Childhoood obesity
...ess to influence community involvement nurse can help decrease obesity in children. As nurses we have a duty to help the public understand that obesity is predominately a social environmental disease, encourage the promotion of healthy lifestyle patterns. Literature Review The national incidence of pediatric obesity has reached epidemic proportions, during the last two decades; the prevalence of overweight children has increased by approximately 50% (Barlow & Dietz, 1998). This literature review was conducted to show a relationship exists between psychosocial, lifestyle factors and sedentary behaviors may lead to overweight children. These studies used a multidisciplinary team including nursing, physical therapists, and dietitians. A study by (Sherman, Alexander, Gomez, Kim, & Marole, 1992) evaluated the data already obtained and implement and evaluate an intervention program for obese school children. The information obtained prior included family structure, birth order, obesity of parents, and low economic status were the variables related to the prevalence of obesity. A convenience sample included 26 children, in the fourth to sixth grades, completed a nine week program. The outcome of this study was significant for self–esteem with other outcomes affected small sample size. Longitudinal study by (Frenn & Malin, 2003); examined an low fat diet, physical activity, and low to middle income culturally diverse adolescents using a synthesis of health promotion and transtheoretical models. They proposed to identify antecedents of a diet lower in fat and to examine relationships between physical activity variables. This study compared and contrasted the difference between public and private schools in the area. The finding warranted additional studies. A cross-sectional study by (Copperman & Jacobson, 2004) identified that parental involvement is an integral component of pediatric weight management. Copperman discusses that problem recognition must be recognized to further identify the concern is valid then to further explore the intention to change, and then explore the optimism for the change to occur. A range of determinants has been postulated as contributing to the global childhood obesity as nurses we all have heard what factors contributed. A descriptive study by (Southall, Okely, & Steele, 2004) compared actual and perceived physical competence of overweight and non-overweight children. Studies have shown that one reason children choose not to be physically active is that they lack the actual or perceived physical competence required to participate in many activities (Southall et al.). The purpose of a study by (Frenn et al., 2003) was to examine, improvement the Healthy People 2010 objectives for a low fat diet, moderate and vigorous physical activity. The research questions were based upon cultural diversity, income, sex, or school attended. All the literature reviewed agrees that improvement in weight loss, self-esteem, proper nutrition, parent involvement can improve with multi-disciplinary team involvement. Several studies that included parent involvement with active participation indicated increased success with positive outcomes. Methods The data collected from these studies varied from 1992 to 2004. The grades for these students in the reviewed literature were forth to eighth. Cultural diversity, diet, psychosocial and income were factors in the reviewed studies. The study by (Sherman et al., 1992) used a pretest and post-test was utilized. Data collected was related to weight status, self-esteem and nutritional knowledge. Self-esteem questionnaire was completed as well physical exercise with education and quiz as to diet knowledge. Two different studies by Marilyn Frenn explored nutritional, exercise, income level with several different schools as another factor. Study by Frenn et al. used quasi-experimental design with assignment to group by classroom with intervention in computer lab and gym. Total sample included 341 children with cultural diversity. The analysis included factors reflecting goals for Healthy People 2010. Another study (Southall et al., 2004) split the between children into groups overweight and non-overweight. Participants were lopsided by 109 non-overweight and 33 overweight with total of 142 children from five random schools in England. The study did have permission from parents for students to participate. The students were anthropometric measured with self-perception profile test completed. This study used ancova with independent-samples t test for comparison between both groups. Results The results of the study conducted by Southall et al. (2004) overweight children were significantly heavier and younger with p value significant at .001 than their lean counterparts. The results further showed that physical competence can occur but fundamental movements must be developed by instruction by coaches, physical therapy, and parents with peers being of assistance. Sherman et al. (1992) study used interventions available to conduct a research study improve outcomes for obese students. This study did improve significantly for self-esteem, but no conclusions drawn on weight status and nutritional knowledge. The two studies by Frenn et al. (2003) addressing middle school nutritional and exercise outcomes were favorable. They implemented this study to improve low fat diets, moderate and vigorous physical activity as part of the standards for Healthy People 2010 objectives. This study did prove that culturally diverse groups were significant in decreasing their intake of fat and exercise. The boys in racial category were more significant then all four groups over all. The limitation of this study was 20% missing data with more girls than boy...