Costs of obesity are beyond the control of many countries’ budgets. Increasingly, it has caught global attention to pronounce the condition pandemic from a public health perspective. Therefore, it is imperative that nations expend dollars to counteract this dysfunction that is invading societies across the world; taking valuable human resources captive. In response this document attempts a resolution by suggesting that funds be invested in programs that would enable nations to conduct research into the nutritional predisposition of obesity; design education policies from evidence based research findings and implement strategies in communities to reduce obesity through safe nutritional practices.
Nursing: Health Promotion Funding Proposal- Nutrition in Obesity
This funding proposal embraces three categories of execution towards an effective health promotion intervention strategy. It is essential to advocate financing research to promote evidence based nutrition practice in obesity. This would enable designing of educational programs particularly targeting parents of young children and adolescents. Ultimately, through mediation implementation from findings of evidence based research across communities within countries could be undertaken (World health Organization, 2012).
Funding evidence based research relating nutrition to obesity saves money, time and human resources. There have been several studies relating obesity with nutrition, but they appear to be non-specific regarding the epidemic, which now exists in developed societies where children obesity rates are escalating (Caballero, 2007). Therefore, haphazardly applied nutrition typologies without researching and developing empirical evidence for the abnormality, associating its unique disposition among specific age groups, no nutrion related obesity health promotion intervention can be successful.
Time is money. When consuming time engaging in trial /error practices, valuable financial resources are being wasted; time and human resources as well. As such, funding research before the commencement of any health promotion intervention is a very beneficial professional practice.
Designing educational programs particularly targeting parents of young children among adolescents is imperative at this time of the world’s history. From recent studies obesity among children is increasing. This includes the tendency towards overweight also. Further studies conducted by Guo Cheng(2012) and his counterparts reveal that ‘childhood overweight has doubled or tripled between the early 1970s and the late 1990s in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States’ ( Cheng et. al,2012). Current figures are more astounding.
Implementing changes in nutritional practices nationwide is the goal. However, it is not easy to secure funding for national programs since the belief is that federal funds must be used for this purpose. While this is true an overburdened national health care budget has already proven incapable of providing citizens with basic services. Hence, supplementing nutrion programs outside of federal spending is imperative. It means addressing this obese epidemic facing a nation’s children and youth population from the perspective of additional funding.
This proposal while taking a foundation approach towards funding programs that address obesity, the writer is aware that this task cannot be undertaken as a wide spread program, but must be implemented in segments of the population at first. Therefore, this funding proposal encompasses seeking funding for the implementation of a nutrition project in single community. The aim is reducing obesity among children and adolescents within that geographic location.
Background
This proposal is intended to secure funding for obesity education among children and adolescents in small communities of developed countries where the problem is more pronounced. This would be undertaken through adherence to five action principles outlined in the Ottawa model for effective health promotion intervention. Precisely, this project is geared towards ‘building healthy public policy; creating supportive environments; strengthening community action; developing personal skills and re-orientating health care services toward prevention of illness and promotion of health’ ( World Health Organization, 2012).
Therefore, the background issue for this nutrition education project is obesity among children and adolescents in developed societies. Recent research has provided evidence based data defining obesity as a ‘BMI of 30.0. Consequently, a BMI below 18.5 is considered underweight, 18.5-24.9 is normal; 25.0-29.9 overweight (David et.al, 2012).
Reasons why obesity in developing nations must be addressed with urgency is the costs to society from ill health and loss of human resources to make the world a more prosperous place to live in. The prediction by researchers is that for the very first time in American history obesity would reduce the life expectancy of its present population by half of their parents and grandparents. This is due to diseases associated with obesity and overweight (David et. al, 2012).
Precisely, it has been discovered that obesity affects every organ system in the body, but is very harsh on the cardiovascular, endocrine and digestive systems. Most prevalent among children is juvenile diabetes. It is devastating to see children affected by type 11 diabetes. Their life expectancy is reduced by half as well as the quality of it (Bleich et.al, 2008).
According to recent developments in obesity studies among children and adolescents, obesity has emerged as a 21st century public health concern. Significant changes in rates among this target groups has been observed in both the developed and developing nations. For example, a comparative analysis shows where obesity in Canadian boys has moved from 11% in 1980s to over 30% in 1990s. During this same time Brazilian children rates jumped from 4 to 14% (Dollman & Norton, 2005).
Consequently, because childhood obesity usually sequel adult obesity education programs must target parents also. Often a delinquent parent produces a delinquent child. Figures have shown where adult obesity is just as acute as what is observed among children .Now there is no more time to be wasted in speculating what can be done. The urgency for programs to be designed, implemented and funding obtained, is now.
Arguments have been that improper nutrition is just one of the causes for obesity in children and adolescents because a number of other predisposing factors can initiate the condition. However, there are studies to prove that in the twenty-first century obesity phenomena has been associated with severe malnutrition (Muhammad, 2008).
Miki Miyoshi (2012) and his colleagues have conducted in-depth studies among Japanese children to prove that obesity among children and adolescents has become a public health concern. In response, for the first time in the history of that country, “Basic Law on Shokuiku" had to be enacted. This law regulates a person’s diet and eating habits and violations can be punishable (Miyoshi, 2012)
This law emerged, primarily from observations that children were skipping breakfast; families were no longer cooking a meal, but purchasing food from restaurants and eating together as a family became outdated. “Basic Law of Shokuiku” since its legislation in 2005 has forged a magnificent changes within this society through food nutrion programs in schools and colleges (Miyoshi, 2012). The focus is for each child to acquire knowledge concerning food and nutrition; develop the ability to make appropriate decisions relative to their personal experience with food. Ultimately, the nation should be enabled to live on a healthy diet (Clinical Focus, 2012).
