...School-based Prevention of Childhood Obesity Issue With half of all school-age children (age 2-19) identified as Obese or Overweight (Institute for Alternative Futures, 2008, p. 1) the issue of unhealthy weight has become a critical concern. The market has failed to foster among children the habits required to maintain healthy weight. Therefore, it is essential that the local schools implement programs designed to reduce this occurrence. Specifically, the school district should focus on: 1) healthy eating education, 2) physical activity among students, 3) an emphasis on nutrition in meals offered to students. Background Obesity is widely recognized as one of the USA's leading public health problems. “Body Mass Index (BMI), which is a calculated value based on calculations using weight and height, is used to differentiate between the overweight and the obese. Adults with a BMI of 25 to 29.9 are defined as overweight; adults with a BMI of 30 or above are considered obese.” (Buckle, 2011) Obese and overweight people experience chronic illness, poor health, and more than 100,000 preventable deaths each year. For the average affected individual, obesity has a much greater impact on health status and health care costs than either smoking or heavy drinking. In general, it can be say that root causes of Childhood Obesity are: 1) Families are living in poverty: Low-income communities have the highest rates of overweight and obesity. Low-income communities are often...
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...of employee wellness and productivity, and educational needs of employees to maintain health and wellness. Attracting and maintaining personnel is crucial to an organization’s success and with current trends in the labor market, retaining personnel and ensuring business stability is a continuous challenge that requires conscientious human resource management. A happy and healthy workforce facilitates productivity through wellness and physical fitness. Proposal to Implement an Employee Wellness Program at Electronics, Inc. People in the labor force, are depended upon to follow through with work commitments. A healthy employee is able to do more and feel well enough to enjoy it. With high stress jobs, increased rush hour traffic, and demanding schedules, how can employers not be concerned about the health of employees? Research shows that, to maintain a healthy lifestyle balance, one third of a 24-hour day should be for sleep, one third for work and one third for play. The trend in today’s workplace is for employees to work longer hours and as a result, when they arrive home they do not feel like exercising or cooking quality meals. The time spent on leisure activities also diminishes due to exhaustion, stress, or lack of time. The less time spent relaxing and playing, the more stress an individual endures, which may lead to chronic health issues. Health issues have an impact on employee productivity, therefore, minimizing stress and increasing physical activity...
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...423: HEALTH PROMOTION COURSE MODULE Course Coordinator: Damaris Nelima Email:damarisnelima@yahoo.com Course facilitator:Dr. Rose Olayo Email:rose_olayo@yahoo.com 1 . What is Health Promotion? Health Promotion occurs upstream with the aim of preventing people falling in or being pushed. Downstream we have secondary (aim to detect disease early so that treatment can be started before irreversible damage occurs e.g. screening), and tertiary prevention and health care (management of established disease e.g. to minimise disability and prevent complications e.g. foot care for people with diabetes). Mid-stream we have primary prevention and health care, usually individual, for example attempts to reduce risk of contracting disease (educating smokers, vaccinating). And upstream we have health promotion including social policies and health promotion programmes, such as taxes on tobacco, smoke free legislation and advertising bans. This may include health education, which aims to reduce ill-health and increase positive health influencing people’s beliefs, attitudes and behaviour. Health Promotion has a dual role to prevent ill health and promote positive health. “Health promotion is the process of enabling people to increase control over, and to improve, their health. To reach a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, an individual or group must be able to identify and to realize aspirations, to satisfy needs, and to change or cope with the environment. Health is, therefore...
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...Sociology of Health Author’s Name Institution’s Affiliation Sociology of Health The social perspective in sociology of health explains the society's view concerning health. It is a discipline that describes an illness using social factors present in daily activities of life. Sociologists show how wellness and disease, the treatment and explanation of illness production in a social organization can be understood differently from a medical perspective of nature, biology, and lifestyle in an attempt of explaining sickness (Bahar, 2013). It is a significant facet of interpreting biological information that shows the creation of health and disease in a political, social, and cultural environment. In describing various social phenomena, sociologists examine how social life impacts morbidity and mortality rates and how it alternatively influences the society. Medical sociology uses sociological theory to explain the relationship between social factors and health to define this issue and its systems (Amzat & Razum, 2014). Amzat and Razum (2014) demonstrate that it tends to separate nature from the community. It means that it illustrates how scientific knowledge mediates social relations. Moreover, medical sociology shows how the technical realm of medical practice is inconsistent with social processes in nature. It is a claim of understanding constructivism through an objective in natural science. Various studies identify the inconsistencies between current medical practice...
