2,039 research outputs found

    An Investigation of Factors Affecting Elementary School Students’ BMI Values Based on the System Dynamics Modeling

    Get PDF
    This study used system dynamics method to investigate the factors affecting elementary school students’ BMI values. The construction of the dynamic model is divided into the qualitative causal loop and the quantitative system dynamics modeling. According to the system dynamics modeling, this study consisted of research on the four dimensions: student’s personal life style, diet-relevant parenting behaviors, advocacy and implementation of school nutrition education, and students’ peer interaction. The results of this study showed that students with more adequate health concepts usually have better eating behaviors and consequently have less chance of becoming obese. In addition, this study also verified that educational attainment and socioeconomic status of parents have a positive correlation with students’ amounts of physical activity, and nutrition education has a prominent influence on changing students’ high-calorie diets

    Ecological Influences on Weight Status in Urban African-American Adolescent Females: A Structural Equation Analysis

    Get PDF
    The present study employed a quantitative, non-experimental, multivariate correlational research design to test a hypothesized model examining associative paths of influence between ecological factors and weight status of urban, African-American adolescent females. Anthropometric and self-report survey data of 182 urban, African- American adolescent females were collected during after-school programs, health and physical education classes, and community events in an urban area in northeast Florida. Descriptive analyses were conducted to characterize the study participants based upon their age, study setting, and weight status. A scale reliability analysis was conducted to assess the internal consistency reliability of the sample data using selected measures within the context of the study’s specific population and subsequently guided the structural equation model (SEM) analyses. The SEM path analysis was used to develop two measurement models to control for observed error variance for variables demonstrating poor internal consistency reliability (diet behaviors and nutrition selfefficacy) and a final structural model to test the associative paths of influence between latent (diet behaviors and nutrition self-efficacy) and manifest variables (teacher social support and friend social support) on weight status. The results of the path analysis indicated that both teacher social support and friend social support demonstrated a positive, indirect influence on child weight status through nutrition self-efficacy and diet behaviors following two different and specific paths of influence. Diet behaviors, in turn, demonstrated a positive, direct effect on child weight status. These findings provide clear implications for educational leaders that call for the integration of health behavior change theory into traditional education and leadership practice and actively addressing the childhood obesity epidemic in the school environment by implementing health behavior change strategies at various ecological environmental levels

    A Multi-Level Investigation of Factors Predicting the Health of Adolescents Attending a Faith-Based School System in Australia

    Get PDF
    Adolescent health is a major worldwide concern and is central to a number of current global health challenges. There is growing awareness that the factors influencing adolescent health are multi-dimensional and encompass a broad network of interrelated determinants. Although studies have explored the influence of selected determinants on adolescent health, few have explored the relative importance of the various determinants and the relationships that exist between them. Using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM), this thesis empirically investigates the complex network of factors that concomitantly predict health behaviours and health outcomes in adolescents. The thesis centres on data collected from a comprehensive health and lifestyle survey administered to 1734 adolescents (mean age = 14.5 ± 1.6 years; 54% males) attending 21 Seventh-day Adventist (Adventist) schools in Australia. The research findings are presented as a coherent series of five studies for publication in peer reviewed journals. Study 1 focused on the self-rated health (SRH) status of the adolescents and investigated the association of a multitude of determinants including personal demographics; background factors such as childhood family dynamics (CFD) and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs); and selected health behaviours and health measures. The findings of Study 1 confirmed the complex relationship between these determinants and highlighted their respective relationships. Particularly noteworthy in this study was the relative high degree of association of mental health, body mass index (BMI) and ACEs on SRH. The findings from Study 1 formed the basis for Studies 2 to 5 which more extensively explored particular aspects of the model developed in Study 1. Extending upon the observation in Study 1 of the significant influence of mental health status on the SRH of the adolescents, Study 2 examined the predictors of mental health in greater detail. The model developed in Study 2 through SEM analyses revealed that CFD was the strongest predictor of the adolescents’ mental health status, followed by having a sense of meaning and purpose, perceived social rejection and school academic performance. Multi-group analysis for gender found significant differences. The mental health of males was more greatly affected by physical activity, whereas the mental health of females was more greatly affected by sleep duration. Another significant finding of Study 1 was the influence of BMI, a measure of overweight and obesity, on SRH and this formed the focus of Study 3. Compared to national norms, lower rates of overweight and obesity but higher rates of underweight were observed in the study, which was explained by the unique characteristics of the school system the study cohort was drawn from. BMI was lower among the young members of the cohort, as well as those who more regularly ate breakfast, consumed less soft drink and had a regular exercise program. In Study 1, alcohol consumption was not significantly associated with self-rated health; however, a low rate of alcohol consumption was observed among the study cohort. Study 4, therefore, aimed to better understand the factors influencing alcohol consumption among this unique cohort. The findings of Study 4 indicated that adolescents’ intentions to consume alcohol were the greatest predictor of alcohol consumption. Consistent with the Theory of Reasoned Action, intentions to consume alcohol was influenced by their attitudes towards alcohol consumption and subjective norms surrounding alcohol consumption. Finally, Study 5 focused on the unique faith-based aspect of the cohort to ascertain the influence of religious affiliation on the various health behaviours and health outcomes examined in Studies 1–4. The study found that adolescents who identified themselves as Adventist (57% of the total cohort) reported significantly better health behaviours than the other Christian and non-religious adolescents. This was especially significant among older adolescents (16–18 years). However, these better health behaviours did not translate to improved health status. The findings from this thesis provide for the first time, a comprehensive picture of the complex network of factors associated with the health outcomes of adolescents attending Adventist schools in Australia. The findings support the need for age and gender appropriate multi-component interventions and prevention initiatives to promote positive health outcomes in adolescents, with an emphasis on prioritising not only modifiable health behaviours but upstream factors such as CFD and ACEs