Determinants of Health
It is quite clear from the foregoing discussion that determinants of health regarding obesity among children and adolescents are immense. They can be categorized as social and medical. From the perspective of social determinants arguments have been that with the emergence of fast food in modern world culture there is impending obesity (Stevens, 2010)
Also, malnutrition showing up as obesity can develop from poor economic status accompanied by the inability to purchase foods rich in vitamins, protein and minerals. Instead the tendency is to eat cheaper carbohydrate substitutes. In the medical context of obesity determinants of health profile studies have shown where hereditary issues matched with poor nutrition is contributory factor ( Reilly, 2012)
Project Aim and/or Objectives
Aim (Specific objective)
Advocate for appropriate diet through educational programs to reduce obesity among children and adolescents in developing nations.
Objectives
Enable parents, children and adolescents to eat food that is beneficial to the body without increasing the body mass index by designing appropriate intervention strategies.
Assist parents, children and adolescents to afford a diet that would reduce obesity in families.
Collaborate with social institutions such as schools and colleges to enforce legislation regulating diets in children and adolescents.
Work Plan
The work plan embraces an understanding that ‘health is a resource for social and developmental means’ (World Health Organization, 2012). Therefore, in addressing the factors that predispose to obesity among children and adolescents residing in developed countries’ communities, a nutrion education program must be directed towards achieving this goal.
Public health clinics must engage in an information dissemination actitivy, initially. One on one counseling sessions for parents and adolescents will be organized through workshops as a means of advocating ‘nutrition that heals obesity.’
Also, accessibility to available services is a key element in enabling parents and adolescents prevent obesity and if it occurs institute dietary strategies to address the dysfunction. Many programs are unsuccessful because the criteria for accessibility are obscure. As such, during counseling workshops parents and adolescents would be assigned case workers who will outline and available services offered by the program to address obesity in the target group.
Health promotion cannot be achieved in isolation. Therefore, collaborating with schools, churches, colleges, daycare facilities and clubs is essential for favorable outcomes of the project. These agencies would be used to help disseminate information, through counseling sessions utilizing teachers, sport coaches, children day care mangers and church leaders (pastors and elders). The program design and protocol for implementation would be made available to them to apply to members of their organization who need help in obesity prevention and management.
The uniqueness of this program is its ability to educate and encourage change as depicted in Shokuiku model. Food and eating is a culture. Unlike school feeding programs which are temporary this project is expected to produce long term effects in the way society responds to eating food. It is not a one fits all nutrition reform program (Watson et.al, 2012)
Accompanying the first phase whereby individuals and families will engage in one to one counseling regarding their obesity problem or potential, a needs assessment strategy will be employed. Based on their specific need, intervention will be designed for that particular family or person. In the long term the expected outcome is to ‘build healthy public policy; create supportive environments; strengthen community action; develop personal skills and re-orient health care services towards prevention of obesity among children and adolescents in communities across developed nations as well as promote a healthy nutritional life style’
(World Health Organization, 2012). This project is designed to be adapted in any community in a developed country.
Work plan schedule for nutrion reform education project
Communities in developed societies
Commencement Date
Duration
Specific Intervention
Target group
Period of Evaluation
October 1st 2012
6 months
Obesity screening campaign among children and adolescents in communities across developed nations.
Parents of obese children, children and adolescents
After third month
And end of six
May 1st 2013
December
6 months
6 months
Begin training of personal to execute one on one counseling for the project
Implement nutrion reform project
Public health nurses, teachers, club leaders, pastors, elders
Children, parent of obsess children adolescents and support agencies
After third month and end of six
After 3 months and end of six
July 1st, 2014
1 month
Evaluate outcomes
Children parents of obese children, adolescents and support agencies
Within one month
This funding project proposal concludes with an evaluation of the actual operations encompassing execution. As was indicated earlier in the action plan evaluation will be conducted in phases after which a final assessment will be made in determine the effectiveness of the intervention.
Evaluation Plan
Type of evaluation
Community Obesity Screening
Nutrition education reform design
It is important to know the percentage of obese children and adolescents in the community. This would be measured against the percentage response who eventually participates in the nutrition reform education program.
This is to assess if the design is applicable clients’ age group and culture
Document the number of children and adolescents who were screened and discovered to be obese. When the implementation phase begins compare the numbers with those to attend counseling and engage in the nutrition reform activities.
Implementation design surveys asking adolescents and parents of obese children enrolled in the project to offer an evaluation of how the activities have helped them reconsider their nutrition habits
Use a likert scale to measure participants’ response to counseling and whether they are following the nutrition reform guidelines
Impact
Weight adjustment
It is important to know if the nutrition reform guidelines are being followed; how is it impacting weight reduction and at what rate it is occurring
Clients enrolled in the program maintain a personal weekly weight schedule. One is also maintained by the clinician attending to the client.
Weight is measured weekly
Outcome.
Body mass index returns to normal with the nutrition reform adjustments.
When the body mass index returns to normal and it retained over six months; this is an indication that the nutrion reform program is working.
If clients are attending a public health clinic program nurses will arrange for the tests to be conducted monthly. When support groups clients are to be assess they are sent to the nearest public health clinic every month.
The amount of clients whose body mass index returned to normal after engaging in the program for 6,12 and 18 months.
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