program” https://pediatrics.weill.cornell.edu/divisions[1]programs/endocrinology/obesity-program
Table 1
The Kids and Teens Weight Program Literature Survey Matrix Table
Article Citation Type of Study Method, Description, Tools Results & Key Findings Relevance to Proposed Evaluation
Cardel et al. (2020) Literary review and comparative assessment Multifactorial etiological study and observation of evidence-based interventions and programs We need to focus on evidence-based practice for managing obesity. The focus is on observable behavior, pharmacology, and surgical elements. It offers the platform for using EBP as the foundation of the interventions for obesity management programs.
Kebbe et al. (2020) A multicenter and qualitative study of the healthcare workers’ practices for weight loss. Semantic thematic analysis on the subject through inductive reasoning. Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) focused on the methods and models used by caregivers. Understands weight loss programs from the qualitative perspective and inductive reasoning. It conforms to the standards and aspersions.
Martin et al. (2018) Database search and critical evaluation for relevant publication and data. Randomized and quasi-randomized controlled trials (RCTs) There is a limited relationship between obesity treatment methods and cognitive development and school outcomes. It can be used to underscore the relationship between obesity management practices and school performance and commitment
Mayo Clinic. (2021). Description of the programs for obesity management Structured outline of the program’s core deliverables and routines Children exposed to a variety of interventions that have evidence-based connotations Helpful in understanding the learners’ needs and expectations.
Weill Cornell Medicine. (n.d) Description of the program Evidence-based processes and structures Focus on the practice and relevant stakeholders. Address the evidence-based outcomes and frameworks.
Table 2
The Kids and Teens Weight Program logic model
Inputs Activities Outputs Outcomes
Short-term (30 days) Medium-term (1 year) Long-term (2 years)
Staff:
Cooks
Exercise experts
Cardiologists
Counselors and therapists
Nursing and clinicians
Families and teachers
Researchers
Nutrition experts Arrange programs for children
Child Obesity and Early Development of Chronic Diseases
Child Obesity and Early Development of Chronic Diseases
Name
Institution
This is a work of research on childhood obesity and its ensuing implications on a child’s health as well as the occurrence of chronic diseases in early stages of life. Most babies are referred to as healthy by the simple appearance of their chubby cheeks. Body fat is particularly beneficial in aiding the normal functioning of the body. This includes boosting the immune system of the body as well as helping in the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins like vitamin K, which aid in the clotting of blood vitamin D, E, and A all which boost prevention of disease in the body. However, body fat if allowed to be in excess may have devastating implications for the individual. (Segrave, 2010)
Childhood obesity results from excess body fat in a child, which in turn leads to negative health implications for the individual. Child obesity is determined by the measure of children’s body, mass index that determines whether they are normal or overweight. Child obesity has in the current years been recognized by the public health sector as a rising concern that should be dealt with in the early stages to prevent future complications (Segrave, 2010).
Research conducted by pediatrics indicates that; children who had been overweight at a certain time in their lives are highly likely to have a return of these elements of obesity in their early adulthood. It is vital that parents take precaution instead of hoping that a lifestyle change would eliminate all likelihood of obesity in the child, in the future. If identified in the early stages, precautionary measures could be taken to prevent its recurrence as well as the ensuing chronic diseases caused by excess body fat (Segrave, 2010).
Obesity especially in children has significantly increased by a hundred percent in one decade. This could be highly attributed to the increase of calorie intake in the food that has become so widespread in the food market, and the rise in genetically manufactured food products. The intake of these products has led to an imbalance of calories due to too few calories being ejected from the body as opposed to those ingested (Wanjek, 2011).
Obesity in children increases the occurrence of cardiovascular disease in children. This excess fat leads to accumulation in the coronary artery leading to a slowing pumping of blood to the heart. It may also lead to high blood pressure due to the existence of high amounts of cholesterol in the body. Obesity in children also paves the way for occurrence of diabetes too early in a child’s life. This is because of the high amount of glucose level that is present in the blood stream. Obesity in childhood also results in poor bone development. This leads to bone and joint problems and could even result in sleeping problems (Wanjek, 2010).
If obesity is not checked in the early stages and is left to continue into adulthood, it leads to more complicated diseases. This includes stroke, certain types of cancers and even osteoarthritis. Cancer cases have been on the rise as a lifestyle disease with the continually worsening human lifestyles and disregard for health. The cancers associated with childhood obesity include coronary cancer, endometrial, esophagus and even that of the kidney (Wanjek 2010).
