Awareness of Obesity - Essay Example

"Awareness of Obesity" is an outstanding example of a paper on child development.

 The primary purpose of this assignment is to highlight the evaluation of the proposed program on raising awareness amongst the Latino children aged 12-17 suffering from obesity issues (Korte (2009). The primary objective of the program is to educate and train children on switching to a healthy lifestyle and diet regimen. The education and training program involves support and cooperation from the health community center of Los Angeles, doctors, and several volunteers. They would be responsible for motivating the Latino children through group and individual discussions on obesity issues along with finding ways and solutions to overcome them. 

Description of the Evaluation Design 

The evaluation of the obesity control program named “Shape Up” is based on creating awareness amongst the Latino children through effective methods of discussion and sharing of ideas and issues. This particular evaluation is a summative evaluation that analyzes the impact and outcomes of the program in an analytical manner (Delbert, Miller, Salkind, 2002).  The impact evaluation is based on raising awareness, sharing of knowledge, influencing existing behaviors, and focusing on program effects. The outcome evaluation is based on focusing on long term solutions along with continue endeavors to achieve proposed goals and objectives.  

Control or Comparison Group 

The program aims at comparing the obesity issues prevailing in the Latino children with the White children. The white American population in the US is more than 80% while that of Latinos is 15%. (US Census Bureau, 2008). A particular section of the white American Children belonging to Los Angeles would be compared to Latinos Children for identifying key reasons behind the prevalence of obesity issues amongst the Latino children. The analysis and comparison would be based on the assessment of social, economic, and psychological factors playing an important role in ascertaining health issues and problems (Baranowski, 2002). 

A detailed plan including Evaluation Points 

Program Evaluation 

Activities 

Engaging Stakeholders 

Through group activities and games 

Collecting data and information 

Personally and Focus Group 

Analyzing information 

Quantitatively and qualitatively  

Offering Solutions 

Through facts, journals, and feedback 

Ensuring Long term benefits 

Assessing and cross-checking for a year  

Strengths and Weaknesses of the Evaluation Design 

The strengths and weaknesses of the evaluation design have been analyzed to make the evaluation design more effective and impactful. Some of the strengths and weaknesses include: 

Strengths of the Evaluation Design are as follow: 

• Based on a summative design 

• Assessment of information using pre-testing and piloting processes 
• Evaluation to be done by doctors and volunteers having the appropriate knowledge 

Weaknesses of the Evaluation Design are as follow: 

• Lack of financial resources restricting the use of technology in the evaluation 
• Long duration because of the lack of sources and resources 

Conclusion 

The evaluation program is based on summative design including pre-testing and pilot testing (Rossi et al, 1999).  The evaluation program would be conducted by the professionals having medical knowledge and expertise. Overall, the evaluation program supports logical considerations and activities that would help in achieving the proposed goals and objectives of the program systematically.