Assignment 3-2

Childhood Obesity

Maithe Valdez

Grand Canyon University

11/12/2017

Childhood Obesity

How the Literature Review is Used in Research

Literature review is defined as an evaluative report of information found in the literature related to a specific study (CUniversity, 2017). Literature reviews purpose is to provide a summary on different sources to demonstrate to readers how the sources reinforces to a critical thinking level.

Focusing on childhood obesity, on the article by Dr. Alan Greene, he confirms that childhood obesity is an epidemic and real. After the year of 1988 kid’s weight has increase dramatically. A children’s weight at a young age is important because as the children aged, weight will increase. So, this means that if a child is overweight, by the time they reached adult age they will be considered overweight. Gain weight through the years are due to fat cells. Growing up a child is building new fat cells, and once you are an adult current fat cells will get larger, making it more difficult to lose weight. At early age kids are setting a bad habit to their metabolism and body structure (Greene, 2013).

In the journal, Characteristics Associated with School Nurse Childhood Obesity Prevention Practices, focuses on the control of childhood obesity. According to the journal, “nearly one-third of children in the United States are overweight and at a higher risk of numerous comorbidities” (Quelly, 2017). School nurses conducted a survey for a development of a strategic childhood obesity prevention (COP). The main question to answer by the survey was: Are personal, professional, and/or job-related characteristics associated with school nurse engagement in child-level or school-level childhood obesity prevention practices? (Quelly, 2017) Results of the study concluded that there is a need for funding and offering childhood obesity prevention education opportunities for nurses to be involve in preventing childhood obesity. As parents we are the primary source of education to our children. All in the Family? Parental Roles in the Epidemic of Childhood Obesity, is a journal that describes how childhood weight depends on family related influences. Parents contribution is by genetic predispositions, physical activities, parent- child interactions, and household food consumption practices (Moore, Wilkie, & Desrochers, 2017). In the article, Tackling Childhood Obesity, discusses how healthcare professionals are lacking the confidence and the ability to communicate the problem of obesity. According to the article, the rate of childhood obesity increases, making more difficult for providers to deal with obesity (Burca, 2017). As well, the lack of parent’s knowledge and awareness on the dangers of childhood obesity is an issue to tackle.

Ethical Considerations for Data Collection

Ethical considerations in research helps prevent against developing or falsifying of data (Grand Canyon University). Ethical considerations pursue of knowledge and the truth of the research. Research ethical codes include honesty, objectivity, respect for property, social responsibility, confidentiality, non-discrimination and others.

In the article by Susan Quelly, a survey was conducted which included questions on a variety of characteristics and how often the nurses performed certain childhood obesity prevention practices. The survey is considered to be ethical because the survey participants where within forty-seven Florida nurses. The nurses received the survey via email and two professional conferences to complete an anonymous online or paper survey (Quelly,2017). The survey being anonymous makes it ethical because there is no disclosure on the information from the nurse’s name. The anonymous survey helps the nurses answer the questions with more honesty.

Another article that demonstrated ethical consideration is Tackling childhood obesity. Ethical is define as right from wrong, in the article explain how providers face a moral and ethical problem. A provider’s struggle is “providing dietary recommendations as they confront a client’s customs, cultural convictions and insights on their child’s size” (Burca, 2017). It is an ethical conflict because providers feel that addressing the issue might be discourteous and offensive rather than educational and helpful for the parents and child. Thinking critically, it is ethical for providers to do the right thing, so why are providers afraid of telling parents the truth on their child’s health problem. It is understandable to be afraid to cause conflict with the patient but being honest is essential. It is ethical to educate and acknowledge the health issue and no matter how harmful the news is, it is the doctor’s responsibility to inform the patient’s parents. At the end parents need to understand that the provider’s responsibility and with good intentions.

Statistical Analysis

In terms of statistical analysis, the article, All in the Family? Parental Roles in the Epidemic of Childhood Obesity analysis obesity in different ethnicity, Black, Hispanic, and White children. Statistics show that one four of Black children and teens are obese. Hispanics one in five children and teens are obese and lastly one in seven White are obese. As well the analysis determined the males are slightly more prone to be obese than females (19 percent vs. 15 percent), levels are not significantly different by gender among either black or Hispanic youth (Moore, Wilkie & Desroschers, 2017). Examining the statistical outcome, we can determine that childhood obesity is in all ethnicities and it is a national crisis.

Another article that used statistical analysis is the descriptive cross-sectional study. The articles determined that the “data analyses included correlations, t tests, and ANOVA to determine associations between personal, professional, and job-related characteristics with child-level and school-level school nurse childhood obesity prevention practices” (Quelly, 2017). Other results included by Quelly survey is the significant associations where p<0.05 was found between school nurse COP practices and professional characteristics. Concluding the research, there is a need for funds and education on childhood obesity preventions to help nurses to engage in preventing obesity in kids.

Effectiveness of Specific Study

Searching on the topic of childhood obesity most to of the journals begin stating the childhood obesity rates have increase over the years. Overviewing the four articles of choice, all of them explain the necessity of education on nutrition and living a healthy active life at a young age to avoid obesity in children. As well outcomes of obesity can also lead the person to be at a higher risk of other chronic disease such as diabetes and heart problems. As well long-lasting problems like bullying, low self-esteem and social exclusion (Burca, 2017). The articles are effective to childhood obesity because each one of them with studies and research point out the importance of education within healthcare providers and parents. We all play an important part on a child’s growth and nutrition. As parents we need to teach our kids good eating habits and motivate children to do outdoor activities. As for health care providers, as the article Tackling Childhood obesity, states that providers need to gain confidence to talk to parents about childhood obesity. Not only do the articles provide us with information and statistical analysis, but make us think that childhood obesity is really on our hands, as parents we are the tool to shape our children to be healthy now and in their adult lives.

Conclusion

A literature review provided an overall summary on different aspect to support the importance of childhood obesity and encouraging us as parents to be mentors for a healthy life. It is clear that childhood obesity is raising and there has to be a change in the nutrition in our kids. Looking back the articles prevention and control on weight is based on all ethnicities and male and female. Furthermore, if we know that childhood obesity is a problem within our kids, how come parents are not making the change in a better healthy living style? Parents are the example of children.

References

Burca Bouch, A. (2017). Tackling childhood obesity. Community Practitioner, 90(7), 41-43.

Childhood Obesity. (2011). New York, N.Y. : Films Media Group, [2013].

CQUniversity, Literature Review Tutorial, 2017. Retrieved from; http://libguides.library.cqu.edu.au/litreview