Surprisingly, the rise of weight loss methods, which have increased a tenfold have not led to the reduction of obesity occurrence especially in the United States. Exercise and weight loss programs need to change their focus to be aimed at reducing the occurrence of obesity and prevention of chronic diseases. Research conducted indicates that there has been an overall increase in obesity in all states, in all sexes across the country. The trends could provide clues as to how to go about preventing the spread of obesity among the country’s population. Previous research done has resulted in underestimation of the spread of obesity in the population due to the overestimation of height and underestimation of weight by individuals. However, what is emerging is the fact obesity is more widespread than previous research has led to believe (Oliver, 2009).
Research that included health professionals taking actual height and weight indices indicated a twenty-five percent increase in the cases of obesity, as opposed to previous reports on the widespread extent of obesity. This research also indicated that all sectors of the population had recorded an increase in cases of obesity. This meant that there was a general increase in the uptake in increased fat foods or unhealthy dietary to lead to such massive gain in weight across the population. Unlike popular believe that this might be a result of individuals lacking motivation to maintain a healthy weight or even genetic construction, it seemed to be more on the consumption habits of the population (Oliver, 2009).
The biggest challenge that plagues the public health sector as involving the issue of obesity is lack of knowledge. The public is not aware of how widespread and what menace obesity has become in the society. The public health sector has a challenge to provide public education on obesity and its implications on health. As much physical health has increased, it is not being geared towards achieving a balance between the intake of energy and the physical activity, which should be the case. The programs involve a facilitator who facilitates the progress of the youth. This is a fundamental aspect of the programs, as the facilitators become role models for the youths in the program. Their presence also ensures that there is a progressive development in the youths (Crister, 2005).
As a way to get the optimum results from this program, they involve the youths in community services as a way of treating. This ensures that the youths are aware that the community is being affected, and they are willing participants in their process of their recovery. All the programs also combine intensive supervision and medical attention. This ensures that the youths engage on a strict program to rehabilitate their behavior (Crister, 2005).
To resolve the issue of obesity, various individuals must be devotedly associated with this program. These include public health workers, physicians and even legislators. Such a step will ensure that they strict measures are set up and followed to curb the scourge that has become obesity and its related diseases (Critser, 2005).
The necessity of stopping obesity is also associated with the cost incurred to treat it in the late stages. Medical costs in the US are estimated at an accelerating amount of one hundred and forty seven billion shillings per year. On an individual scale, normal weight people incurred medical bills of one thousand four hundred and fifty seven dollars less than those that were recorded to have elements of obesity. Obesity has a general implication on the economy. Long abstentions from work and low productivity at work leave a dent on the general economy of the country, due to the resultant chronic diseases associated with obesity, The youth especially should be in the forefront to change their consumption habit ensuring that they guarantee a healthier future. Correction of such behavior has to be done, hence the essentiality of putting up youth correction centers (Anne E. Dixon, 2012).
The increase of obesity across the whole population could be attributed mainly to the increase in community lifestyles that discourage physical exercise and while at the same time promo correction of such behavior has to be done, hence the essentiality of putting up youth correction centers consume. Health care facilities that help reach a large of the population should be used to promote change in lifestyle. The population should be made aware that it is not necessary that the change in lifestyle come with a larger budget. It should be economical and easier to adapt to while at the same time encouraging more people to join in and make a difference in their lifestyle, while at the same time saving up on large amounts of money that is used up in hospital bills due to the occurrence of obesity (Anne. E. Dixon, 2012).
The change in lifestyle includes a reduction of sugar consumed by individuals as well as an increase in the uptake of fruits increase participation in physical exercise and a decrease in the preference of fast foods and snacks, which are often, packed high with calories. Obesity whose rate has increased in pregnant women also provides a great risk during pregnancy and even high during delivery (Lustig, 2012).
Massive gain of weight and accumulation of weight in the early stages of life leads to accumulation of plaque in the vessels. It also leads to the presence of clots in the blood, which slows down the flow of blood in the body system. Recent studies have also shown that blood pressure has more to do with the weight rather than age. The amount of fat in the body leads to an increase in blood sugar hence leading to an increase in the blood pressure of a person. These combined with the clots in the blood vessels could lead to a very high risk in the health of an individual (Lustig 2012).