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...drills, becoming agitated, and is easily fatigued. She also notices that her child is not as lean as the other girls. The other children seem to be running circles around her child. It seems that her child is continuing to become more and more behind the expectations of her team at each practice. What is wrong? She does some research and is quickly taken by surprise. A diet comprised of an increased intake of sugars, sodium, and additives has numerous repercussions. “However, the potential negative psychosocial aspects of obesity, such as poor body image (BI), social isolation, and stigmatization, are also relevant in the lives of youth” (Martin, 2011, p.245). Parents and other youth leaders are strongly encouraged to be the defense against such harsh ramifications. It is up to the adults to guide their children along to journey of a healthier future. Parents and youth leaders need to beware of the negative effects of fast food and junk food. These foods hold no nutritional value at all and can cause ill effects such as obesity, health disorders, and even death. With so much influence from outside sources such as advertisements and the media,...
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...active in each others lives as well as teaching the children to take charge of their outcomes as well. The goal of any preventive measures for obesity is to look at behaviors, medical goals and weight goals. Permanent change and weight loss should be the ultimate goal, not quick fix treatments for rapid weight loss. The goal of this project is for the children involved in the study to lose 10-20% of body weight and for the child and the family to have necessary tools, such as recipes, ideas, act ivies, and positive behavior patterns, in order to keep the weight off. Daily as well as weekly weigh-ins for the children will monitor their results. A staff member will administer the quizzes to the children and in the last four weeks two staff members will administer the quizzes one to the families and one to the children. Goals are 10-20% of being body weight and 90-100% on daily quizzes. After successfully completing first course take plan with outcomes around to neighboring doctors, clinic, and hospitals, in hope of building community success and to share the importance of early intervention and the interventions and the benefits of the program Introduction to the Project Childhood obesity has become a major problem in the United States. Obesity among children is a risk factor that can lead to many health issues that include Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, orthopedic problems, and self-esteem issues. The majority of overweight children...
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...Unit F912: Promoting Good Health Health & Social Care AS Contents Page A01 – Pages 3 - 13 A02 - A03 – A04 – Promoting good health This unit explores what is good health, the models, the range of lifestyle choices and societal factors which influence health and well-being. Health and well-being are not only affected by an individual’s lifestyle choices (e.g. smoking, eating unhealthy ‘fatty food), but also by societal and environmental issues (e.g. living near a motorway – high pollution levels) Government policies and legislation have an imperative part to play in the promotion of good health, as the introduction on screening programmes (e.g. cervical smear test, antenatal screening etc.); which prevent ill health, has been an incredible and useful tool. Health promoters also have a significant role to play in helping individual’s using services to make the right decision about their health. As their choice of presentation approach can make or damage a health promotion campaign. Further, health promoters need to take into account the presentation methods, and to ensure that they have been chosen well to confirm that the message is successfully put over to the individual to whom it is directed. What is ‘health’? The Worlds Health Organisation (WHO) defines health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. However, others may simply define health as the absence of illness,...
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...Health promotion is of great importance to nursing because it has long been acknowledged in nursing literature as fundamental to health care. A dramatic increase in chronic lifestyle diseases has prompted an emphasis on health promotion (Egger et al, 1990). Health promotion can be defined as the process of enabling people to increase control over their health and to improve their health WHO (1986) cited in (Bright, 1997). However, health promotion is commonly confused with health education and yet health education, is an instrument in health promotion together with health protection and illness prevention. Without knowledge people cannot make healthy choices about their lifestyles therefore health education is very much a part of health promotion (Tannahill, 1985) cited in (Bright, 1997). This assignment is going to be based on a health initiative towards a group of young adult smokers within age range of seventeen and twenty five years. The author has chosen smoking because more young people continue to take up cigarette smoking and yet smoking has been identified as the biggest single cause of preventable ill health and premature deaths in the United Kingdom (DOH, 1999). The paper is going to support the choice of the topic with statistics and what the government is saying. The needs of the young adult smokers are going to be identified and these needs are going to be addressed through interactive lecture approach. It is essential to consider a health promotion model as...
