Week 2 discussion forum 2
Throughout this program, most assignments have focused on the adult population. Since children and adolescents are also greatly impacted by chronic diseases, let’s take some time to shift our attention toward this group.
- Collect statistical data from three different scholarly sources (published within the past five years) pertaining to at least two chronic diseases directly impacted by poor diet and physical activity in children and adolescents.
- Assess how these chronic diseases impact the health and wellness of this group.
- Explain the lifestyle factors that contribute to the chronic diseases you researched.
- Based on your findings and the chronic diseases you researched, which two areas (i.e. physical activity, exercise, nutrition, playtime/social engagement, sleep, stress management), should be focused on primarily when designing a wellness program for this group? Please create three specific recommendations.
- Assess the importance of role modeling and issues you may want to discuss with the parents or caregivers. Support your response to this bullet with one scholarly source.
Use at least three scholarly sources to support your research and findings. The Scholarly, Peer Reviewed, and Other Credible Sources table offers additional guidance on appropriate source types. If you have questions about whether a specific source is appropriate for this assignment, please contact your instructor. Your instructor has the final say about the appropriateness of a specific source for a particular assignment.
All sources must be referenced and cited according to APA guidelines, as outlined in the Writing Center. Your initial post should be at least 300 words in length.
Guided Response: Respond to at least two classmates by Day 7. Compare and contrast your chronic disease data and rationale for the action plan to the findings and recommendations of your peers. Based on the intervention plan recommendations made by your peers, what are your predictions regarding the demand for wellness providers serving children and adolescents?
Replies
Matthew Gaunt
Sep 10, 2021 at 5:07 PM
Statistical data of chronic diseases directly impacted by poor diet and physical activity in children and adolescents include globally in 2020, 149 million children under 5 were estimated to be too short for their age and 38.9 million children were overweight or obese (Martin-Hadmaș et al., 2021). This statistical data is corelated to children impacted by poor diet and physical activity. Around 45% of deaths among children under 5 years of age are linked to undernutrition (Martin-Hadmaș et al., 2021). Diseases from poor diet and sedentary lifestyle in children include heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and some cancers.
These chronic diseases impact the health and wellness of this group by leading to micronutrient deficiencies from a lack of important vitamins and minerals that a well-balanced healthy diet can provide. Heart disease and stroke can occur due to high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol from a poor diet and lack of physical activity (Embark Omar, 2021). Consuming too much sodium can increase blood pressure and the risk for heart disease and stroke. A lot of sodium that children eat comes from packaged and processed foods. Children that are overweight are at increased risk of type 2 diabetes compared to those at a normal weight because, over time, their bodies become less able to use the insulin they make (Lawrence et al., 2021). An unhealthy diet can also increase the risk of some cancers. Obesity in children is associated with at least 13 types of cancer and these cancers make up 40% of all cancers diagnosed (Rohan et al., 2018).
The lifestyle factors that contribute to these chronic diseases include children consuming sweetened beverages and junk food. Processed foods are often dense in fat, sugar, and salt, which contribute to obesity when consumed in large quantity. Fast food restaurants serve foods that are convenient and affordable for busy families but contain higher calories, less nutrition, and larger portions then what is a proper serving size for children.
Based on my findings and the chronic diseases I researched, the two areas that should be focused on primarily when designing a wellness program for this group is exercise and nutrition. One specific recommendation for children is starting your day off with a healthy breakfast meal that can help replenish your blood sugar, which your body needs to power your muscles and brain. Instead of eating a carbohydrate source breakfast, try instead eating a fiver and protein rich breakfast. For lunch and dinner, another recommendation is to choose lean proteins and healthy fats. Stay away from trans fats and high glycemic index carbohydrates. Finally, the third recommendation is for exercise. It is important for children to get their physical activity in. Potentially an after-school sports program that is high in cardio would be a healthy and fun choice for children.
Having strong role models that are health literate is important to set a standard on a healthy routine that children can adopt at a young age. That way through practice and repetition at a young age, it can become muscle memory to children as they grow older. Having a role model early in life to set a healthy example allows children to make healthy diet and physical activity choices as they grow older (Song et al., 2016). Choosing the right foods based on nutrition and not just flavor is something important that a health care provider would want to discuss with the parents or caregivers.
