carol milliron, phd student walden university pubh-8165-2 environmental health dr. raymond thron

Carol Milliron, PhD StudentWalden University

PUBH-8165-2Environmental Health

Dr. Raymond Thron

Background of the problem Definition of affected population Prevalence Significance Prevention PTA’s Healthy Lifestyles Program Conclusion Sites of interest Questions?

Overweight definition◦ BMI greater than 85th percentile

Obesity definition◦ BMI greater than 95th percentile

Over past 30 years, frequency has tripled

Cannot blame genetics or environment alone

Leads to health complications

$125 million in hospital costs each year

Hughes, A. & Reilly, J. (2008). Disease management programs targeting obesity in children. Disease Management Health Outcomes, 16(4), 255-266. Retrieved from EBSCO Host Database on January 12, 2010.

Miller, J., Rosenbloom, A. & Silverstein, J. (2004). Childhood obesity. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 89(9), 4211-4218. Retrieved from EBSCO Host Database on January 12, 2010.

Rapid rise in many countries, particularly U.S., Canada and Australia

Affects children of all ages, both sexes, most ethnic groups, and all socioeconomicbackgrounds

African Americans and Hispanics have higher rates of obesity

Poor diet and limited opportunities for physical activity

Changes in environment a factor Genetic component is an issue


Miller, J., Rosenbloom, A. & Silverstein, J. (2004). Childhood obesity. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 89(9), 4211-4218. Retrieved from EBSCO Host Database on January 12, 2010

Prevalence is the “total number of cases existing in a defined population at a given time” (Schneider, 2006, p. 70).

From 1971 to 2004, the number of overweight children aged…◦ 2-5 years increased from 5% to 13.9%◦ 6-11 years increased from 4% to 18.8%◦ 12-19 years increased from 6.1% to 17.4%

Mexican American and African American experienced even greater increases than CaucasiansHughes, A. & Reilly, J. (2008). Disease management programs targeting obesity in children. Disease Management Health Outcomes, 16(4), 255-

266. Retrieved from EBSCO Host Database on January 12, 2010.

Schneider, M.J. (2006). Introduction to public health. (2nd ed.). Sudbury: Jones and Bartlett Publishers International.

Tchernis, R., Millimet, D., & Hussain, M. (2008, January). Center for applied economics and policy research. School nutrition programs and the incidence of childhood obesity. Retrieved from the World Wide Web on January 15, 2010 at http://www.iub.edu/~caepr/RePEc/PDR/2007/CAEPR2007-014.pdf

Problems facing overweight children include

◦ Obstructive sleep apnea, orthopedic problems, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases

◦ Asthma, abnormal lipid profiles, depression, low self esteem, low levels of athletic competence, body dissatisfaction

Problems that persist into adulthood include

Economic disadvantage, persistence of cardiovascular risk factors, greater morbidity and premature mortality

Holmes, T. (2008, Fall). Using reality therapy to influence health behaviors: Childhood obesity. International Journal of Reality Therapy, 28(1), 78-80. Retrieved from EBSCO Host Database on January 15, 2010.


May be victims of physical aggression, teasing, and exclusion from activities

Body dissatisfaction can lead to eating disorders

Rated lower quality of life (QOL) scores

Decreases health of nation as a whole

Costs the average taxpayer approximately $175 per year to finance medical costs

Finkelstein, E., Ruhm, C., Kosa, K. (2005). Economic causes and consequences of obesity. Annual Review of Public Health, 26:239-257. Retrieved from EBSCO Host Database on January 12, 2010.

Gibson, L., Byrne, S., Blair, E., Davis, E., Jacoby, P. & Zubrick, S. (2008). Clustering of psychosocial symptoms in overweight children . Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 42: 118-125. Retrieved from EBSCO Host Database on January 16, 2010.


Primary◦ Intervene to stop children from being overweight

in the first place Secondary

◦ Focus on existing obesity to prevent the worsening of the condition

Tertiary◦ Focuses on reduction of further complications

Caballero, B. (2004). Obesity prevention in children: Opportunities and challenges. International Journal of Obesity, 28: S9-S95. Retrieved from EBSCO Host Database on January 23, 2010. Cohen, L. & Chehimi, S. (2007). Beyond brochures: The imperative for primary prevention. In L. Cohen, V. Chavez, & S. Chehimi . Prevention is primary. Strategies for community well-being. San Francisco: John Wiley & Sons. Maffeis, C. & Tato, L. (2001). Long term effects of childhood obesity on morbidity and mortality. Hormone Research, 55, 42-45. Retrieved from EBSCO Host Database on January 19, 2010.

Steinbeck, K.S. (2001). The importance of physical activity in the prevention of overweight and obesity in childhood. A review and an opinion. The International Association for the Study of Obesity, 117-130. Retrieved from EBSCO Host Database on January 20, 2010. Story, M. (1999). School-based approaches for preventing and treating obesity. International Journal of Obesity, 23, S43-S51. Retrieved from EBSCO Host Database on September 25, 2009.

