Running Head: CHILDHOOD OBESITY

Childhood Obesity: Community Teaching Project

Helen McDonald
Rebekah Harrington
Intermediate Family Level Clinical NUR 670
November 25, 2015
State University of New York Polytechnic Institute Utica Rome

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Abstract

Childhood obesity has become a growing international problem with severe

consequences. In the United States, the prevalence of obesity in children age two to five has
more than doubled since 1970 and has more than tripled for children age six to eleven (Institute
of Medicine, 2008b). Growing interest in reducing these rates has erected many government and
healthcare programs aimed at identifying and modifying the sources of childhood obesity. With
this interest in mind, a community based project will be created to educate a small population in
Utica. This population will consist of learning healthcare individuals at the State University of
New York Polytechnic Institute as well as local community members and other college residents.
The project will define childhood obesity. It will identify causes of obesity and discus primary
and secondary preventative measures. Community resources will be identified and explored for
participant utilization. A poster presentation and handout will be provided for learning purposes.
Participants will be evaluated for their knowledge after. They will also have a chance to evaluate
the presentation. This paper will describe the teaching project in more depth.

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Childhood Obesity
Childhood Obesity
Rates of childhood obesity have increased so rapidly over recent years that its become an
epidemic worldwide. Data shows that 27% of American children aged two to five are overweight
and of lower-income children 31% are overweight (Flores & Hua, 2013). Rates of obesity in
non-Hispanic African American children and Mexican American children are considerably
greater compared to non-Hispanic Caucasian children (Philipsen & Philipsen, 2008). Hispanic
children are twice as likely to be overweight or obese compared to African American children,
despite comparable socioeconomic profiles (Philipsen & Philipsen, 2008).
Five risk factors for obesity are defined as; maternal obesity, excess gestational weight
gain, smoking, low maternal vitamin D, and one month or less of breast feeding (Robinson,
Crozier, Harvey, et al., 2015). Having more of these early-life risk factors are associated
increased adiposity and overweight or obesity later in childhood (Robinson, Crozier, Harvey, et
al., 2015). Changing these modifiable risk factors can greatly reduce contributions to prevent
childhood obesity (Robinson, Crozier, Harvey, et al., 2015).
Prevention and early intervention is fundamental in reducing childhood obesity rates and
reducing the negative outcomes linked with its incidence rate (Philipsen & Philipsen, 2008).
Negative outcomes of childhood obesity are both physical and psychological (Philipsen &
Philipsen, 2008). Its a multifactor problem contributed to biological and environmental features,
family dynamics as well as the childs unique characteristics which produce varying rates and
risk for obesity (Philipsen & Philipsen, 2008). Overweight and obese children are more likely to

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be overweight or obese adults and suffer from its long-term adverse effects such as diabetes and
high blood pressure, among others.
Managing environmental factors is important during prenatal and early postnatal life
when appetite and energy regulation are permanently programmed (Robinson, Crozier, Harvey,
et al., 2015). Prevention during pregnancy consists of regular prenatal visits to monitor and
identify problems occurring during pregnancy that may influence weight, including gestational
diabetes mellitus, maternal nutrition and weight gain (Philipsen & Philipsen, 2008). Infancy
prevention begins with how the family and environment influence childhood weight (Philipsen &
Philipsen, 2008). The way the child is fed is a key factor; whether they were breastfed and for
how long. A study concluded that children who breastfed for less than 3 months were more likely
to become overweight compared to children who breastfed for at least 7 months (Philipsen &
Philipsen, 2008). Early childhood prevention begins with establishing good eating habits.
Children are influenced by parental preferences and responses to certain foods (Philipsen &
Philipsen, 2008). They are more likely to develop healthy habits with family routines, regular
meal time's together and physical activity (Philipsen & Philipsen, 2008).
Project
A poster presentation representing the problem of childhood obesity with primary and
secondary preventative measures will be developed using evidence based practices and peer
reviewed resources. It will be presented to a small population in Utica. Pictures and graphs will
present clear data and draw interest to participants. Community resources will be defined to
assist and support this community. Pamphlets will be provided for participants reference. Bullet
points will be verbally discussed with participants and any questions will be answered.