References
Embark Omar, A. A., Abouelnaga, A. M., Abd El Latef, A. M., & Abdelhalim Sharaf, S. M. (2021). Measurement of Serum Lipid Level in Children with Congenital Heart Diseases. Egyptian Journal of Hospital Medicine, 84(1), 2203–2207. https://doi-org.proxy-library.ashford.edu/10.21608…
Lawrence, J. M., Divers, J., Isom, S., Saydah, S., Imperatore, G., Pihoker, C., Marcovina, S. M., Mayer-Davis, E. J., Hamman, R. F., Dolan, L., Dabelea, D., Pettitt, D. J., & Liese, A. D. (2021). Trends in Prevalence of Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes in Children and Adolescents in the US, 2001-2017. JAMA: Journal of the American Medical Association, 326(8), 717–727. https://doi-org.proxy-library.ashford.edu/10.1001/…
Martin-Hadmaș, R. M., Martin, Ștefan A., Romonți, A., & Oana, M. (2021). Dietary aspects related to height growth rate and the risk of malnutrition in children. Palestrica of the Third Millennium Civilization & Sport, 22(1), 4–8. https://doi-org.proxy-library.ashford.edu/10.26659…
Rohan, E. A., Miller, N., Bonner, F., Fultz-Butts, K., Pratt-Chapman, M. L., Alfano, C. M., Santiago, K. C., Bergman, K., Tai, E., & Bonner, F., 3rd. (2018). Comprehensive cancer control: promoting survivor health and wellness. Cancer Causes & Control, 29(12), 1277–1285.
Song, W. O., SuJin Song, Nieves, V., Gonzalez, A., Crockett, E. T., & Song, S. (2016). Nutritional health attitudes and behaviors and their associations with the risk of overweight/obesity among child care providers in Michigan Migrant and Seasonal Head Start centers. BMC Public Health, 16(1), 1–11. https://doi-org.proxy-library.ashford.edu/10.1186/…
Tonilyn Wenstrom
Sep 14, 2021 at 1:42 PM
Collect statistical data from three different scholarly sources (published within the past five years) pertaining to at least two chronic diseases directly impacted by poor diet and physical activity in children and adolescents.
The two chronic diseases that directly impact poor diet and physical activity in children and adolescents are Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes.
Three statistical data points pertaining to Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes
1. Obesity prevalence was 13.4% among 2- to 5-year-olds, 20.3% among 6- to 11-year-olds, and 21.2% among 12- to 19-year-olds. (CDC, 2021)
2. Thirty-nine million children under the age of 5 were overweight or obese in 2020. (WHO, 2021)
3. New diagnosed cases of type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes have significantly increased among US youth based on analyzed health data through 2018 (CDC, 2020)
Assess how these chronic diseases impact the health and wellness of this group.
1. Obesity can impact the health and wellness of children and adolescents by several possible complications that can include the development of type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, joint pain, breathing issues, and fatty liver disease. (Mayo Clinic, 2018)
2. Type 2 Diabetes can impact the health and wellness of children and adolescents by affecting nearly all major organs of the body. Long-term complications for the onset of type 2 diabetes include high blood pressure, heart and blood vessel disease, blindness, and amputation. (Mayo Clinic, 2017)
Explain the lifestyle factors that contribute to the chronic diseases you researched.
Lifestyle factors that contribute to Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes include a lack of exercise or inactivity, diet, psychological and socioeconomic factors. (Mayo Clinic, 2018)
Based on your findings and the chronic diseases you researched, which two areas (i.e. physical activity, exercise, nutrition, playtime/social engagement, sleep, stress management), should be focused on primarily when designing a wellness program for this group? Please create three specific recommendations.
Based on the research on Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes, the two areas of focus should be physical activity and nutrition. Three specific recommendations would include:
1. Signing up the child for a sport of physical activity to do with peers; this will allow for movement of the body but also some social interaction
2. Change drinks to be primarily water instead of sugary alternatives like soda
3. Decrease fast food to once or twice a week and focus on preprepared meals at home for ease
Assess the importance of role modeling and issues you may want to discuss with the parents or caregivers. Support your response to this bullet with one scholarly source.
Role models are essential in helping shape children and adolescents, with the most important ones being the parents and caregivers. Children and adolescents try and copy and mimic the individuals they admire or look up to shape how they behave and make decisions. (The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 2019) To minimize the chances of Obesity and the onset of Type 2 Diabetes, parents and caregivers must lead by example. Encouraging movement by getting out of the house and doing physical activity as a family is an excellent way for parents and caregivers to be positive role models. For nutrition, making changes is much easier when the family changes; introducing healthy meals and drinks for everyone and eating them is another excellent way for parents and caregivers to lead by example.
References:
CDC. (2020). National Diabetes Statistics Report, 2020. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/library/features/diab…
CDC. (2021). Childhood Obesity Facts. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/childhood.html
Mayo Clinic. (2018). Childhood obesity – Symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chi…
Mayo Clinic. (2017). Type 2 diabetes in children – Symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/typ…
WHO. (2021, June 9). Obesity and overweight. World Health Organization; World Health Organization: WHO. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/o…
