Browsing by Subject "childhood obesity"
Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
Results Per Page
Sort Options
Item African American Fathers? Perceptions of Childhood Overweight: An Exploratory Study(2012-02-14) Byrd, VanessaChildhood overweight/obesity (CHO) is a serious health concern for children and adolescents. Despite increased efforts to prevent CHO, prevalence rates have actually increased. Evidence suggests that parents are critical to successful interventions to reduce CHO among children. While research efforts aimed at parental inclusion have increased, limited research has been conducted to investigate fathers? perception of CHO, or their influences on their children?s health. The objective of this two-phase study was to answer three research questions: a) How does the extant literature operationalize African American parental perceptions of childhood overweight/obesity? b) What are African American fathers? perceptions of CHO? and c) How do African American fathers perceive CHO in relation to their own child?s weight status? Evidence-based studies reveal that fathers have the potential to play a significant role in CHO prevention. Phase one (literature review) revealed that published studies on parental perception of CHO either exclude fathers, include them only in data collection, and/or report no results specific to paternal perception. Thus, an exploratory qualitative study was needed to explore African American fathers? perceptions of CHO. In phase two (qualitative study), four fathers were interviewed about their perceptions of CHO and how they contextualize this problem. The results indicated fathers believe that weight categories are racially & culturally insensitive and do not account for individual health status or differences in body/bone structure, and that parents with overweight children are financially disadvantaged, irresponsible and overworked. Fathers also indicated that colloquial terms (e.g., chunky, husky, big-boned, thick) were commonly substituted medical definitions for overweight and that child/teen sports participation was motivated by health, as well as non-health related benefits (e.g., competitiveness, educational scholarships). Further, fathers? identification of CHO is subjective and includes visual means and parental assessment of health status (e.g., child mobility/activity levels). Implications of this study are that additional studies are needed to clarify fathers? roles in CHO and that future studies should consider complex familial structures, as well as reframe prevention efforts to focus on optimal child health as opposed to weight labeling and focusing on parents? accuracy in identifying weight categories.Item Child and adolescent obesity: A review of community-based approaches to a growing problem(2007-12-01) Katrina Darlene Hall; Laura Rudkin, PhD; M. Kristen Peek, PhD; Elizabeth Reifsnider, PhDThe prevalence of overweight/obesity among adults and children in our society has increased to levels which render it a public health priority. These conditions are known to be causal factors in the onset of many chronic diseases in adulthood, but are now affecting the youth population as well. Though genetics are partially responsible, the increase in prevalence of obesity is more likely due to dietary factors and sedentary behavioral practices.\r\n The purpose of this project is to identify community based programs within the United States and conduct a preliminary assessment of their effectiveness using existing health promotion guidelines. I will identify community approaches that have been initiated and present preliminary self-reported data as to their effectiveness in recruitment, overall results, and compliance with guidelines as outlined by the Human Health Services Department for community based programs. The results of this project should be helpful in the establishment of additional community based programs and possibly provide policy makers with information that will facilitate the creation of more effective programs. The specific aims are as follows:\r\n• Conduct a literature search to identify the established nutritional and physical fitness guidelines that address child or adolescent obesity.\r\n• Conduct a literature search of community based programs from 1990-2006 that used physical activity as a component to reduce or prevent childhood or adolescent obesity. \r\n• Use published review articles to identify the most effective programs that target either prevention of childhood / adolescent obesity or reduction of childhood / adolescent obesity and comment on their use of established guidelines.\r\n\r\n This work identified a number of interventions that targeted both adults and youth. Most studies reported some measure of success, but lacked any definitive replicable results due to design limitations and lack of long-term follow-up. Societal methods to successfully address the issue will require multi-faceted efforts of individuals, families, and institutions at the local, state and national levels.