Question

Working as a school nurse in a K-7 building you are asked to present proposed preventive programs for 3 grade levels that you choose to the administrator and parent teacher organization leaders. Topic is to address the increase in childhood obesity. In three separate paragraphs detail the primary, secondary and tertiary preventive programs you will present, include the setting, participants, length of the program, budget considerations and how you will evaluate effectiveness.

Answer 1

Primary prevention Program of childhood obesity is to reduce the risk in the whole population. Health promotion is the ultimate goal in the primary prevention. Focus on parents lifestyle behaviour and their eating habits.Plan for exercise and physical activity program in the schools for at least 5-6 hours per week.Ensuring physical activity and eating habits among the school children.Record and follow-up of child's data for 2 years.

Secondary prevention program is the early detection of childhood obesity and to provide proper interventions. Screening the children for High Body mass index. Early detection is through proper assessment of child's nutritional status, physical activity, lifestyle, environmental factors, parents influence, school policies, and community risks. Assess for BMI measures, skinfold measures and mid-arm circumference. Assess the family history of risk factors.

The tertiary prevention aims to reduce obesity-related disease and complication. Offer counselling and behavioural interventions to the children. Plan and implement interventions regarding the treatment of childhood obesity. Provide low-calorie diet and meal replacement based on the individual child's need with the help of the dietician.

As the U.S is facing the obesity as a most leading problem, the initiative should start from the children. the best place for the implementation of the preventive program is the school, where the children, parents, teachers, dietician altogether can achieve the goal of the preventive program. The primary prevention is the most important part of the preventive program where the health promotion is achieved through health teaching. Prevention of obesity in childhood will prevent most common complications in the future. The length of the program takes 2 years during the child's data is recorded and followed completely. The school health programs need the minimum budget. The evaluation is done based on the child's improvement in health promotion, achievement of ideal body weight and BMI, increased physical activity, and healthy eating habits. Evaluation is based on the overall reduction in the childhood obesity.