Help with Paper for Stats

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· The precise goal of the study or experiment

· The population

· Your expected sample size

· How you will go about collecting your sample

· Exactly what statistical computations you expect to perform (hypothesis, null hypothesis, alternative hypothesis, type I and II error, significance level, critical value, P-value, etc.

· How you will present your results to the reader

· Itemized expected cost for your study in terms of time and money

Childhood Obesity among Pittsburgh School Students, Ages 6-12 Years

The hypothesis of if schools served healthier food and gave the children more time to eat as well as having more chances to be active, like recess and physical education, then child hood obesity rates would decrease drastically. This study will investigate effects of teaching obese children better habits of eating and exercise and improved habits and self-esteem. The children for the study will be drawn from the general school population (ages 6 to 12). Students (n = 20) will receive a brief intervention regarding nutrition, activity, and snacking. Students will serve as their own control. Each participant will be pre- and post-tested regarding eating behavior, activity, snacking behavior, and levels of self-esteem. The hypothesis will be tested through the application of quantitative analysis (one-way ANOVA) to the data collected

(Dotsch, Kokocinski, Knerr, Rascher, Rascher & Weigel, 2008).

The goal of this proposal is to study the prevalence of obesity among school children 6-12 years old in Pittsburgh Public Schools, and to identify any variation as per age, gender, place of residence, and type of school. Obesity is usually defined as more than 20 percent above ideal weight for a particular height and age ("Obesity,"). This proposal is addressed to meet the needs of children who have become obese due to environmental factors. If we can alter a few key and relatively simple areas in the lives of individuals, reinforce this within the schools and community, and re-evaluate the messages being sent in our culture, American school children will soon see an end to an excessive weight gain.

The results of this survey are important for the development of evidence-based practice guidelines and the overall process will have an impact on the clinical practice, research and dietetic policy.

School children between 6-12 years old will be sampled using stratified random sampling (SRS) with cumulative population proportionate from each school (cluster) of four districts. A total of 20 clusters will be selected by systematic sampling. The clusters spread out geographically by schools, and then the sample starts at a random cluster and then takes every 10th cluster in the list. First, take a separate SRS in each stratum to allow separate conclusions about each stratum. Then, a stratified sample will have a smaller margin of error than an SRS of the same size. Data will be analyzed using Body Mass Index (BMI- CDC) calculator and/or a calculator. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Body Mass Index is defined as a measure used to determine childhood overweight and obesity. It is calculated using a child's weight and height. BMI does not measure body fat directly, but it is a reasonable indicator of body fatness for most children and teens ("Basics about childhood," 2012).

The Pittsburgh school district operates 86 elementary schools with a total of 33,463 children in the age group of 6-12 years old, studying in grades 1 to 7 will be selected from each school within the Pittsburgh elementary schools, from attendance register by systematic random sampling technique with equal representation in each age/gender category. All children found to be <6, >12 years of age, children whose exact birth date was not available, children without written informed consent, and those with height/weight error during data management were excluded from the data analysis. It is expected that an SRS of 3,000 students will give every student a chance to participate in the sample. The stratified sample will consist of two groups each of 1,500—one for female and one for male. The margin of error for 95% confidence will be about 2.6%. A list of schools will be made available ("Elementary schools located," 2010).

Children and adolescents in each group were divided into three groups according to ages—6-7 years, 8-9 years, and 10-12 years. Children will be classified overweight (defined as body mass index (BMI) >90th percentile for age and gender) obese (BMI >97th percentile), and extremely obese (BMI) >99.5th percentile), according to the Childhood Obesity Group and Pediatric Obesity, congruent with adult standards used to assess overweight and obesity

(Dotsch, Kokocinski, Knerr, Rascher, Rascher & Weigel, 2008).

The study has ethical clearance. Written informed consent will be obtained from parents. Permission will be obtained by Director of Health, Director of Education, and all the school Principals that will participate in the study. The study will be sponsored by the Department of Health, Pittsburgh Public School, and supported by Department of Education.

This study will focus on groups 6-12 years old for samples. The study will be conducted from October 2013 through January 2014. Specifically, the following research questions will be explored:

1. What are the strategies to combat obesity that are currently being used in the United States?

2. How is obesity measured?

3. How do you know your child is obese and what causes a child to become obese?

4. What is the most recommended among the strategies being advised by dietitians and health experts?

5. What can be recommended to help school officials decide which intervention will be right for them?

Several tables will be used in the survey. One will be a table showing the prevalence of obesity by age among school children in Pittsburgh Public Schools. Another table will consist of obesity by gender and schools among children in Pittsburgh Public Schools. It is expected that funds for the Childhood Obesity survey will range from $20,000 to $30,000.

"Overweight and obesity are the result of a positive energy balance—that is, a long-term excess of energy intake (food and beverage consumption) over energy expenditure (basal metabolic rate, physical activity). Although some people are more genetically susceptible to weight gain than others, the rapid increase in the prevalence of obesity in recent years has occurred too quickly to be explained by genetic changes and most experts believe it is due to living in an increasingly ‘obesogenic’ environment—one that promotes over-consumption of food and drinks and limits opportunities for physical activity” ("Obesity questions and," 2011).

Obesity rates among children have increased sharply throughout the United States. Over the past three decades, the prevalence of obese children has tripled. Today, nearly one out of three children is obese. Lack of healthy eating and physical activity are leading causes of obesity. Many children eat foods that are high in fat, drink beverages that are high in sugar, and do not eat enough fruits and vegetables. We know that the earlier we intervene, the better off the outcome. Additionally, many children spend less time doing quality physical activities and spend too much time being sedentary. High adult obesity rates have made reducing childhood obesity a goal for doctors, researchers and policy-makers, since obese or overweight preschoolers are five times as likely to become obese or overweight adults (Riely, 2013).

References

(2012). Basics for childhood obesity. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/childhood/basics.html

Dotsch, J., Kokocinski, K., Knerr, J., Rascher, W., Rascher, W., & Weigel, C. (2008). Childhood obesity: concept, feasibility, and interim results of a local group-based, long-term treatment program. National Center for Biotechnology Information, doi: 10.1016/j.jneb.2007.07.009. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18984493

Elementary schools located in pittsburgh. (2010). Retrieved from http://www.city- data.com/school/Pittsburgh-Pennsylvania.html

(n.d.). Obesity. American Academy of Pediatrics, Retrieved from http://www.healthychildren.org/english/health- issues/conditions/obesity/Pages/default.aspx?WT.srch=1

Obesity questions and answers. (2011, December 06). Retrieved from http://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/obesity/obesity-questions- and-answers

Riely, K. (2013, August 08). Answers sought for rise in pa. child obesity rate. Retrieved from http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/region/answers-sought-for-rise-in-pa-child- obesity-rate-698627/