Obesity is closely related with the amount of cholesterol in an individual’s body. This does not mean that all cholesterol is bad, far from it. The body to repair worn out tissues especially the membrane of the cell utilizes cholesterol. It also plays an important role in the sending of impulses throughout the body by means of nerves. However, high amounts of cholesterol lead to disease in the body. Cholesterol is a combination of fatty compounds, which occur in either low density or high density. The low-density type of cholesterol is known as the bad mode of cholesterol. This is because it accumulates in arteries leading to thickening of the inner walls hence leaving little space for the passage of blood. It also leads to the formation of plaque in the inner walls. This plaque later breaks off from the walls leading to the formation of clots like substances in the blood passing through the arteries. In the event that there has been too much accumulation of cholesterol in the artery and the breakaway clot is big enough, it ends up completely blocking the passage of blood in the artery and the individual experiences a heart attack (Bailey, 2008).
Bad cholesterol is found in high amounts, in people suffering from obesity while the good cholesterol is found in very little amounts. This also leads to the blood increasing in its ability to thicken and make it more difficult to flow to the muscles in the heart and those in the brain. Obesity also leads to occurrence of liver problems. This is because the liver is directly associated with breaking down of fat in the body. Excess body fat leads to occurrence of problems in the liver and illnesses to the individual. Obesity has also been found to cause troubled sleep. This disease is known as sleep apnea. It leads to difficulty in breathing in the individual during sleeping as breathing is continually interrupted (Burniat, 2002).
A very large number of people with obesity are known to have metabolic syndrome, which is characterized by high amounts of fats and lipids, an abnormally high pressure in the blood and a notable resistance of insulin. The biggest challenge that childhood obesity and overweight characteristics have been associated with by researchers, is the fact that obesity in children most often reoccurs itself in adulthood with severe implications. Research has shown that infants who recorded abnormal body, mass index were likely to be obese at the age of twelve years (Burniat, 2002).
The problem is the fact that many childhood obesity cases lead to obesity for life. The individuals with childhood obesity are often evidence of a poor lifestyle with little physical exercises and poor eating habits with unhealthy high fat and cholesterol foods. There are several ways to treat obesity. However, the best solution would be prevention as it is less costly in terms of medical bills and a more sure way of avoiding medical complications (Burniat, 2002).
Among other effects on a child, struggling with obesity is the stigma that comes with it from the society. Obese children are often a target for discrimination and even social prejudice. They are often a target for bullying by other children especially in the school settings. Psychological stress that comes with the social stigmatization leads low self-esteem and self worth. This has the effect of curbing normal socialization among these children and even a drop in academic performance. These symptoms could persist even in adulthood if they are not checked in the early stages (Sorola, 2008).
Asthma has also been closely related with obesity in children. As much as cases of asthma do not intensify with an increase in the body mass index, it was more prevalent in children with obesity cases. This disease has led to mass morbidity among children. It is also a leading cause of absenteeism of children from schools. This has seen children lagging behind in their schoolwork. Coupled with the stigmatization of the society, this does not provide a habitable environment for healthy growth for these individuals (Sorola, 2008).
Obesity is not caused by any conditions other than those by lifestyle. A child will often take in more fat than the body needs. The fat accumulates leaving many fat cells in the body, which it has no capability to utilize. Children especially in the infant age have the ability to follow their body signals in relation to hunger and uptake of food. An infant is capable of determining when it is hungry and stop the uptake of food when they register enough intake of food. Growing up of these infants changes this behavior. This is especially when the parent is constantly forcing the child to finish the given amount of food. The body unlearns to send out signals leading to overfeeding. This eating past the body’s full capacity has a risk of becoming a habit over time, which may become difficult to reverse during adulthood (Campos, 2007).
Other behaviors that notably lead to obesity is the use of food often which is either fatty or sugary as an award for good behavior. This presents food as a good thing to enjoy. Most people are also known to use food as a way to relieve stress. With such kind of eating habits, then the individual may not be willing to listen to body signals that alert them when the body has had enough. Certain medication has also been known to cause an increase in a Childs appetite. This includes steroids that are administered in hospitals in little amounts and some seizure reducing medications. An increase in appetite could lead to an occurrence of obesity. However, the very common factor that is causing obesity is the lifestyle that many have chosen to live deeming it cheap and easy. The consumption of fast foods, soft drinks and complete disregard for the importance of exercise is what has lead to the alarming increase of obesity in the country. More people are becoming obese and the obese continue to become more obese. Public knowledge is of utter importance. This makes the citizens aware of the health risk their lifestyles are for them and their children especially in the future (Lustig, 2012).
Jessica M. Sorola in her book, Evaluation of Obesity Interventions Targeting Adults in the Occupational Setting, 2008 talks about obesity, its causes and the chronic diseases it brings along. She focuses on the intervention measures that could curb the condition including public awareness for the masses. Robert H. Lustig in his book, Fat Chance: Beating the odds against Sugar Processed Food, 2012 gives a vivid description of how the food industry has become one of the leading causes of obesity for the American citizens with so many unhealthy foods raiding the market. Anne, E. Dixon in her book, Obesity and Lung Disease: A Guide to Management, Burlington: Humana Press. Talks about chronic disease associated with obesity especially those involving the lungs that are lung cancer asthma among others.
