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One issue I had with the grading in that paper was the audience. I want the audience to be parents, children 6-14 years old
“Reducing the Prevalence of Childhood Obesity in Miami Dade County”
For many years, society has been facing sustained challenges with the trend of obesity in the population and more particularly among children. Also labeled as overweight, obesity is defined “as abnormal and excessive fat in the body that may impair health (World Health International, 2011). Obesity is also the result of lack of physical activities and is identified as a health indicator that can potentially contribute to the development of certain diseases and other health problems” (Cemters for Disease Control and Prevention, 2010). Researchers argued that obesity significantly affects the health of children which later puts them at greater risk of developing some of the diseases that are leading causes of death such as diabetes, stroke, and cardiovascular disease (Ogden & Caroll, 2010). Other researchers also believe that obesity impact the life of children physically and psychologically in terms of self esteem and negative body image (Wofford, 2008). Consequently, it is essential for public health authorities, researchers, and health practitioners to develop and implement health campaigns that can motivate people to make healthy decision, and therefore increase awareness among individuals for the well being of our society.
With the continuous trend of obesity, Healthy People has decided to make it one of the 2010 Health People Initiative, and include nutrition and weight status in the 2020 Healthy People Improvement Programs (Healthy People.gov). The objective behind this decision is to promote health and reduce the likelihood of developing chronic diseases. Furthermore, the government, in particular First Lady Michelle Obama, has made the fight against childhood obesity one of her top priority by declaring it a national health hazard in her prevention program of Let’s Move 2010 (Let’s Move 2010). The issue of childhood obesity remains the most uncomfortable, yet challenging for several cities around the nation including Miami Dade County.
For the purpose of this paper, Miami Dade County (MDC) will be the primary focus in the public health campaign aimed at increasing awareness to reduce childhood obesity. MDC is heavily populated with immigrants from several cultural background including Central, South America, and the Caribbean. In 2010, the population of MDC was estimated at 2.5 million people with 65% Hispanics, 18.9% Blacks, and 15.4% White (Census Bureau, 2012). MDC is also a central point for the importation of different ethnic food product and enable individuals to have free access to a large selection of food. Consequently, cultural competence is essential as part of a program intervention aimed at reducing the trend of childhood obesity in the community. Furthermore, some cultures tend to associate thin people to poverty and those who are heavy to wealthy. Therefore, it is essential to develop a public health campaign that will educate the target audience on the meaning of weight gain and the benefits of healthy eating habits. This also means thatculture and ethnicity have important impact on the choice and selection of foodindividuals of MDC make.
In my campaign for childhood obesity in MDC, I will use the Health Belief Model (HBM) because this model will allow me to conduct anassessment of individuals’ perception toward the public health issue of obesity among children. This theory will also help me as a practitioner to identify and predict the variables that interfere with people’sdecisionsto adopthealthy lifestyle behavior (Glanz, Rimer, & Viswanath, 2008). Additionally, the structure of HBM will help understand the elements that are needed to bettereducate individuals in order to provoke behavior change. With the important components of HBM, it will make it easier to select the appropriate health intervention that can influence a change in the life of individuals. These components target the individuals’ perception, modifying factors, and the type of actions needed to create the change. Meanwhile, a campaign in the fight against childhood obesity would not be successful without an active participation of parents. The theory of HBM provides a researcher the structure to assess the perceptions of parents in providing adequate nutrition to their children.With the foundations of this theory, there is an opportunity to make parents understand the susceptibility of their children becoming obese if they do not make healthy choices for their diet. In addition, HBM has the framework to guide researchers in demonstrating to parents and children that the benefits of changing behavior to healthy eating habits can outweigh the barriers they may encounter in maintaining healthy lifestyle, and therefore the necessity to make healthier choices.
A public health campaign to reduce the prevalence of childhood obesity in MDC requires the involvement of anyone who can make an impact in changing the life of our children. These include parents, schools, church, employers, community leaders, as well as legislators. Children are usually fed what is being cooked at home or offered in their environment. Consequently, some of the methods I will be using in the campaign include nutrition classes for different ethnic group, advocate for implementation of physical activities in the community agencies and workplace, and outreach services. Nutrition classes will be offered at the most frequented places like churches, community and agency health centers to educate individuals on healthy cooking. Physical activitieswill mostly target parents since children receive physical education at school.One of the strategiesin the advocacy for implementation of physical activities is to encourage employers to include physical activities in the benefits package offered to employees and facilitate a 15 to 20 minutes walking break per day. My objective is to demonstrate to employers that physical activities keep employees healthy, hence increase performance and productivity. The method of outreach services will be included because I believe that face-to-face encounters tend to create more impact among individuals rather than just reading materials about a health issue.
By implementing a public health campaign against childhood obesity in MDC, I intend to increase awareness among individuals and therefore promote health within their community. Although the campaign will be done in small segment of the population, and at the individual level, it can create significant impact in the population and therefore contribute to behavior change. When people are more aware of the factors that negatively affect their health to the extent of causing premature death, they are more motivated to make healthy decisions. Due to the cultural diversity and the high percentage of people with foreign ethnic background in the population of MDC, a reduction in the prevalence of childhood obesity will decrease disparities and also moving toward social change.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2010). Defining Overweight and Obesity. Retrieved March 20, 2012 from
Glanz, K., Rimer, B. K., & Viswanath, K. (Eds.). (2008). Health behavior and health education: Theory, research, and practice (4th ed.). San Francisco, CA: John Wiley & Sons.
Healthy People. Nutrition and Weight Status. Retrieved March 22, 2012 from
Ogden, C., Carroll, M. (2010). Prevalence of Obesity Among Children and Adolescents: United States, Trends 1963–1965 Through 2007–2008. Division of Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. Accessed through Google Scholar.
U.S. Census Bureau (2012). State and County Quick Facts: Miami Dade County, Florida. Retrieved March 22, 2012 from
Wofford, L. (2008). Systematic Review of ChildhoodObesity Prevention. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 23(1): 5-19.
World Health Organization (2011). Obesity and overweight. Accessed March 20, 2012 from