Article Summary
The article explores the efficacy of the Active Generations program designed to combat the rising rates of obesity in USA. The Active Generations program is an intergenerational program that brings together the older generation as active participants in the prevention and control of obesity as a health issue that affects the community. The article begins by describing the current status of health. As per current statistics, the article describes that, since the 1980s, the prevalence of obesity and overweight among the populations has dramatically increased. The article indicates that the total populations of Americans, 65% are overweight, and a further 30% are obese. This statistics is a double figure as compared to overweight and obese statistics in the 80s. In the younger generation, the obesity rates have tripled especially for children between the ages of six and eleven years. A recent survey in 2007 by the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) also indicates that 13% of the youth population is obese. The obese and overweight cases have mostly been associated with the declining health among the populations. Poor eating habits, lack of physical exercise and the impacts of technology such as s too much inclination to TV/screen are among the reasons identified as contributing to the rise in obesity and overweight problems. The Active Generations program brings together the older generation in out-of-school programs to help reduce the rates of obesity through education and training programs. The study sought to explore the relevance as well as the impact of the programs in reducing the obesity cases.
The study sample included a total of 760 students between third and fifth grades. The students were taken through a 10-lesson intergenerational program designed to address the prevention of obesity. The first requirement was to seek the approval of the parents as well the instructors in their respective schools. The students are then asked to fill in a survey instrument that would guide the validity of age-appropriateness. This instrument was used as an evaluation tool in both pre and post-program procedures. Referred to as the Active Generations Survey (AGS), the tool was to be filled by the students as a paper-and –pencil survey toll. The AGS had a total of 34 time-1 pre-program items and 30 time-2 post-program items. The additional four time-1 items were all related to demographic questions such as grade, gender, age and race or ethnicity. The other questions focused majorly on physical activity, media use and nutrition.
The study involved class sessions, filed or physical activity sessions and interactive sessions incorporated within the 10-session intergenerational program. After the end of the program, the AGS evaluation tolls were collected, and both descriptive statistical analysis, as well as non-parametric inferential methodologies of statistical analysis, was used for the analysis. The Social Studies Statistical Package (SPSS 16.0) was used in the descriptive session. The non-parametric analysis, on the other hand, applied the ‘Wilcoxon-signed-rank-test’ for analysis.
The results indicated a high level of health awareness in terms of their eating habits. At the end of the program, there was a 16% increase in the number of students repeating to more than three servings of fruits and vegetables on a daily basis. At the same time, a significant number of students reported a high chance of reading the food labels, as well as increased participation in physical activity. The participating students also reported reduced screen time on a daily basis. This was in line with the 10-lesson intergenerational program sessions. Conclusively, the study found out that the Active Generations program if well implemented can help reduce the rates of obesity and related complications within the population.
Analysis
The study has incorporated a high level of research expertise in all sections of the research. In one aspect, there have been very little inconsistencies. The study begins by stating the objective of the study, and it concludes by providing a discussion that relates the study result. Further, the paper explains that the objectives of the study. The research article provides a detailed background of the study that offer the reader a clear view of the purpose of the article as well as its relevance to the nursing profession. The background section offers a statistical overview of the health condition in relation to obesity and overweight on the country. It goes as far as 1980s to bring into perspective the changing status of health in the federal state. The article then further reveals the reasons that have been identified by other research agencies and past literature as the reasons behind the deteriorating health status related to obesity. Lack of physical activity, increased screen time, and poor dietary choices have been identified in this study as the most pressing factors. This identification offers a platform for transiting to the next phase of the study.
With the background section offering a clear view of the direction taken by the study, the researchers involved were able to seek the most plausible data collection instruments as well as the evaluation techniques and tools. The study sought to use the AGS as the data collection tool in both pre and post-program. The pre and post-program comparison formed the basis upon which the evaluation of the 10-lesson intergenerational program would be done. The responses of the students in the post program AGS would effectively be gauged upon the pre-post program responses to ascertain whether the program was effective. The clarity of the comparisons was further enhanced by the use of Wilcoxon-signed-rank-test’, a non-parametric analysis methodology that would make the non-parametric raw data in the AGS comprehensive. The parametric analysis was done using the SPSS 16.0 version.
This is an effective tool in analyzing statistical data especially where comparisons are deemed important in the final analysis. This software was able to provide the correlations between the different parametric variables used in this study. The validity of the results was gauged gains the AGS to ascertain the age, gender, race, and other relevant factors that would have compromised the relevance of the outcome of the study. Further, the use of approved software in the analysis section formed the greatest strength of the study thus enhancing its viability. The discussion section further anchored the results of the study with past literature to show its relevance to the healthcare sector.
Relevance to nursing
The purpose of any research paper is to add value to already existing practices in order to improve the health care delivery system at individual and community levels. Thus, study has much relevance to the nursing profession. Today, most of the health complications experienced in the health care sector are related to lifestyles and eating habits. Obesity has been one of such complications and has impacted largely on the healthcare sector. Obesity can be blamed for the high acuity care demands that have been experienced within the healthcare sector.
It has been found that population-based approaches are most effective in combating the effects of obesity. However, there has been no agreement on the best population-based technique to use in combating the rising obesity cases. The study thus offers an evidence-based technique supported by empirical evidence and discussion that has been found successful in changing the course of the predisposing factors that have been found to impact negatively on the health of the population. With this study, it is not only possible to deduce the causes of obesity, but it is also possible to use the study as a pilot guide to conducting further research on the issue for a greater population.
The study was significantly successful to have an impact on the population in terms of health. From the value of the evidence presented and the validity of the study, nurses and other key stakeholders can implement the techniques applied in the study as well as the recommendations to help improve the state of health in the nation. Since it provided relevant results that met the objectives, and with all validation techniques put in place, it means that the study was professionally and competently done. As such, the results can be applied in a professional and practical setting. The fact that the study offers a consistent description of the procedures and sample evidence of the tools used further strengthens the relevance and accuracy of the study.
Limitations of the study
The study did not incorporate a control group upon which comparisons of the efficacy of the study could have been done. The lack of a control group means that the study did not have a specific response relationship that could have offered substantial data to prove the efficacy of the Active Generations program. On the other hand, the 10-session program cannot be used to ascertain the long-term effectiveness of the study. Thus, the results gained here are a reflection of the short term effects during and just after the completion of the sessions. It would be hard to establish long term effects especially in the event that the training programs are withdrawn, and the participants left practically to implement the theoretical approaches learnt during the sessions. The study also lacked to provide long term evaluation technique for such a program which miles that to implement such a long term plan further research would be needed.
Recommendations
References
Werner D, Teufel J, Holtgrave PL, Brown SL, (2012). Active Generations: an intergenerational approach to preventing childhood obesity. Journal of School Health. 82: 380-386.