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...Obesity and the Professional Nurse’s Role Paper Part I Childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions. Currently, there are more than one third of children and adolescents who are determined as being overweight or obese (Ogden et al, 2014). In the past 30 years, the numbers of children who are affected by obesity have more than doubled (CDC, 2014). Clinically defined, children who are determined to be overweight are those who have excess body weight for their height and it is attributed to fat, muscle, bone, water, or a combination of (Stats, 2014). Children who are determined to be obese are those who have an excess amount of body fat and it is not attributed to physical characteristics (Krebs et al, 2007). For nurses who work with this population of patients, special care will need to be taken to address the host of physical and emotional issues that will be a part of this population’s treatment and care. Nursing staff must be prepared to appropriately diagnose obesity related health problems and provide effective intervention and treatment recommendations. Nurses who develop insightful treatment planning will be cognizant of the variety of health complications that may affect the patient in their care and can plan accordingly (Felix et al, 2013). As such, nurses also need to be more knowledgeable about how genetic susceptibility may also be a contributing factor to a child’s obesity (Seal, 2011). This will enable the treatment planning to incorporate genetic testing...
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...Lebson, Katherine Wiggins Instructor: Dr. Colleen Carmody NURP 507 Simmons School of Nursing and Health Sciences Incidence of Counseling Obese Adult Patients by Nurse Practitioners in the Primary Care Setting Background Obesity is an increasing epidemic. In the United States, more than 60 million or one in every three adults are obese as defined by Body Mass Index (BMI). Obesity is defined as a BMI greater than or equal to 30 (CDC, 2015). Successful treatment methods have been identified for reducing weight which include increasing physical activity and decreasing caloric intake. Exercise and physical activity have been shown to not only lose weight, but also improve cardiovascular functioning, lower blood pressure, and lower serum cholesterol levels (Porth, 2011, p. 232). Exercise also lowers blood sugar levels, improves insulin response in the body, and can decrease stress and anxiety; the opposite of each has been associated with obesity. A diet low in saturated fat and simple carbohydrates can improve the body’s insulin response, decrease adipose tissue, increase the body’s metabolic functioning ability (Porth, 2011, p. 232) and thereby reduce one’s BMI. Though obesity may be preventable and treatable through diet changes and exercise, reducing the rates is proving to be very difficult (Briscoe & Berry, 2009, p. 164).Professional medical societies and public health organizations have recognized the consequences of this epidemic resulting in guidelines being published...
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...Childhood Obesity Epidemic How the Health Care Reform Law Will Help Prevent and Reduce Obesity Ellen-Marie Whelan, Lesley Russell, and Sonia Sekhar May 2010 w w w.americanprogress.org Confronting America’s Childhood Obesity Epidemic How the Health Care Reform Law Will Help Prevent and Reduce Obesity Ellen-Marie Whelan, Lesley Russell, and Sonia Sekhar May 2010 Contents 1 Fast Facts on Childhood Obesity 3 Introduction and summary 6 Provisions included in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that address childhood obesity 6 Childhood Obesity Demonstration Project 7 Nutrition labeling 7 Community Transformation Grants 9 Broader measures in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to tackle childhood obesity 9 Prevention and public health 15 Primary care and coordination 18 Community-based Care 20 Maternal and child health 22 Research: Doing what works in obesity prevention 23 Data provisions that will help with tracking and providing improved outcomes to measure obesity prevention 25 What else is needed? 27 Beyond health care 29 Conclusion 30 Appendix: The White House Childhood Obesity Initiative 32 Endnotes 34 About the authors Fast Facts on Childhood Obesity Our nation’s children today are on track to have a lower life expectancy than their parents The obesity epidemic poses serious health problems for children including cardiovascular disease, mental health problems, bone and joint disorders...
