mellitus, mental health problems caused by social stigmas, and early mortality (Institute of Medicine, 2014, & CDC, 2018). In 2015, the American Heart Association explains the seriousness of the epidemic by stating, “Because of the increasing rates of obesity, unhealthy eating habits and physical inactivity, we may see the first generation that will be less healthy and have shorter life expectancy than their parents”. Though this number has decreased from one third to one sixth of the pediatric population being obese since 2014, childhood obesity continues to be a significant health concern, not just for personal health, but for the nation and its security. The continuation and progression of incidences of childhood obesity and its associated health complications are also contributing to a potential issue for America’s national security, due to children being physically unfit to fight for the country (Christeson, Taggart, & Messner-Zidell, 2010).
This paper is a literature review that is focused on the findings from twenty nursing research articles retrieved from the CINAHL database and supportive sites such as the Institute of Medicine, World Health Organization, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Originally, the author of this paper collected sixty-six sources of information, and narrowed the paper down to focusing on twenty main articles. There was no limitation on location from where the research originated from, but it was limited to nurses caring for school-aged children and was conducted within five years of the date the paper was written, in 2015. This paper is on the prevention of childhood obesity related to three main objectives: Identified the top ten communication barriers for school nurse teachers, effective educational practices, and nursing interventions that have proven to be effective. This paper identifies effective, evidence-based nursing interventions utilized by school nurse teachers in reducing childhood obesity at school. The paper aims to direct one or more solutions for each barrier identified within research. This review of literature demonstrates that school nurses can have a major impact in preventing obesity. The school nurse teacher is in an optimal position to give guidance and education to students, families and staff; for he/she is in contact with student’s and their health concerns every day of the school year.
Once data had been collected and information was placed into themes, a pamphlet was created that can be distributed to school nurses to be used as a resource for trying new methods in controlling the “obesogenic” environment found in their school system (Penn & Kerr, 2014). This pamphlet aims to meet the objectives of the paper introduced above. It will provide evidence of the ten major, identified barriers for the school nurse teacher in implementing an obesity prevention program as well as it lists the school nurse led interventions that have been shown to be effective within the articles. Of note, effectiveness of interventions varies by location. What has been proven effective in one state or school may not be effective in other states. The school nurse teacher must assess the needs of her students, identify the problems and barriers that are unique to her school system and utilize multiple interventions from the list provided to create an effective obesity prevention program within the school system, and minimize the rates of obesity for students that attend.
This project which includes a paper and pamphlet have been submitted to fulfill the requirements of a Rhode Island College School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Project in December 2015. Poster presentation in May 2016.