Developing a Health Advocacy Campaign - Essay Example

Developing a Health Advocacy Campaign Affiliation: Select a population health issueof interest Obesity has been on the increase the last decade with the majority of the new cases being discovered among adolescents and children. Statistics indicate that in 2012, more than a third of the children’s population was either being considered to be overweight or obese and this is a very high figure (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015). The concern is that these children are predisposed to other diseases which accompanied the increase in weight and the calorie imbalance that was obesity. There are heart diseases and diabetes that the children are predisposed to and hence the problem becomes much more serious and can even lead to death. The issue that has raised concern is the sedentary lifestyle children have been leading since birth. With increase in technology, video games have been on the increase in the market among other technological gadgets that keep children busy and preoccupied. These children have no time for physical exercise and while playing the video games or watching TV, they snack on junk food. The food has a high calorie count which is not worked off and hence starts building up in the body. It is noticeable at a certain point when the child starts increasing weight. For those with severe cases of childhood obesity, any form of physical exercise including walking is enough to make them heave and breathe clearly. This is an indication of the cholesterol build up on the inside and around the heart expanding it and constricting the veins and capillaries leading to blood flow problems and hence heart attack is eminent (Kiess, Wabitsch, Maffeis & Sharma, 2015). Identify the population affected by this issue This population is the most predisposed because they are still too young to understand the health benefits of walking, plying and carrying out physical exercises. They simply see it as too much work and take is as a form of punishment and especially if told they have to keep the videogame aside first (Waters, Swinburn, Seidell & Uauy, 2011). This is also highly disposed because they are at the growing stage with them eating a lot in order to grow. The only problem with the eating is that if there is no adult supervision, they tend to eat unhealthy food laddered with a lot of sugar. Children can be seen to eat a lot of sugary food like cakes and candy throughout the day. The problem is that they get the same products both in school and at home and hence children stand no chance of denying themselves the joys of childhood. This age group is also notorious throwing tantrums either as young children or as a result if adolescence. Parents in order to appease the children and prevent them from throwing the tantrum they give in to the sweets demand and this only adds to their calorie build up in the body. Other parents over compensate their busy lifestyle throughout the week with taking the children out during weekends and allowing them to have anything they want and of course being children, they will head to the sweeteners areas and pick the different sweets and at the end of it a video game to pass the afternoon with (Waters, Swinburn, Seidell & Uauy, 2011). Summarize advocacy programs you researched The Alliance for a Healthier Generation is a an advocacy organization for children with obesity and it aims as reducing the prevalence of the childhood obesity as well as empower the children on ways to lead a healthier lifestyle and develop healthy habits. This organization works with the parents, community organizations and even the healthcare professionals on the ways to instill the healthier systems or the children through addressing some of the causes of the childhood obesity. It receives funding of its work from the American Heart Association as well as the Clinton Foundation as well as through collaboration from other organizations. The advocacy program believes that if everyone is empowered on the importance of creating a healthy lifestyle for the children, then the children will be healthy and all the health complications mentioned above will not be present (Daniels, et al, 2009). The other advocacy program is National Association of School Nurses is a nursing professional group of registered nurses who have come together to promote the ways to prevent children from becoming overweight and eventually obese. They figured that using their professional skills, they are at an advantage to convince the children themselves on healthy behavior rather than going through the parents as a third party. Children have a way to trust doctors and nurses as well as fear them in their own way. The nurses take advantage of this trust and fear to teach advocate to schools about their health policy in the school diet or what is sold in the school cafeterias and tuck shops. Other than handling the nutrition, they have a guide on physical activities that promotes fitness for children of all age groups until adolescent (National Association of School of Nurses, 2013). Explain the attributes that made these programs effective In the first program, the organization has direct funding and backing up of the cause by two very powerful foundations that are well known and grounded and hence will attract more people towards the advocacy. People tend dot trust that the advocacy program is reliable and the information it provides is accurate and well researched. The backing by the Clinton Foundation has enabled gained its political influence and support as the Clintons are a political couple and hence command respect even attract more investors. In order for an advocacy program to grow and spread its wings, it’s got to have exposure, strong backing and a sustainable future plan all of which the advocacy program has (Daniels, et al, 2009). In the second program, there is professional backing of the program which is even way more important in the end. Parents of the children will tend to lean more towards professional advice and registered nurses are enough health care professionals to create the level of trust needed in order to believe in the program and follow it (National Association of School of Nurses, 2013). It is through this and the backing of the program by pother health care professions that this advocacy program has reached its level of success and is still sustainable enough to handle new clients and print healthy magazines and articles. References Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2015, April). Childhood Obesity Facts. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/obesity/facts.htm Daniels, S. et al. (2009). AHA Conference Proceedings: American Heart Association Childhood Obesity Research Summit. Circulation, 119: 2114-2123. Kiess, W., Wabitsch, M, Maffeis, C. & Sharma, A. (2015). Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity in Childhood and Adolescence. New York: Karger Medical and Scientific Publishers. National Association of School of Nurses. (2013, June). Overweight and Obesity in Youth in Schools - The Role of the School Nurse. Retrieved from http://www.nasn.org/PolicyAdvocacy/PositionPapersandReports/NASNPositionStatemen tsArticleView/tabid/462/ArticleId/39/Overweight-Children-and-Adolescents-Adopted- 2002 Waters, E., Swinburn, B, Seidell, J. & Uauy, R. (2011). Preventing Childhood Obesity: Evidence Policy and Practice. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons. Read More