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...One Stroke at a Time The brain is arguably the most complex of all the organs in your body. These three pounds of tissue compose the major nerve center of the body, which coordinates all of our bodily functions, including behavior, thought, and emotions. Because our brain is a very diligent working organ, it requires constant supplies and nutrients from the blood to function effectively. The heart pumps blood throughout the cerebral arteries delivering blood to the brain. Any significant interruption to the supply of nutrients and oxygen will start killing brain cells. Damage to the brain cells occur almost immediately upon abruption or even the slightest restriction of blood flow to the brain. Minor damage to any part of the brain can have a serious adverse effect on the rest of the body. Significant damage to the brain can even result in death. One relatively common cause of brain damage and death is referred to as a stroke. A stroke is similar to a heart attack, only in this case, blood flow to the brain rather than the heart, is blocked. A stroke or "brain attack" is usually the result of progressive disease that develops over many years. When blood flow fails, brain cells are robbed of vital supplies of oxygen and nutrients. Some strokes have little recognizable effect. While not usually fatal, a blockage of a blood vessel in the brain or neck is the most frequent cause of a stroke. It can leave a portion of dead tissue in the brain, called a cerebral infarction,...
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...Licopit Nicholle U. Members: Adriano, Gaylord Dabac, Aira Camille Enverga, Rika Giana Gabay, Niña Grace Lestor, Vincent Khalid Licopit. Nicholle Group IV/ BSN 4-C Nursing Research 2 CHAPTER 1 The Problem and Its Background Introduction Growing old is inevitable. It is part of life and it happens to everyone. Nobody can prevent himself/herself from getting old. The aging process entails new challenges such as failing health, loss of memory, graying hair, and life transitions like retirement, family relationships, lost career, cessation of social activities and maintaining ones standard of living. Nowadays, our elder relatives are still supporting their sons and daughter in caring for their grandchildren. This kind of situation is commonly seen in our country. Our elderly supports not only in caring but also financially. They tend to divide their budget from their pension to help their relatives. Presently, globalization and modernization have tremendous impact on the family system. The exodus of working age adults to jobs abroad has established a pattern of the older persons assuming surrogate parental ones. To them is entrusted the responsibility of providing parental care over their grandchildren whose parents have left for more lucrative jobs overseas. This poses undue strain on the psychological and financial capacities of older persons. On the other hand, giver, the limited income of families, it is the needs of the elderly that are sacrificed over the...
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...Health Advocacy Campaign Childhood obesity is considered one of the major pressing health issues of our century. The rate of childhood obesity has increased alarmingly, with the number of obese children under five globally standing at over 42 million today. Approximately 35 million of obese children are living in the developing countries. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) children who are obese and overweight are very likely to stay obese into their adulthood; further, they stand a high chance of developing non communicable diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease while they are still young (Cheng, 2013). The purpose of this paper is to highlight the gravity of childhood obesity based on statistics and the health effects that the issue has on the children and impacts in the society. Further, the study will develop a health advocacy plan for the problem. Review laws, regulations, and ethical issues that could impact health advocacy plan in regards to childhood obesity. Population Health Issue and Population Affected Childhood obesity has spread to global dimensions and is progressively affecting many low- and middle-income countries, and particularly those that are domiciled in urban settings. In the US alone, one in every five children is obese or overweight; this number is on the rise. Although weight problems can be traced back to the family genealogy, however, this is not all children who come from families that have a known...
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...Nursing MSN 533-08 Theoretical Aspects of Aging Running Head: ELDERLY LESBIANS AND BREAST CANCER 2 Elderly Lesbians and Breast Cancer Cancer health disparities have been documented in specific populations in the United States. Elderly lesbians are one such population, with factors related to lifestyle, socioeconomic status, healthcare practices, and access to services (Brown & Tracy, 2008). There is a pressing need for understanding of the health care disparities faced by elderly lesbians, so that the needs of this group can be adequately met. In the United States, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. Several risk factors for breast cancer are at least partially modifiable, and are present more among the lesbian population than heterosexual women (Brown & Tracy, 2008). Breast cancer is the most common invasive cancer among women worldwide, with rates significantly higher in developed nations. Over 80% of all female breast cancers occur among post-menopausal women. Breast cancer is not primarily found to be hereditary, but women who have the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes (which can be inherited) have a considerably higher breast cancer risk (Miller, 2012). Lesbian elders have particular well-being requirements, but often suffer from subpar care and reduced access to services. Fear of discrimination, low rates of health insurance, and negative experiences or feelings of discrimination by healthcare providers are all issues that have been documented to lead to increased...
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