Health screening is known as one of the best ways of identifying and preventing diseases at early stages. Childhood obesity is one of the most serious health problems nowadays. Thus, it is crucial to perform screening for this dangerous condition. The suggested initiative complies with the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations and aims at increasing the awareness of the health issue and encouraging the target population to develop health-enhancing habits.
Theory or Conceptual Model
The initiative is focused on the (USPSTF) recommendation “obesity screening: children and adolescents” (“USPSTF A and B recommendations,” 2018). The conceptual model that seems effective for this initiative is the behavioral intervention, namely a family-based mindful eating approach (Dalen, Brody, Staples, & Sedillo, 2015). With the help of this theory, it will be possible to implement the selected screening initiative.
Dalen et al. (2015) note that the effect of psychological factors on eating behaviors has not been receiving enough attention from scholars. Thus, the proposed mindful eating approach, which is based on a behavioral intervention, is a productive opportunity to implement a health screening initiative. This intervention type is also recommended by the USPSTF (“USPSTF A and B recommendations,” 2018).
Screening Purpose
It is crucial to screen for obesity in children and adolescents because the rate of childhood obesity is alarmingly high. Both developing and developed countries have reached an epidemic level of this health problem (Sahoo et al., 2015). According to data provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of 2016, the prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents aged 2-19 years was 18.5% (“Childhood obesity facts,” 2018). Among 2-to-5-year-olds, the prevalence was 13.9%, among 6-to-11-year-olds, it was 18.4%, and among 12-to-19-year-olds, it was 20.6% (“Childhood obesity facts,” 2018).
Childhood obesity is more frequent in some populations than in others. For instance, 25.8% of Hispanic and 22.0% of non-Hispanic black children and adolescents suffer from obesity, in comparison to 14.1% of non-Hispanic whites and 11.0% of non-Hispanic Asians (“Childhood obesity facts,” 2018). Concerning the socioeconomic status, obesity prevails in children that come from the families with low income and education level. Children and adolescents in New Brunswick largely correspond to the mentioned statistics. Thus, since screening is regarded as an effective prevention method (Kudzma & Harrington, 2014), it is necessary to employ it in the community.
Population
The target population is composed of children and adolescents aged 6-19. The participants live in New Brunswick, Middlesex County, New Jersey. All ethnicity groups and races, as well as both genders, will be included in the screening procedure. For each of the participants, detailed information (apart from name and address) will be collected with the aim of comparing data later.
Screening Activity
The screening will be performed in accordance with the USPSTF guideline. The USPSTF recommends measuring body mass index (BMI) using weight and height as the most reliable test for obesity (“Screening for obesity in children and adolescents,” 2017). If BMI is 95% or higher, it means that the person has obesity. The USPSTF guideline suggests multiple-component prevention interventions, such as:
- sessions focused both on children and parents (or both);
- individual sessions;
- offering information about healthy food habits and exercises;
- boosting the use of stimulus control and problem solving;
- supervised sessions of physical activity (“Screening for obesity in children and adolescents,” 2017).
Providers may include physiologists, primary care specialists, dieticians, physical therapists, social workers, psychologists, and parents.
Outcome Goals
- The increased awareness of the prevalence of obesity among the population;
- Comparing findings with national statistics;
- Comparing and contrasting prevalence rates of different ages, genders, and ethnicities;
- Educating children and adolescents, as well as their caregivers, on the methods of preventing obesity;
- Reducing the rate of childhood obesity in the nearest future.
Location
The procedure of screening will be performed at Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, NJ (“About Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital,” n.d.).This facility is the best match both for the target population and screening choice. Parents and children know this place because the hospital is rather popular in the area. Also, there are many healthcare specialists who might help perform the screening, as well as offer some advice or instruction to the target population and their caregivers.
Cost
Summary
Screening for obesity among children and adolescents is a highly effective prevention tool. With the help of such screening, it is possible not only to evaluate the prevalence of the health issue but also provide the participants with the necessary information about reducing the problem. Because untreated childhood obesity has a tendency to develop into adult obesity, which can cause serious health complications, it is important to deal with this healthcare challenge at the earliest stages of development.
References
About Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital. (n.d.).
Childhood obesity facts. (2018).
Dalen, J., Brody, J. L., Staples, J. K., & Sedillo, D. (2015). A conceptual framework for the expansion of behavioral interventions for youth obesity: A family-based mindful eating approach. Childhood Obesity, 11(5), 577-584.
Kudzma, E. C., & Harrington, S. (2014). Screening. In C. L. Edelman, E. C. Kudzma, & C. L. Mandle (Eds.), Health promotion throughout the life span (8th ed.) (pp. 195-212). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.
Sahoo, K., Sahoo, B., Choudhury, A. K., Sofi, N. Y., Kumar, R., & Bhadoria, A. S. (2015). Childhood obesity: Causes and consequences. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, 4(2), 187-192.
Screening for obesity in children and adolescents: Recommendation statement. (2017). Web.
USPSTF A and B recommendations. (2018). Web.