Obesity among children has highly been ignored; hence, has become a lifestyle disease that is distressing and even killing the citizens, while at the same time using up a lot of financial resources to deal with the disease that obesity brings. It is time that people seriously think of their lifestyle and its consequences on their health.
References
Bailey, E. J. (2008). Food Choice and Obesity in Black America: Creating a New Cultural Diet. New York: Congress Lib. Press.
Anne E. Dixon, . C. (2012). Obesity and Lung Disease: A Guide to Management. Burlington: Humana Press.
Burniat, W. (2002). Child and Adolescent Obesity: Causes and Consequences, Prevention. Carlifornia: City End Press.
Campos, P. F. (2007). The Obesity Myth: Why America’s Obsession with Weight is Hazardous. New York: Penguin Group.
Critser, G. (2005). Fat Land: How Americans Became the Fattest People in the World. New York: Congress Publication.
Lustig, R. H. (2012). Fat Chance: Beating the Odds Against Sugar, Processed Food. New York: Campbridge University Press.
Oliver, J. E. (2009). Fat Politics : The Real Story behind America’s Obesity Epidemic. Chicago: Oxford University Press.
Segrave, K. (2010). Obesity in America, 1850-1939:A History of Social Attitudes and Treatment. New York: McFarland & Company Incorporated Pub.
Sorola, J. M. (2008). Evaluation Of Obesity Interventions Targeting Adults in the Occupational Setting. Chicago: Durby Press.
Wanjek, C. (2011). Food at Work: Workplace Solutions for Malnutrition, Obesity and Chronic Diseases. New York: International Labour Publisher.
Child endangerment
Child endangerment
Name of the Student
Section number
Class Name
Date
Introduction
Child abuse occurs when someone threatens the security, development and survival of a child. Children have a right to live free from any type of neglect, child abuse offenses from alcohol or drug committed by parents, guardians or even any caregiver. Any reports from a concerned individual such as a neighbor or a teacher on child endangerment demands actions from the protective services and Law enforcement. The social development department assesses on all report and when there is any suspicion that a child is in danger, they will involve police for investigation. In cases such as domestic violence incidences, the police may decide to remove the child when they notice neglect or mistreatment.
In addition when the department has enough reason to suspect the child’s safety is in immediate harm it can remove the child from home even without a court order until documentation is done to show that the offender has undergone counselling, alcohol and/or drug treatment, anger management, family therapy sessions, mental health treatment and parenting classes for a period of no less than six months. Taking into deliberation this impact, there will be both positive and negative feedback, especially to the well-being of the child (Pence& Wilson, 1992).
Is it necessary to remove a child from their home?
This paper identifies the impending ethical or the moral issues which arises to apply this strategy. Taking into deliberation whether this would be positive or negative on those who are involved in this situation, since this pertains to the welfare of the child. Lastly whether the Family Services and the Job Department misapply and misinterprets social learning theories when developing & employing policy. Parent who are aggressive teach their children to be aggressive. Social Learning Theory declares that individuals learn violent behaviours from watching people being rewarded for violent behaviour.
Potential ethical or moral issues
To start with addressing the potential ethical or moral issues arising from implementing this policy should be the first priority. Many people agree to why this kind of policy might not be employed. Children may endure some psychological setbacks when immediately removed from their home as well as family which they have known in their life. Only the people a child knows and trusts could give her comfort to feel cared for. Their requirements here are the key and a normal figure in lives of those guardians and parents for ensuring that they have been receiving a maintaining system which they need and this in turn they may successfully provide the nurturing culture so that child requirements are met, resulting in becoming the creative citizen in future. When these actions does not occur and not implemented, tendency for those children who have been victims of abuse or have witnessed domestic violence or even drug and alcohol abuse in their home, would certainly become classified as the abnormal in that they have been prone to developing the lack of attention by getting poor grades in a school, engaging in the gangs and also bullying. Child and youth advocates argue that eliminating children from their homes reduces the degree that the child is exposed to such violence, hence reducing aggression in the child.