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Venue
The project venue will community based at the State University of New York Polytechnic
Institute, Utica Rome. It will be conducted during the annual Health and Wellness Fair in the
campus center at the college. It is a big health fair that draws a large population of participants
from the school and local community. It is well lit with sufficient areas for setting up
presentation material.
Topics
Topics will consist of a definition of the problem. Primary, secondary and tertiary
preventative measures will be discussed. Community resources will be identified and explored.
The topic of primary prevention will consist of early intervention and education to prevent
childhood obesity. The topic of secondary intervention will consist of reducing the impact of the
problem with early detection and treatment. Topics of good nutrition and exercise will be
integrated with personal strategies for healthy lifestyles. These topics were chosen to educate the
community, identify high risk populations and reduce incidence rates.
Target Population
The target population will be the local community of Utica, New York. Special
interest will be aimed Hispanics, African Americans and lower income families. According to the
2014 United States Census Bureau, Utica New Yorks estimated population is 61,332 (Utica,
2015). In 2013 11.7% of the population being Hispanic or Latino and 15.4% black (city-data,
2015). The median household income in Utica for the year 2009-2013 is $30,942, with 2.45
persons per household (Utica, 2015). The median household for blacks in 2013 was
approximately $22,000 and for Hispanics $18,000 according to city data (2015). In 2000,

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unemployment rate for black male residents were 20.2% and black females 11.9%. Male
Hispanic or Latino18.5% and females 13.3% . About 19.8% of families and 24.5% of the
population are below the poverty line (city-data, 2015).In Onieda County, 69% of total family
households with their own children under the age of 18, are married parents. Twenty four percent
of these family households are single females raising their own children, according to health
profile (2010).
Student healthcare professionals will be another target audience. Family Nurse
Practitioner students and other student nurses will be attending. Advanced practice nurses will be
responsible for tracking childrens body mass index (BMI) and offer appropriate counseling,
intervention and guidance to community resources (Institute of Medicine, 2008b).
Audience Selection
These audiences were selected because of their relevance to the project theme. The
audience will benefit from the education and identification of community resources.
Goals and Objectives
The goal of the project is to raise awareness about the epidemic of childhood obesity. The
goals objectives will be reached by describing high risk population, discussing what places a
child at risk for obesity, and discussing long-term consequences of obesity. Another goal of the
project will be to teach the target audience about primary and secondary preventative. This goals
objective will be verbal teaching, utilizing visuals such as a poster presentation display with
pictures and graphs, teaching pamphlets will be provided for later reference. The last goal will be
to identify community resources in the area. The objectives of this goal are to research

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community resources, contact them and investigate what assistance they provide. This
information will also be made available in the poster presentation and pamphlets.
The goal for each participant is to learn three facts about high risk populations,
preventative measures and community resources. The participant will be enticed by the subject
matter and the overall presentation of material. The participant will be active in his or her
learning about the subject. The participant will become active in reducing childhood obesity due
to their new knowledge.
Goal and Objective Measurement
Goal and objective measurement will be done utilizing a short questioner to determine
effectiveness of the education. The questionnaire will also contain a short survey on project
performance and overall presentation.
Project Outline
1) Introduction
a) Define and describe childhood overweight and obesity
2) Risk factors
a) Identify high risk factors
b) Identify modifiable risks factors
3) Interventions
a) Explore evidence based practices for primary prevention
b) Explore evidence base practices for secondary prevention
c) Identify community resources
4) Produce teaching pamphlet for participant reference
a) Risk factors
b) Intervention
5) Goal and Objective measurement
a) Educational questionnaire
b) Performance survey
6) Project publication
a) Health and Wellness Fair fliers
b) Word of mouth

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References
City-data (2015). Retrieved on November 22, 2015 from http://www.city-data.com/city/Utica
New-York.html
Flores, G., & Hua, L. (2013). Factors predicting overweight in US kindergartners. American
Journal Of Clinical Nutrition, 97(6), 1178-1187. doi:10.3945/ajcn.112.052019

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Health profile (2010). Retrieved on November 22, 2015 from

http://www.ocgov.net/oneida/sites/default/files/health/CommunityHealthAssessment/He
lth%20Profile%20.pdf
Institute of Medicine. (2004a). Fact sheet: the health-care sector and providers can play a role in
preventing childhood obesity. Retrieved from
http://iom.nationalacademies.org/~/media/Files/Report%20Files/2004/Preventing
Childhood-Obesity-Health-in-the-Balance/FactSheetHealthcareFINALBitticks.pdf
Philipsen, N., & Philipsen, N. (2008). Childhood overweight: prevention strategies for parents.
Journal Of Perinatal Education, 17(1), 44-47 4p.
Institute of Medicine. (2004b). Fact sheet: overview of the IOMs childhood obesity prevention
study. Retrieved from http://iom.nationalacademies.org/~/media/Files/Report
%20Files/2004/Preventing

Childhood-Obesity-Health-in-the-

Balance/factsheetoverviewfinalBitticks.pdf
Robinson, S. M., Crozier, S. R., Harvey, N. C., Barton, B. D., Law, C. M., Godfrey, K. M., & ...
Inskip, H. M. (2015). Modifiable early-life risk factors for childhood adiposity and
overweight: an analysis of their combined impact and potential for prevention. American
Journal Of Clinical Nutrition, 101(2), 368-375 8p. doi:10.3945/ajcn.114.094268
Utica (2015). Retrieved on November 22, 2015 from
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/36/3676540.html?cssp=SERP

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