\r\nItem Clarifying the Relationships between Rural Parenting Practices and Child Sedentary Behaviors(2013-04-29) Gabriel, Myra GayleChildhood obesity is a growing problem in the United States. Though a great body of research has focused on this area, little is still known about the factors that influence this phenomenon in rural settings. Sedentary behavior and parenting factors are just two factors that influence this trend toward obesity. However, even less is known about how the intersection of parenting influences affects child sedentary behaviors in rural communities. This study examines the relationship between parenting factors and child sedentary behaviors within the context of rurality. This study was completed in two parts. Part one consisted of a comprehensive review of the literature that provided background on the current practices and set the stage for the statistical analysis that followed. Part two included the statistical analysis, which focused on examining the relationships between parents? TV and behavior rules, and child?s sedentary activity behaviors. Pearson correlation and Spearman?s rank were used to assess whether relationships existed between variables. Correlations between weekday and weekend activity and gender were not found to be significant. Also, relationships between rule enforcement and activity were not found to be significant. This study found a glaring gap in the literature that examines how parenting factors influence child sedentary behaviors in rural settings. Also, the statistical analysis revealed that parental rules have no associations with child sedentary activity, despite medium rates of enforcement.Item Mexican American Mothers' Perceptions of Childhood Obesity and Their Role in Prevention(2011-02-22) Sosa, Erica T.The childhood obesity epidemic continues to escalate, disproportionately impacting Mexican American children. It is unclear how Mexican American mothers, who are at high-risk of rearing obese children, perceive childhood obesity, prevention or their role in prevention. Three studies - a systematic literature review, a qualitative study focusing on Mexican American mothers' perceptions of childhood obesity, and a qualitative study examining Mexican American mothers' perceptions regarding childhood obesity prevention and their role in prevention - were used to address this research question. The first study is a systematic review of the literature regarding Mexican American mothers' perceptions of childhood obesity and their role in prevention. Four databases were searched for relevant articles and 22 studies met inclusion criteria and were included in the review. Social Cognitive Theory was used to sort similar findings across studies and identify scarce areas researched. Major findings included: (a) mothers felt inadequate to be role models for their children's healthy behaviors, (b) mothers did not identify short-term consequences of childhood obesity, (c) only 23% of studies explicitly used a theoretical framework to guide their study, and (d) most studies used heterogeneous groups (including all caretakers, including all Hispanics/Latinos) to discuss perceptions. The second study used naturalistic inquiry to examine mothers' perceptions regarding childhood obesity, its causes and its consequences. Using a Social Ecological Model adapted to childhood obesity, the study examined causes of childhood obesity at different levels of influence - intrapersonal, interpersonal, and community. Obesity was identified as an adult issue by the mothers. Mothers were more aware of the health risks associated with having underweight children rather than overweight children. Lastly, mothers identified overweight children as those who are suffering from consequences. The third study used a narrative inquiry approach to qualitatively investigate mothers' perceptions. Mothers suggested several ways parents could prevent childhood obesity and overweight among their children. However, fathers, grandparents and schools could unintentionally counter mothers' efforts to encourage healthful behaviors. Mothers identified a lack of ability to speak English, feelings of guilt associated with limiting food intake, and a lack of knowledge and skills as impediments in carrying out obesity preventive behaviors within the home.Item Survey of obesity-related programs in Galveston County Public Schools: A pilot study(2008-04-21) Jon R Gray; Laura Rudkin, PhD; Elizabeth Reifsnider, PhD; Dana Beckham, DVMChildhood and adolescent obesity has developed into a major public health concern in the United States. The overweight and obesity rates of our children continue to rise and have been increasing dramatically for over 40 years. The rising health concerns coupled with alarming increases in health care expenditures related to obesity has caused the government to take action. The goal of this Capstone is twofold: The first is to determine what the minimal requirements for public school programs related to obesity are as set by Texas State Law. The second is to explicate what the select population of Galveston County schools of interest is actually doing. Programs that will be included are those related to physical activity, physical and health education and nutrition. By identifying and cataloging current program use and implementation as well as examining laws and their execution in the population of interest, determinations can be made regarding efficacy of these statutes and programs as they pertain to obesity in school-aged children.