The National Institute of Justice declares that the Update on a “Cycle of Violence” research states that “Being the abused or the neglected, the child increased likelihood about arrests as the juvenile is fifty nine percent, as the adult through twenty eight percent & for the violent crime through thirty percent”. This policy is a means of discrimination since it targets the internal city families known as the Ghetto that is said to have a high rate of children who are being exposed to the violence in a home. This policy violates people’s privacy, since whatever that happens in the home is their business and not anyone else’s. Within fewer instances it has the truth however, what one fails to realize is that once the authorities are called to home, it then becomes a state business. The state is aware about the child’s presence during the incident and believes that child could be endangered since the parents have failed to protect, provide and to serve as a positive role model for the child, then the state through all means has the right to intervene as well as to access through the situation.
Positive and Negative Impact
Moreover, impact falls mainly on the child himself thus it can be either positive or negative, on these involved situation. Family violence reports shows that “Family violence, includes the child physical and the sexual abuse, maltreatment, child neglect and intimate partner violence as well as the elder abuse which takes place in the homes within country on a daily basis are considered criminal in nature. Exposure towards violence has been the devastating impact on both the children and the adults in the households as well as the communities, if they are the direct victims of the abuse or are witnesses to it.
Children who have are exposed to violence at their early age are probably becoming either the perpetrators of the abuse or the victims of violence in the adulthood. Before this report National Crime Victimization Survey states that households in US, in between the year 1993 & 1998, average victims of the intimate partner violence which lived with the children below age of the 12 had were 459,590. Most have been exposing child to some situations that have not been suited for this age. Such a policy may not just protect child however also assists parent while becoming the positive role model. Such a policy may also test will of the parents or the guardians, thus seeing how far they have been willing for going to educate as well as seeking help for themselves that may teach them about how to do right through, rebuilding the relationship with those children. The parents or the guardians might have system to take the children away, may leave child as an emotionally scarred child.
The positive benefits of this policy are reduced juvenile crimes as well as reduced adult crimes happening in our society.
The negative effects of executing this policy are very many. If the society began eliminating children from their homes, and placing the raising burden on the state and it’s foster care programs, because a person at home had a single domestic violence offense, drug charge, or other charges that falls into this classification, the state would run out of places to house these children, and the cost to the taxpayer would be exceptional (Dubowitz, 2000).
This case shows double jeopardy, since there are documents that show charges of a case that had previously undergone punishments and judicial system. In addition taking the children would be adding more punishment to the offender, and this is unethical, immoral and unconstitutional. Placing the children in overcrowded conditions that arises from the execution of this policy would bring more harm than good. Not all juveniles found in foster care are there due to bad parenting. Some of them end up there because the parents can no longer in control.
Application of the Social Learning Theory
Finally, does the Department of a Job & a Family Services misinterpret and misapply social the learning theory if planning & implementing policy? Social learning theory was introduced by the Albert Bandura, which assumes that the people have been born good and they learn to be bad through means of the observational learning, such incidence has been called as imitation or modeling. The theory suggests the combination of the environmental as well as the psychological factors influencing the behavior. There have been 4 component processes which are influenced by behavior of the observer by following exposure for the models that are: the attention; the retention; the motor reproduction and the motivation. Attention, anything which gets us for selectively concentrating on single aspect of environment when ignoring the other things. Along lines has been the retention, which is remembering what anybody has observed, motor reproduction has been ability for reproducing behavior which has been observed. Finally motivation has been the apparatus for the good reasoning to want for adopting behavior.
In the Bandura renowned “Bobo doll” studies, he has demonstrated that the children learn as well as the imitate behaviors which they have observed in the other people. Children in the Bandura’s studies have observed the adult verbally or physically by being abusive to the Bobo doll. If children had been later allowed for playing in the room with Bobo doll, they started to imitate aggressive action which they had observed previously. “General delinquency research has shown that the childhood abuse has been usually linked with the delinquency and that initial onset of the maltreatment can increase variety, the seriousness as well as duration of the problems.” So, no, Department of the Job and the Family Services may not misinterpret and misapply social learning theories while planning and implementing policy.
Conclusion
In conclusion, success rate to implementing that policy has been that the benefits outweigh risks. That policy would enforce the parent or the guardian so as to serves as the positive role model to those children, who are meant to be the productive citizens of future. For those opposing, this is not about them but about the welfare of child in the long run. The dreams for future start with children of nowadays.
References
Pence, D. M., & Wilson, C. (1992). The role of law enforcement in the response to child
. abuse and neglect. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, National Centre on Child Abuse and Neglect
Buzawa, E. S., & Buzawa, C. G. (). Responding to domestic violence: the integration of
criminal justice and human services (Fourth ed.). :
Dubowitz, H. (2000). Handbook for child protection practice. Thousand Oaks: Sage
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