    Educational Stakeholders\u27 Perspectives on School-Based Obesity Prevention Programs

    Get PDF
    Childhood obesity is a worldwide problem that can lead to adverse health conditions. In several rural Pennsylvania communities, over one third of elementary students are characterized as overweight, having a body mass index above the 85th percentile. The purpose of the study was to investigate educational stakeholders\u27 perspectives about school-based obesity-prevention programs. The conceptual framework focused on cognitive theory, the theory of planned behavior, and the trans-theoretical model of health behavior change, which postulates that an individual\u27s readiness to change is the most important factor of intervention programs. Qualitative interview data were gathered from 18 educational stakeholders. Inductive code-based analysis led to categories and themes. Key findings revealed a variety of barriers that limited and prevented effective student-wellness initiatives: students\u27 physical activity; family dynamics, schedules, and socioeconomic factors; lack of transportation limiting children\u27s participation in physical activities; parental engagement and input on obesity-prevention initiatives; and cafeteria environment and meal offerings. Findings informed the development of a policy recommendation for a research-based nutrition education program for schools and a strategy to communicate students\u27 cafeteria habits to parents. Recommendations include a heightened awareness on factors contributing to obesity, as well as better educator-led planning to make improvements to school-based programs. Implications for positive social change may be the potential to increase awareness of healthy behaviors and improved student health through obesity-prevention methods, exercise patterns, and dietary habits of youth. These healthy habits may reduce adverse health effects in adulthood, which could hold the potential to improve the health of the next generation

    Evaluation of the effectiveness of a body mass index-for-age percentile health report in raising parent awareness of their child\u27s weight status

    Get PDF
    Overweight in children has become a major health concern. Research suggests that many parents may not be aware of their child’s actual weight status. The objectives of this study were to test the effectiveness of a body mass index (BMI)-for–age percentile report in raising parent awareness of their child’s weight status. Eighteen public elementary schools in southeast Louisiana were pair matched and divided into nine intervention and nine control schools. Children in the intervention and the control schools were divided into two groups 1) healthy weight (BMI ≥ 5th to \u3c85th percentile) and 2) at risk and overweight (BMI ≥ 85th percentile). Forty children were randomly selected from each of the two weight groups from the intervention and the control schools. Parents of children in the intervention group received a BMI-for-age percentile health report along with a short questionnaire. Parents of children in control schools received the questionnaire only. Parents in the intervention group have 4.7 times more accurate perception about their child’s weight compared to the control group (OR: 4.7, 95% of CI: 0.89-24.86, p=0.00 ). After receiving the report, more parents of at risk or overweight children were concerned and only fewer parents of healthy weight children were anxious about their child’ weight. When parents were compared based on their child’s weight regardless whether they got the report, parents of at risk or overweight children were more than five times less likely to perceive the correct weight classification of their child (OR: 1.8, 95% of CI: 0.05-0.62, p=0.00) and less concerned about their child’s weight (OR: 0.98, 95% of CI: 0.32-2.93, p=0.00) when compared to parents of healthy weight children. All parents were willing to help their child follow healthy behaviors regard less of the report and their child’s weight status. A BMI-for-age percentile report appears to be an effective way to increase parent awareness and concern regarding their child’s weight status. With increased awareness, parents may be more likely to encourage their children to achieve a healthy weight