Primary Health Care (2009, May). Tackling childhood obesity. 19(4), 22-24. Retrieved from EBSCO Host Database on January 20, 2010.

Trends…◦ Children less active today than ever before◦ Only 22 percent of schools offer physical education on

a daily basis◦ Two-thirds of students in grades 9-12 do not get the

recommended amount of physical activity◦ More than one-third of high school students watch

more than three hours of television per day

Studies show…◦ Children who have daily physical education classes

have better attendance◦ Children who spend less time in other subjects to allow

for regular physical education classes do equally well or better in academic classes

PTA (2000-10). Programs: Healthy lifestyles. Retrieved from the World Wide Web on January 23, 2010 at www.pta.org/healthy_lifestyles.asp

Raise awareness of School Wellness Policy Schools required to implement wellness policies

that address student nutrition and physical activity issues

Policy must include◦ Nutritional education goals◦ Physical activity goals◦ Nutrition guidelines for all foods available on campus◦ Ways for parents, students, school administrators, the

school board, and the general public to get involved◦ Other school based programs to promote student

wellness◦ Plans for evaluating the policy


Nutrition◦ Recommended daily portions◦ Information on healthy snacks◦ Information on healthy beverages Exercise Information on exercise and setting realistic goals

Other information◦ Bike safety◦ Vaccinations


Childhood obesity is a problem that impacts the health of the nation

Parents, school administrators, teachers, and the PTA can all make a difference

Join the National PTA in promoting The Healthy Lifestyles Program

For further information on the National PTA Healthy Lifestyles Program visit www.pta.org/healthy_lifestyles.asp

Research Articles:◦ Li, J. & Hooker, N. (2010, February). Childhood obesity and schools: Evidence

from the national survey of children’s health. Journal of School Health, 80(2). Retrieved from EBSCO Host Database.

◦ Lytle, L. (2009, December). Examining the etiology of childhood obesity: The idea study. American Journal of Community Psychology, 44(3/4). Retrieved from EBSCO Host Database.

Websites of interest:◦ Walk or Ride to School – www.walktoschool.org◦ Action for Healthy Kids – www.ActionForHealhtyKids.org◦ National Association for Sport and Physical Education –

www.aahperd.org/naspe◦ The President’s Challenge for Physical Activity and Fitness Awards Program –

www.presidentschallenge.org◦ PTA Parents Resources – www.pta.org/parent_resources.html◦ National Alliance for Nutrition and Activity – www.schoolwellnesspolicies.org◦ U.S Department of Agriculture – www.teamnutrition.usda.gov◦ The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation – www.kff.org◦ Institute of Medicine of the National Academies – www.iom.edu◦ Center for Science in the Public Interest – www.cspinet.org/nutritionpolicy◦ MyPyramid – www.mypyramid.gov

Caballero, B. (2004). Obesity prevention in children: Opportunities and challenges. International Journal of Obesity, 28: S9-S95. Retrieved from EBSCO Host Database on January 23, 2010.

Cohen, L. & Chehimi, S. (2007). Beyond brochures: The imperative for primary prevention. In L. Cohen, V. Chavez, & S. Chehimi. Prevention is primary. Strategies for community well-being. San Francisco: John Wiley & Sons.

Finkelstein, E., Ruhm, C., Kosa, K. (2005). Economic causes and consequences of obesity. Annual Review of Public Health, 26:239-257. Retrieved from EBSCO Host Database on January 12, 2010.

Gibson, L., Byrne, S., Blair, E., Davis, E., Jacoby, P. & Zubrick, S. (2008). Clustering of psychosocial symptoms in overweight children. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 42: 118-125. Retrieved from EBSCO Host Database on January 16, 2010.



Maffeis, C. & Tato, L. (2001). Long term effects of childhood obesity on morbidity and mortality. Hormone Research, 55, 42-45. Retrieved from EBSCO Host Database on January 19, 2010.


Primary Health Care (2009, May). Tackling childhood obesity. 19(4), 22-24. Retrieved from EBSCO Host Database on January 20, 2010.


Schneider, M.J. (2006). Introduction to public health. (2nd ed.). Sudbury: Jones and Bartlett Publishers International.

Steinbeck, K.S. (2001). The importance of physical activity in the prevention of overweight and obesity in childhood. A review and an opinion. The International Association for the Study of Obesity, 117-130. Retrieved from EBSCO Host Database on January 20, 2010.

Story, M. (1999). School-based approaches for preventing and treating obesity. International Journal of Obesity, 23, S43-S51. Retrieved from EBSCO Host Database on September 25, 2009.

Tchernis, R., Millimet, D., & Hussain, M. (2008, January). Center for applied economics and policy research. School nutrition programs and the incidence of childhood obesity. Retrieved from the World Wide Web on January 15, 2010 at http://www.iub.edu/~caepr/RePEc/PDR/2007/CAEPR2007-014.pdf

carol milliron, phd student walden university pubh-8165-2 environmental health dr. raymond thron

Documents

ebsco host database

obesity prevention

existing obesity

consequences of obesity

incidence of childhood

health behaviors

health complications

environmental health