Instructions: Respond to each peer in 1 paragraph . Using 7th ed and 2 citations. Citations must be within 5 years .
Peer 1: Childhood obesity is a big topic in the United States today. According to Live Health South Carolina in the 2022-2023 school year 39% of students in South Carolina are considered overweight or obese (live health South Carolina). Some factors they may cause childhood obesity are genetics, family eating and physical activity patterns, the amount of time spend on electronic devices, and time spent watching tv ((Stanhope & Lancaster, 2022). Another factor that isn’t talked about much is food insecurity and how much it has increased during and after COVID-19.
School nurses can play an important role in helping fight childhood obesity. School nurses can take part in helping with health policies in school as well of the district guidelines to help support students in physical activity and healthy eating habits ( Childhood obesity,2022). There are so many different programs to help get kids active like Fuel up to Play 60, and we can. The we can program is a website they help with eating habits and physical activity. Fuel up to play 60 is a similar program but this program also provides recourses and grants for community’s/school to help ( Childhood obesity, 2022). There are so many other recourses as well within the community to help. Local 4-H clubs can help teach young children how to read a label as well as teaching them about MyPlate. School nurses.
For the primary prevention phase which is known as the education phase. As a school nurse you can teach children to know the signs of obesity and ways to prevent. For example, eating food they are not fried but eat food that are broiled or grilled (Stanhope & Lancaster, 2022). Also show them some ways to get active. Secondary prevention is the screening phase. As school nurse you can do yearly screenings. Some screening can include taking blood pressure for children and looking at their BMI (Childhood obesity, 2022). Each school nurse never wants to end up in the tertiary phase which is coming up with a plan to manage a disease. In the school nurse phase, they can start with talking to the child parents in way to help them loose like. Like increasing physical activity as a family and eating as a family together.
Some barriers they school nurses facing are funding. Which is the biggest factor especially in the vulnerable communities and title one school. With in these communities out them at a increase rate of obesity do to being low income and lack of resources (Taghizadeh er al, 2024). Parents can also be a barrier having difficult parents or parents they don’t want to think their child is obese. Being with a school with lack of knowledge is also a barrier as well, while know this is a epidemic in America.
peer 2: Childhood obesity increases the risk of many health issues. Children live more of a sedentary life than adults. For children and adolescents aged 2-19 years in 2017-2020; the prevalence of obesity was 19.7% and affected about 14.7 million children and adolescents (CDC.gov). They are not active and sit in the house most of the day in front of the TV playing video games and other online video streaming devices. Too many hours in front of the TV takes a toll on their physical and mental health. Children 8 to 17 years of age spend an average of 1.5 to 2 hours daily playing video games (NIH.gov). Easy access to high-calorie junk foods, little physical activity, genetics, and low socioeconomic status are some of the environmental factors that lead to obesity. Obesity-related conditions include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, breathing problems such as asthma and sleep apnea, and joint problems (CDC.gov).
Lifestyle changes are key factors in long-term weight loss. These changes include dietary modifications and an increase in physical activity. It is important that you set realistic goals for your child. To ensure that goals are met, an interdisciplinary team consisting of a doctor, dietitian, mental health professional, and an exercise specialist may be beneficial. These changes should include nutrition and family counseling, a more physical lifestyle, and behavior modification to address attitudes about foods. Role modeling is especially important. Parents should eat and maintain a healthy diet and exercise regularly to set a positive example for the child. Age-appropriate portion sizes should be served, and food should not be used as a reward for good behavior.
Primary prevention to prevent obesity should include activities related to health promotion. As school nurses, we can offer information and counseling that endorses positive health behaviors. The goal is to modify the way the family eats, exercises, and plans daily activities (Stanhope & Lancaster, 2022, p.382). One intervention is to counsel the students and their families about food choices and exercise. Another intervention would be a variety of healthier food options for breakfast and lunch. Secondary prevention is aimed at screening to identify obesity in the initial stages. One intervention of secondary prevention is reviewing health assessments and complete health screenings. The focus should be on weight loss, less calories, and more exercise. Tertiary prevention includes programs that offer supportive treatment for children that are diagnosed as obese. One intervention is to help families manage long-term obesity management.
The school nurse can start student health initiatives to promote healthy eating and healthy habits for students to continue through life. The nurse should contribute to health policies and function as a liaison between the school and families. There are several barriers that the school nurse could face. School nurses may encounter cultural and language barriers. The nurse must understand culture differences and norms related to health and wellness. Religious and ethical concerns are other barriers the nurse may encounter. School nurses may have a limitation of resource such funding for healthier programs. Health disparities can affect different student populations. Some students may have not have access to healthier foods or no food at all. Another barrier is the education of the parents and their knowledge of healthy eating. Families may not know what a portion size is or how to read a food label. Education is always key.
