policy recommendation paper/nutrition class

Attacking the Challenge of the Epidemic of Childhood Obesity Issue and Subpopulation

Children

student

email

Liberty University/Health 507 section

Word Count: XXXX

Dr.Sharlee Burch

Date

Background

· Childhood/adolescent obesity affects millions with rates continuing to rise

· 43 million are affected by this debilitating problem.

· Individuals at greater risk are non-white subpopulation females with income below 130% poverty level.

· Higher educated individuals are at lessened risk than those with little or no education.

· Fast paced lifestyles contribute to growing number of obese children/adolescents

· Busy schedules encourage families to consume convenient fast food that is readily available with little nutritional value.

· Lifestyles require more than one household income which limits family meal times together.

· Instant and poor nutritional content of meals are prepared for the sake of time and convenience.

· Limited health education regarding food choices and physical activity add contributory factors to childhood obesity

· Physical activity time is limited due to busy testing schedules and school curriculum/demands for high testing performance among students.

· School vending typically has poor nutritional value, high sugar and fat content. Resistance to change in vending snacks from students and school staff may be added barriers for change.

· Funding is limited and lowers nutritional content that match up to what is recommended. Value enhanced food costs more than instant fast foods which require minimal or no preparation.

· Subpopulation Hispanic children/adolescents are at greatest risk for developing obesity

· Males represent 25.3% and females represent 21.8% of obesity.

· Cultural and economic factors contribute to high rates of consumption of high fat/starch/carbohydrate food content. These factors also lead to increased heart disease, hypertension and diabetes in this subpopulation.

Issues

· Type II Diabetes Mellitus and other chronic illness are increasing in youth

· Insulin Resistance, a precursor to Type II Diabetes, is increasing among youth, along with other chronic illnesses, such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, heart disease.

· Increased preventative medical visits among youth, especially subpopulations, are risk factors that may lead to early death/morbidity in the new generations to come.

· Lack of health education, physical activity, and poor nutritional availability or poor choices aid in the epidemic of obesity in youth and subpopulations.

· Food is expensive, good nutritionally valued food is MORE expensive. Hard economic times place hardship on food choices made by families.

· Transportation is expensive and difficult for some to travel to farmer’s markets beyond walking distance. Perishable foods/or fresh fruits and vegetables require frequent visits to the grocery store or farmer’s market.

· Health education and rationale for knowledge is limited within schools and competes with core curriculum requirements mandated by pass rates for funding. Physical activity available is limited to bare minimum allotted time by legislative mandate.

· Fast food is convenient, available and tempting to consume on a regular basis.

· High fat and sugar content, preservatives and sodium contribute to the prevalence of childhood obesity as it contains flavor that entices large portions to be consumed.

· Current efforts in progress are being developed and implemented to decrease childhood obesity rates

· Nutritional content and healthier options are available in many fast food restaurants.

· Physical activity is encouraged and offered in many after school programs via grant incentives.

· Local organizations, such as Turning Point and other coalitions, have developed farmer’s market availability and health prevention education within schools and communities.

· Some state Nutrition and Fitness organizations (via grant) offer youth BMI evaluation for schools. Reports within public health organizations are available.

· Many schools are conforming to lower sugar/fat content and better food options within school lunch rooms and vending.

· Many schools have chosen to adopt tobacco free policies which benefit youth and all citizens. Smoking exacerbates chronic illness, which, if accompanied by obesity-could lead to early death.

· Obesity currently costs the U.S. $254 billion in productivity and $60 billion in treatment/medical expenditures.

Recommendations

· Health and wellness should be a key component within schools to reduce risk of obesity and other chronic illnesses in our youth today

· Education and parental involvement within community coalitions and efforts to bring awareness about health in children

· Inform schools regarding grant incentives (particular to designated states) for health education and physical activity.

· Strive for Five (fruits and vegetables) and MyPlate via CDC has also been adopted by state/local public health agencies to promote health and wellness in youth and adults.

