Introduction
Obesity among children has become a matter of concern in present-day society. This research aims to consider some probable improvements in the situation. This paper considers the extraneous variables, instruments, description of the intervention, and data collection procedure.
Extraneous Variables
It is important to note that, apart from dependent and independent variables, there exist extraneous variables which influence the result. In this case, extraneous variables might be age and gender. They are easy to control because it is possible to set selective criteria for the participants, for example, by dividing them into boys and girls of certain age groups.
Instruments
As for methods, in this research, it is possible to apply an experiment coupled with observation. Children are supposed to do particular things and be observed within a certain period of time. The validity and reliability are supposed to be guaranteed, provided the children to follow the rules of the experiment. Therefore, the experiment implies control on the part of both parents and a nurse (Karnik & Kanekar, 2015).
Description of the Intervention
Diet therapy is acknowledged to be one of the most important parts of the treatment complex against childhood obesity. It should be conducted only under medical supervision. In order to lose weight, it is possible to resort to a low-calorie diet. However, it is only applicable, starting from the age of three. Before this age, it is undesirable to use this method since it implies the reduction of energy value. It is important to note that calories are supposed to be reduced only in terms of carbohydrates and fats. The number of proteins should comply with the physiological norm. The nurse should inform that the sources of protein are low-fat kinds of meat and fish, eggs, milk, and low-fat dairies. At the same time, high-fat dairies and butter should be limited or completely excluded. The total amount of carbohydrates in a daily ration should be reduced proportionally to the child’s overweight. In order to achieve this, it is necessary to exclude digestible carbohydrates. They are sugar, jam, and sweets. Apart from that, it is necessary to exclude pasta, wheat bread, and potatoes. These types of food should be replaced by fruit and vegetables. Food should be boiled or steamed (Visscher & Kremers, 2015).
Another possible intervention is physical exercises. Hiking and active games are acknowledged to be suitable for young kids. As for four-five-year-old children, it is recommended to go in for different kinds of sports which match their physical abilities. The sport is supposed to be chosen by the child with the assistance of the nurse and parents whose advice should take into account both the child’s health and preferences. Besides, the nurse should inform the parents that participation in any competitions for children who suffer from overweight should be excluded as it might be harmful to both physical and mental conditions of the child (Visscher & Kremers, 2015).
Data collection procedure
It is necessary to regularly observe the kids who participate in the experiment. Their weight changes and health condition alterations should be recorded. The data should be processed.
Conclusion
This paper is a part of the project which is devoted to the research of the problem of children’s obesity. It has provided the description of the intervention. Apart from that it has suggested extraneous variables, instruments, and procedure of data collection.
References
Karnik, S., & Kanekar, A. (2015). Childhood obesity: A global public health crisis. International Journal of Preventive Medicine, 3 (1), 1-7.
Visscher, T. L., & Kremers, S. P. (2015). How can we better prevent obesity in children? Current Obesity Reports, 4(3), 371-378.