    The Role of Parental Employment in Childhood Obesity

    Get PDF
    Childhood obesity is a major public health concern, as it has been shown to lead to increased health care costs, reduced quality of life and significant morbidity and mortality. Childhood obesity has been linked to numerous environmental, genetic, and behavioral risk factors. Maternal employment has been shown to exert considerable influence on childhood obesity, however little is known about the role of paternal behaviors in children's overweight and obesity. The current study addresses this important knowledge gap by examining the joint impact of parental influences on children's overweight and obesity as measured by body mass index (BMI). The Child Development Supplement (CDS) of the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) was used to explore the potential pathways by which maternal and paternal behaviors impact children's health. In particular, this study investigated whether father involvement as measured by paternal weekly work hours plays a significant role in the onset of childhood obesity, while taking into account the influence of maternal weekly work hours on child weight. This study found a significant relationship between maternal employment and child BMI, but found that paternal employment plays a significant role as well. The relative importance of parents' work hours on child body mass outcomes varied with child age, younger children being more affected by maternal work hours and older children impacted more by paternal work hours. This investigation revealed that parental work hours may impact both the quantity and quality of time spent with one's child. Shared parent-child activities found to have an impact on childhood obesity included yard work, laundry, shopping, building or repair work, food preparation, talking and reading. Additionally, this study found that the relative influence of maternal and paternal employment hours on child BMI differed, with paternal work hours associated with lower child body mass outcomes, and maternal employment predictive of increased risk of childhood obesity. These findings point to a complex dynamic between parental employment and child weight. This study's finding that the impact of father's hours of work on childhood obesity is significant indicates that ignoring this factor may potentially lead to biased and inconsistent findings. Thus, results of studies that omit paternal employment hours from their modeling, estimation, and inference must be interpreted with a degree of caution. Given parents' mutual interest in efficiently providing for the health and well-being of their children in terms of relative investments of time and other resources, the findings of this research provide theoretical support for the observed asymmetries in parental contributions to child health production. The results of this study point to the need for programs and policies that support parents in their individual and shared contributions to maintaining healthy weight outcomes in children

    School Policy, Food and Physical Activity Environment, and Childhood Obesity

    Get PDF
    The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of school food and physical activity environments on energy balance-related behaviors and Body Mass Index (BMI) and to simulate the effect of school-based nutrition and physical activity policies on childhood obesity prevention. Four models based on the Social Ecological Framework of childhood obesity were developed. Parameters of these models were calibrated and validated with empirical data derived from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study – Kindergarten Class of 1998-99 and the 2003-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Study. The correlation between observed and simulated BMI was 0.85 for 5th grade children and 0.87 for 8th grade children, indicating the validity of the models. The results demonstrated (1) one occasion of sweet snack consumption in school each week may lead to a 0.027 unit increase in BMI among 5th grade children in 2 years and among 8th grade children in 3 years; (2) one occasion of salty snack consumption in school each week may lead to a 0.025 unit increase in BMI among 5th grade children in 2 years and among 8th grade children in 3 years; (3) one occasion of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption in school each week may lead to a 0.05 unit increase in BMI among 5th grade children in 2 years and a 0.06 unit increase in BMI among 8th grade children in 3 years; (4) one minute of physical activity in school each week may lead to a 0.0008 unit decrease in BMI among 5th grade children in 2 years and one physical education class each week may lead to a 0.05 unit decrease in BMI among 8th grade children in 3 years. Comparison of simulated and observed data revealed that school-based policies targeting competitive food availability and physical activity opportunity in school had the potential to prevent childhood obesity. Moreover, prevention and interventions should be taken as early as the first few years of children’s school life. A simulation modeling approach was useful in exploring the effect of environmental factors on childhood obesity and energy balance-related behaviors