· Health and wellness produces higher academic achievements according to CDC.

· Public health agencies to collaborate with local schools for time, even if short intervals, to educate regarding health, wellness, and importance of better food choices. Nutrition enhances academic and sport performance.

· Incorporate community partners to advocate for healthy lifestyle activities

· Discuss grants available to improve infrastructure to accommodate healthy lifestyle activities. (ie: walking tracks, community exercise events)

· Discuss/collaborate with community partners regarding radio, media or other methods to promote youth health and decrease obesity risk factors.

· Education and sensitivity towards cultural subpopulation with routine food consumption practices that contribute to risk factors.

· Local coalitions/community partners to develop nutrition education programs, local farmer’s markets, transportation to and from farmer’s markets, Incentives to seek healthier food for academic productivity and increase in health and decrease obesity risks.

· Schools/communities to collaborate to offer lower sugar/fat content in vending machines. Adopt no smoking policies as smoking exacerbates any chronic illness when present. Obese youth have a 60% increase risk of developing serious chronic illness when exposed to tobacco smoke.

· Potential Unintended Consequences

· Resistance from students and school staff due to the convenience of instant, poor nutritional content food. It taste good and is easily accessed which is desired during busy schedules.

· Sensitivity to culturally diverse groups with unhealthy food customs unwilling to alter habits completely. Recipe altering nutritional value while keeping cultural content of food the same. Diverse individual is needed to provide education regarding improved health with small change while respecting culture.

· Federal and state funding cuts hinder the option of providing health/nutrition programs for youth.

· Funding and curriculum time allocations are crucial factors as result of pass rates within schools.

· Some schools need guidance, especially rural, due to lack initiative and motivation to apply for afterschool programs that involve physical activity and health education programs.

· Limited involvement of communities in rural areas are factors that are a result of a weak or absence of community coalitions to promote youth health.

· Strong support from school administration, public health sector, community coalitions and parents is vital in the success of reducing obesity risks and improving health of youth overall.

· Ease of Implementation

· Older adolescent youth may advocate as role model for younger youth regarding the benefits of making good nutritional and health/exercise choices.

· Partnering with public health, school sports programs, health educators to assist in promoting wellness and decreasing obesity risk factors in youth. Presenting to parents at local organizations that promote youth health.

· Providing culturally diverse literature, while accompanied by translator, will aid in the explanation and rationale of healthier lifestyles and food choices made by children as well as adults.

· Provide quality improvement data that reveals return of investment by way of economic development and community attraction. Walking tracks, farmer’s market, exercise friendly, health seeking environment appeals to newcomers looking for a new place to live.

· Healthy youth displaying higher scores academically appeals to parents deciding on schools for their children per CDC. Health education results in long term effects within children to become healthier adults.

Biblical Applications

· Say to him: ‘Long life to you! Good health to you and your household! And good health to all that is yours! 1 Samuel 25:6

· Health has been desired among biblical beings since the beginning of time.

· Good health is a measure of contentment and happiness.

· This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. Proverbs 3:8.

· Health and nourishment of our bodies is an ultimate goal which enables holistic balance and tranquility.

· Lord, by such things people live; and my spirit finds life in them too. You restored me to health and let me live. Isaiah 38:1

· The Lord provides spirit in all that he delivers us to restore our health for life.

· On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. Matthew 9:12.

· Healthy individuals will be free of illness while those who are unhealthy may

undergo illness that requires medical attention.

· Medical needs are greater for those that are sick rather than the healthy one who takes advantage of healthful lifestyle.

· Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. 3 John 1:2

· Health is a well wish by many to those who are loved and cherished

· Spiritual and bodily holistic health is of utmost value to those who desire good health and balance of both.

· Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.

· God wants us to be healthy by taking care of our physical body as well as our spiritual body.

· He paid the price for our eternal lives; therefore, honoring Him with spirituality and goodness to our bodies is essential in honoring Him. He provides all we need to sustain health.

References