Introduction
Childhood obesity is a known condition among children where the child’s health or well being is affected by excess body fat. The diagnosis of obesity is mainly based on BM, the body mass index, because direct methods to determine body fat are extremely difficult. Obesity is being recognized as a serious public health concern due to the rising and rampant prevalence of obesity in small aged children and its adverse health effects (Beseler, 2008). Many people employ the use of overweight in place of obese when describing affected children since it is considered less stigmatizing. In this paper, I am going to discuss obesity among children, basing on a specific class of children, strategies for addressing the area of concern and supporting the children directly within the classroom and finally give the goals and objectives for classroom strategies (Beseler, 2008).
Part 1: Child Ecological Profile
Under this discussion, focused is put on a child in my personal life with whom I have seen her grow over the past eight years. This is a child who was born in a very stable family financially. She has access to all the kinds of meals she needs (Koplan, Liverman & Kraak, 2005). In addition to this, the child’s feeding habits are extremely strange. A close examination at the girl’s life revealed to me that the parents are not keen on the types and quantity of meals offered to the child. No attention is given to balanced diet, and the kid takes in a lot of fatty meals and calories without any regulations (Koplan, Liverman & Kraak, 2005). My conclusion to this case, therefore, was that the child’s environment, apart from her genetic history, has contributed to over seventy percent of her total abnormal weight. Her parents as part of her environment have contributed much to the total weight of sixty eight kilograms at this early age.
Keen observation of this girl indicates that she has a habit of walking alone to school. She hardly has friends who visit her even at home when she is not at school. At home, information from her parents reveals that she spends most of her time locked up in her room. Generally, most her time is spent alone (Koplan, Liverman & Kraak, 2005). This is hard to analyse, but to some extent it seems like someone who doesn’t want to be in the open, or a case of living in complete denial. This is a clear indication that the child has some social issues in her life. In the event that she is criticised about her weight, she walks out of school without teacher’s notice, finds her way home and locks herself in her room. She cries for hours and it is always tasking for her parents to cool her down and regain her cheerful state.
Another area I researched on this little girl is her means to school. She has the privilege of being dropped by her parents by use of their own car. She does not use the school bus unlike other children, even though the distance from home to school is not big. One could manage on foot because it is a walking distance. Apart from this, she is also taken out by her parents every weekend, an effort to make her cheerful and lively. The girl visits a doctor for usual medical problems like a simple cough, but has not experienced any complications due to obesity (Koplan, Liverman & Kraak, 2005). My main concern on this is the means of transport the little girl is subjected to. She hardly walks a mile in her life. Physical exercise is very crucial when it comes to eradicating obesity. This little girl is deprived of any little exercise, like simple walking, we could be very handy in helping solve her condition.
Part from mental health problems, findings show that there are related social problems faced by obess children, including my case study, especially in the learning environment. In this case, children’s obesity in those affected is the number one factor that prompts their unhappiness. This happens because children get teased or made socially ostracized. In school, there are many other kids and when the affected child discovers he or she is not like their friends, it begins working on their emotional state. Besides this, such kids receive criticism from their fellow pupils or even some teachers who behave unprofessionally when it comes to handling children in class (Koplan, Liverman & Kraak, 2005). They have a general problem of interacting with their peers. This is a report made by most of their teachers who spend more time with them as compared to their parents or guardians. This makes them spend most of their time in solitude or isolation, a very risky condition which may result to a state of depression. There is a general fear among researchers who conduct research on obesity that it may have an influence in the other way round, where the mental, social and emotional issues suffered by the kids of interest, may help spur them to become heavier than they already are (Koplan, Liverman & Kraak, 2005).
Part 2: Strategies for addressing area of concern
There are strategies and solutions that I came up with from my research that could help save the health of the young girl in question. The first step in solving or minimising this effect is by the parents of the kid assessing their retail food and meals (Smith, 1999). This needs to be done in order to comprehend the current differences and landscape in getting access to healthier foods. There are a lot of data sources existing in libraries, articles, journals and even online, that can help in understanding the state of food one takes. For this little girl, there is the need to avoid fatty foods which contain a lot of cholesterol in them. The parents need to access information either from this sources or even doctors (Smith, 1999). The girl needs to take a lot of fruits, vegetables and minimise her levels of proteins and fats. In order to achieve this, it is only the parents who have the responsibility of initiating this step and implementing it at the same time. The data sets which provide this information vary at certain level including county-level data, ZIP-code level data, and Address data. Intake of these meals generally improves the immune system of the body.
