Childhood obesity is one of the major public health concerns in the USA. It has been estimated that approximately 17% of American children and adolescents are overweight or obese (Schapiro et al., 2019). This health condition has negative effects on students’ physical and mental state, which can have negative effects on these children’s further development and adulthood (Juvonen et al., 2017). Numerous interventions have been implemented to address the issue in diverse settings, including educational facilities, community-based institutions, and health-related organizations (Bleich et al., 2018). Such programs often address dietary habits, behavior patterns, and mental health. School-based programs, especially the ones involving parents, have proved to be the most effective, while healthcare facilities are an appropriate setting to facilitate the necessary change (Bleich et al., 2018). This paper includes a brief description of a hospital-based intervention targeting middle-school girls with obesity.
The development and implementation of the suggested intervention will be carried out based on the intervention mapping approach. This framework comprises six steps: community needs planning, objectives development, intervention methods selection, program designing, implementation, and evaluation (Eldredge et al., 2016). Regarding the needs of the community, it is clear that the obesity rate among middle-school girls remains high in the community although certain school-based programs aimed at obesity reduction are provided. It is important to develop a supplementary intervention in another setting, such as hospitals, which will contribute to behavioral changes in the target population.
As far as objectives to be attained are concerned, it is necessary to focus on dietary habits, physical activity, and mental health (depression symptoms, self-esteem, satisfaction with one’s body). In order to achieve the established goals, the intervention will encompass parental involvement and will be evidence-based and motivational. Raising the target population’s awareness of health-related outcomes associated with obesity and the most appropriate prevention methods will be central to the program.
Regarding the design of the intervention, the program will consist of three parts. First, groups of middle-school girls will take part in three educational sessions in a local hospital. During these sessions, a healthcare professional will talk about risk factors and health issues linked to obesity, as well as the most effective strategies to avoid health issues and maintain a healthy lifestyle. These discussions will include a brief lecture with a presentation and handouts, as well as interesting activities to ensure that the participants will grasp the necessary material. At the end of the first session, the healthcare professional will announce the target of the program and award that will be presented to the winners (or those who attain set goals), which will be another motivational component.
At the end of each session, the participants will receive a certain kind of assignment, implying parental involvement. The girls will be asked and encouraged to be more engaged in food cooking and shopping, and be more physically active. They will be asked to keep to specific diets and motivate their family to follow the same patterns. Schapiro et al. (2019) note that an intervention encompassing such activities had positive results and improved the health status and decreased body mass of the target population. The girls will be encouraged to use social media to promote healthy lifestyles. The girls will start various challenges for other participants and their peers. Those who will attract the attention of the largest number of followers will receive an additional award. The prizes may be as follows: certificates, vitamins (or some healthy products), cookbooks, and recognition (an article in a local magazine or journal (school and hospital websites)).
The implementation of the program will require certain resources and collaboration of several stakeholders. The hospital will be the setting for the intervention, so the group of participants will have training sessions in the facility. The community can be involved and can provide the necessary funds (for the provision of awards). Local educational establishments can be addressed to provide a list of potential participants to be recruited. The healthcare professionals who will run the sessions may need some training as well.
The final stage of the intervention is evaluation as it is critical to understand whether the program was effective and can be employed in other settings. In this case, outcome evaluation will be the most appropriate approach as it is important to identify the results of the intervention and whether the objectives have been attained. It is expected that the intervention will lead to a decrease in girls’ body mass indices and improved behavioral patterns related to diet and physical activity. These goals are achievable since similar educational programs have been implemented and displayed positive outcomes. The use of social media and such motivational strategies as a challenge launch can ensure a wide reach, so more affected children may be engaged, and their health status will improve.
In conclusion, it is necessary to note that educational interventions for middle-school girls should be held in diverse settings, which can lead to better outcomes. It is also important to make sure that these programs are motivational and imply the involvement of parents and the community. Obesity among middle-school girls is still a considerable public health concern, so various opportunities should be utilized to address it.
References
Bleich, S. N., Vercammen, K. A., Zatz, L. Y., Frelier, J. M., Ebbeling, C. B., & Peeters, A. (2018). Interventions to prevent global childhood overweight and obesity: A systematic review. The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, 6(4), 332-346. Web.
Eldredge, L. K. B., Markham, C. M., Ruiter, R. A. C., Fernandez, M., Kok, G., & Parcel, G. S. (2016). Planning health promotion programs: An intervention mapping approach (4th ed.). John Wiley & Sons.
Juvonen, J., Lessard, L. M., Schacter, H. L., & Suchilt, L. (2017). Emotional implications of weight stigma across middle school: The role of weight-based peer discrimination. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 46(1), 150-158. Web.
Schapiro, N. A., Green, E. K., Kaller, S., Brindis, C. D., Rodriguez, A., Alkebulan-Abakah, M., & Chen, J. L. (2019). Impact on healthy behaviors of group obesity management visits in middle school health centers. The Journal of School Nursing. Web.