PLEASE RESPOND TO SHANNON’S POST BELOW. PLEASE NOTE THAT PEER RESPONSE MUST BE SUBSTANTIVE AND NATURE. SUBSTANTIVE RESPONSES POSE NEW IDEAS, ASK QUESTIONS, AND OR ADD TO THE DISCUSSION IN A MEANINGFUL WAY. THANK YOU
SHANNON: Childhood obesity is a nationwide problem. The most current information shows the average childhood obesity rate for middle to high school age children in New York State is 35.8 %, whereas in Jefferson County the rate is 42.4 % (NYSDOH, 2019). It is concerning that a mostly rural community with endless opportunities for outside activities would have a higher incidence of obesity in children than the rest of the state, combined. Socioeconomics plays an integral role in childrens health. For these children, low self-esteem and depression are likely but, other concerning issues such as metabolic syndrome, diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension, asthma and sleep disorders are possible (Mayo Clinic, 2018). The Centers for Disease control indicated rates of obesity in middle school aged children inversely increases as the socio-economic status of children decreases (2019). The availability of healthy food choices is limited in many households since budgets need to stretch. Additionally, buying raw, more healthy fruits and vegetables is not always possible, as they do not last as long as the frozen or canned versions.
An option to households could be to grow their own vegetables and learn to incorporate these foods into their diets, in place of processed, lower value choice items. A way to increase community involvement and to serve as an educational opportunity for children is to implement a community garden. Supplies for these gardens could be donated by the community or local greenhouses or farm supply stores. If a small-scale plan is desired, container gardening could be an option or if a larger scale plan is possible, tax incentives could be provided for landowners who wish to donate a community garden space. Volunteers or retired individuals can be asked to serve as directors or mentors for children who choose to participate. Directors of these programs could also teach meal planning for the harvest, as well as preserving techniques to maintain freshness beyond harvesting.
Through implementation of this plan, children can be taught planning and goal setting while gaining a sense of pride and accomplishment. These attributes are lessons that can be carried beyond childhood. Further, by giving kids the power to choose what to grow, they would be more invested in the process and would be more likely to try fruit or vegetable varieties they may not have, had they not been involved in the growing process.
I would use the stage sequential model to develop my current health issue plan. Through our reading, it was noted this method is congruent to the nursing process (CCON, 2019). I chose this model because I appreciate the fluidity and the ability to adjust during implementation for best possible outcomes. It reminds me of the Plan, Do, Study and Act (PDSA) methodology for process improvement projects.
References
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. (June 24, 2019). Prevalence of childhood obesity in the united states. In Childhood Obesity Facts. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/childhood.html (Links to an external site.)
Chamberlain College of Nursing. (2019). Week two: Policy development and analysis. In Modules. NR506-61356. Retrieved from https://chamberlain.instructure.com/courses/72600/pages/week-2-policy-development-and-analysis?module_item_id=10001945#nav-sec-0-link
Mayo Clinic. (December 5, 2018). Childhood obesity. In Patient Care & Health Information. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/childhood-obesity/symptoms-causes/syc-20354827 (Links to an external site.)
New York State Department of Health. (April, 2019). New york state health indicator reports. Retrieved from https://webbi1.health.ny.gov/SASStoredProcess/guest?_program=%2FEBI%2FPHIG%2Fapps%2Fchir_dashboard%2Fchir_dashboard&p=ctr&ind_id=Jg71&cos=22
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