Another strategy that needs to be employed to assist the little girl is physical exercise. Most parents really ignore this part with the fear of overworking their child or making them suffer. Guided by their parents, small children need to be led through a certain level of physical exercise on a daily basis (Smith, 1999). This may also be done in school, by teachers, through introducing a physical exercise lesson in their program. Physical exercise is very handy in obess children because it helps in the burning of excess fats in the body. It also makes children fit and flexible. There is therefore, the need for parents to improve access of their children to playgrounds and parks for their physical exercise.
Thirdly, there is the need of the parents to constantly sort for medical check up of the girl. Doctors are in a better position to update you on the type of meals to take the kind of exercise to do and many other things related to obesity (Smith, 1999). Through checking the doctor, diseases which arise due to obesity can be prevented at an early stage and therefore help protect the health of this girl and many other who are affected by obesity.
Part 3: Desired goal and objective
An effective strategy which a lot of people don’t pay attention to is enrolling in high schools, middle, and elementary USDA’S team nutrition program. They should also go beyond enrolling and apply for certification. This is done through the Healthier US School challeng (Beseler, 2008). This program is very effective because of the benefits. First, attendees get to meet other people who have obesity issues, and it makes them feel they have a chance in life. They meet new friends and share new ideas of solving their problem. At the time of living these events, most of the obesity victims have a sense of belonging in them (Beseler, 2008). This is very vital because it works on the emotional and psychological part of their system. In addition to this, such programs are led with qualified personnel, who offer a lot of knowledge on strategies and methods that could be used to address the issue of obesity. Parents therefore, should ensure that they create time within their calendar to constantly attend these programs with their children until they are mature enough to handle the matter on their own.
The parents can also use the media to their advantage to take care of their own children. They should make use of the programs which educate and give possible solutions to cub the problem of obesity among their children. In addition, parents should also adhere to advice given by American Academy of paediatrics (Beseler, 2008). They should limit media time for their kids and make sure they only access one to two hours of quality program each day.
The Families contribution
Part 1: Philosophy statement about the family
The families of these children should be involved in programs that are aimed at reducing obesity because they are directly attached to these children. They have the greatest influence on them (Beseler, 2008). The most impact is felt to the parent when their child is affected in any way. So as parents, they have an obligation to be involved in matters pertaining their children’s health and welfare. Involving parents has a lot of benefits to it. Parents are the best people who know and understand their children’s traits, personality, behaviour and many other factors. When they are involved in such programs, they simplify the process and results are easily achieved.
Part 2: Strategies for supporting the family
Families can be involved by attending school and other related programs which combat obesity (Beseler, 2008). Young children cannot do everything on their own, they their parents to guide them in every step in order to cut wait. Families have a responsibility of taking their kids for constant medical checkups in order to keep track of their medical records. Obesity comes along with unexpected diseases; therefore, parents have a responsibility of maintaining the health status of their own children. They also need to be taken to playgrounds and fields for physical exercise by their families. Proper diet is checked and maintained by the family. All meals are taken during family hours therefore; the family is directly involved in checking and confirming proper diet of their children (Koplan, 2007). Lastly, it is the responsibility of the nation to ensure that families are involved in this matter. The nation in this case, stands for the parents themselves, the teachers and all other citizens who are concerned with the welfare of these children.
Part 3: Desired goals and outcomes
In the aspect of family involvement, I hope to see a lot of achievable changes within the lives of these children. My wish is to see children, who are rejuvenated and happy again. I picture children who feel loved irrespective of their condition (Koplan, 2007). I hope to see children who are emotionally healed and ready to learn in class. Besides this, in the near future, my hope is to see a great reduction in the total number of obesity cases among children. The families of these children need constant knowledge on how they can maintain their children in terms of proper diet, proper medical check up and good physical exercise of their children (Koplan, 2007). This can be achieved by advocating for intensified campaigns to constantly encourage parents on different and viable sources of information including the media and the internet.
References
Beseler, L. (2008). Obesity, children. Boca Raton: BarCharts, Inc..
Koplan, J., Liverman, C. T., & Kraak, V.I (2005). Preventing childhood obesity health in the balance. Washingtone, D.C.: National Academies Press.
Smith, J. C. (1999). Understanding childhood obesity. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi.
Brief summary, Institute of Medicine Regional Symposium progress in preventing childhood obesity: focus on industry. (2006). Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press.
Koplan, J. (2007). Progress in preventing childhood obesity: how do we measure up?. Washingtone, D.C.: National Academies Press.
Progress in preventing childhood obesity focuses communities. (2006). Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press.