    Relative Effectiveness of Nutritional and Physical Programs on Young, Rural, Impoverished Students

    Get PDF
    Over the past several decades, childhood obesity has continued to rank as an epidemic, particularly in rural, impoverished areas in the United States. Therefore, researchers have affirmed the necessity of exploring solutions to the epidemic, including the need to develop and implement programs that target at-risk behaviors of childhood obesity. In this quantitative, quasi-experimental study, the focus was to determine whether public school-based programs teaching nutrition, physical education, and dietary choices could increase the nutritional knowledge, physical activities, and dietary behaviors of students attending second and third grade in rural, impoverished communities of West Virginia. The theories that served as the foundation for this study were the health belief model, and the social ecological model. Archival pretest and posttest data regarding nutrition, physical activity, and dietary behavior was provided by three public schools in rural, impoverished communities that implemented the programs over a 6-week period. Data regarding students\u27 nutritional, physical, and dietary knowledge and behaviors were collected before and after exposure to school-based exercise and nutrition programs. Results of paired samples t tests showed a significant increase in students\u27 nutritional and physical education knowledge, their dietary behaviors, and improvement in 4 out of the 5 areas of physical activity that were measured. Overall, the results of this study offer insight about how school-based programs can be used to develop effective school-based nutrition, dietary, and physical activity programs for students who are at-risk for obesity, especially in rural, impoverished communities

    A Model Integrated Science Guide for Junior High General Education Classroom Teachers in the Tahoma School District

    Get PDF
    Teaching concepts in science that incorporated different science disciplines were studied and placed into practice at Tahoma Junior High School, Maple Valley, Washington. This form of integrated teaching was displayed in an integrated science model unit. The integrated teaching was displayed in an integrated science model unit. The integrated science model unit detailed river systems and the many different sciences that play a role in creating the river environment we see daily. Research showed students learned as well if not better in integrated science classrooms when compared to students who fulfilled the traditional sequence of science classes. Moreover, brain research suggested students\u27 brains were able to make connections between science disciplines when dealing with an entire entity, and not by dissecting the natural environment to specific fields of interest. A sample unit framework, lesson plan and student handouts were provided within the model unit. Additionally, recommendations for implementing an integrated science curriculum were provided

    Chronic stress and obesity in children

    Get PDF
    textChildhood obesity has been prevalent for a number of years despite programs designed to educate children and families on healthy diets and activities. Multiple disciplines have reported chronic stress can interfere with normal neuroendocrine functions in the body which include energy balance. Research into alternate mechanisms contributing to childhood obesity is just beginning to include psychosocial factors’ and their influence on biology. Healthy coping strategies can reduce the effects of stress and influence perceptions of what is stressful. Warm, secure relationships with parents, family connectedness, and a secure stable environment all contribute to the buffering of chronic stress as well as promote the ability to cope with stress. Through the years, changes in the family environment through divorce, single parenthood, and cohabitation may play a role in the child’s ability to cope with stress. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore relationships between the child’s perceptions of chronic stress, coping strategies, family connectedness, family characteristics, and weight in 4th and 5th grade children. This study used a cross sectional and correlational design. The conceptual framework guiding this study was the Bio-Psycho-Social Model for Health integrating the three dimensions (biological, psychological, and sociological) as they relate to obesity in children. Well established instruments were used to measure chronic stress, coping, family connectedness, and weight. Results did not reveal a relationship between chronic stress and children’s weights. The ‘frequency the family sat down to eat dinner together’ was significantly related to weight: the more dinners together the lower the body mass indices and accounted for 14.7% variance in children’s body mass indices. Frequency of family meals was also correlated with the frequency of cooking dinner and negative trending of both ‘frequency’ and ‘helpfulness’ of coping strategies: possibly suggesting less need for the coping strategies. Parents’ education was positively correlated with more sleep on school nights for children. The findings suggest the importance of family time together is related to lower body mass indices in children.Nursin
    • …
    corecore