Developing a Nursing Intervention to Encourage Healthy Eating Habits - Research Proposal Example

?Running Head: Developing a Nursing Intervention to Encourage Healthy Eating Habits among Teenagers Introduction Our long-term well being as well as health is greatly influenced by the food we eat. This is particularly so for children and adolescence since nutrition is very vital for the growth and development of these groups in a healthy way. Nevertheless, recent studies still shows that eating habits among the adolescence are still very poor notwithstanding extensive community awareness in relation to the significance of eating in a healthy way. There are several important factors associated with healthy eating in adolescence: study shows that food preferences in many adults tend to reflect the foods that were generally obtainable during their adolescence (Birch and Marlin 1982). This is a clear indication that consumption of an extensive variety of food especially during adolescence is more likely than not to set up preferences of food that will continue even in adulthood. Changes in food preferences during adulthood are quite difficult to change and therefore it would be much easier to cultivate healthy eating habits. Consumption of a healthy diet is the foundation of better growth and development for adolescents. Healthy eating allows adolescents to attain their educational potential following better brain development. Eating habits during childhood and adolescent often have an impact on the health of such an individual during adulthood. For example, adolescents who munch through outsized quantities of energy giving foods are more likely than not to become obese or even overweight. According to Booth et al. (2001), obese adolescents are more likely to obese even during their adulthood an as a result, they may suffer from illnesses related to obesity such as heart disease as well as diabetes. Discussion Many healthy eating interventions have mainly focused on changes in nutrition intake. Nevertheless, a focused on food patterns, enjoyment of eating, food eating as well as the experience of food are according to Tapper, et al (2003) more likely to develop a positive nursing intervention to encourage healthy eating habits among teenagers that is long lasting. In their study on adolescent healthy eating Worsley and Skryzpiec (2004) make an attempt to define the term healthy eating to mean consumption of an extensive variety of vegetables, fresh fruit, dairy and animal products, wholegrain cereal foods, and also legumes. In an effort to develop a positive nursing intervention to encourage healthy eating habits among teenagers that is long lasting, the causes of concern about adolescent t eating must be identified. These causes of concern may vary from one adolescent to another, they include meal skipping, poor food preference and selection, excessive energy consumption, and fussy eating. The term food selection is used to connote the amount and type of food that individuals usually eat. The reliance on a limited variety of foods is therefore what is referred to as poor food selection. This usually involves selection of foods that contains huge amounts of sugar, salt, and fats. Other studies depict poor food selection as conception of foods which have low content of wholegrain foods, fruits, vegetables, and legumes. There have been concerns about meal skipping amongst adolescents. According to a study conducted by Pollitt and Mathews (1998), skipping meals such as breakfast or even lunch may result to cognitive as well as mood deficits. The tendency to prefer particular food over the other is also another big concern that results to poor eating habits in adolescents. Adolescents may learn to like new and healthy eating habits from repeated exposure to such food and practices especially through parental and peer encouragement. By watching their parents and peers eating and enjoying healthy food, they can easily quite the bad eating habits and assume the healthy practice very easily (Palla, 2008). Among the adolescents, using coercive tactics as well as banning some foods may prove to be very fatal, and might instead induce positive fondness for such foods or even make the adolescents develop hatred towards the foods they are coerced to eat. Introduction of different varieties of foods may lead to adolescents liking them ad adopting healthy eating habits. In the event that a good eating habit is adopted by adolescents and becomes acceptable among the peer it eventually embraced with a lot of easy (Casper, 2000). Producing videotapes and programs that encourages health-eating habits can be of great value among the adolescents. The use of such video could easily and successfully development of a positive nursing intervention to encourage healthy eating habits among teenagers that is long lasting. The following basic principle should be however included: reinforcement, modeling, and exposure. According to Tapper, et al, (2003), exposure is introducing to the adolescents healthy foods such as vegetables and fruits especially at school. This could prove to be very productive especially when it comes to consumption. In the event there is initial resistance to such foods, it should not be taken as a problem but rather the healthy food should be served on another occasion. Adolescents like adults like to observe as well as try to be like the persons they have a high regard for, consequently, adults in the society must consume and enjoy foods that are healthy for purposes of encouraging adolescents to develop healthy eating habits. Schools should therefore promote such foods in their canteens and decrease foods such as pies and cakes (Moore, 2004). The role of teachers and peer group is very important since teachers and pears often than not can model particular behaviors that are desirable among the adolescents. A peer program may be adopted to promote healthy eating habits among the adolescents. Reinforcement of healthy eating habits among adolescents can assist in developing a positive nursing intervention to encourage healthy eating habits among teenagers. This can be done through giving rewards to those who adopt and maintain healthy eating habits. Adolescents have more immediate concerns about what they are doing a particular time such as playing games from the computer, being with friends, looking good, having fun, or even studying . To them the long term benefits of promoting good nutrition is list of their worries (Forbes, 2003). It is therefore imperative in developing a nursing intervention that encourages healthy eating habits among teenagers to identify particular things that motivate and interest them for purposes of promoting healthy eating programs that embrace their needs as well as interests. Conclusion Several issues need to be taken into Consideration prior to embarking on any interventions. Since the purpose of an intervention is to produce a change geared towards improving healthy eating habits, it should involve participation and help of different people and agencies. This is because changing a particular habit usually takes a period of time as well as determination. It is therefore an important step while developing a nursing intervention that encourages healthy eating habits among teenagers to design particular changes that are necessary to achieve the desired habit (Schebendach &Nussbaum, 2002). Specific goals must also be outline for the parents, adolescents as well as teaches in relation to promoting healthy eating habits. Consumption of a healthy diet is the foundation of better growth and development for adolescents. Healthy eating allows adolescents to attain their educational potential following better brain development. Eating habits during childhood and adolescent often have an impact on the health of such an individual during adulthood. For example, adolescents who munch through outsized quantities of energy giving foods are more likely than not to become obese or even overweight. In developing a nursing intervention to encourage healthy eating habits among teenagers, much a focus should be put on food patterns, enjoyment of eating, food eating as well as the experience of food as aforementioned. References Birch, L. (2002). Effects of peer models' food choices and eating behaviors on preschoolers' food preferences. Child Development, vol. 51, pp. 489–96. Booth, M,. et al. (2001). ‘The epidemiology of overweight and obesity among Australian children and adolescents, 1999–2001.’ Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, vol. 25, pp. 162–9. Casper, R. (2000) Weight and dieting concerns in adolescents, fashion or symptom? Pediatrics ;86:386-90. Forbes, G. (2003). Nutritional requirements in adolescents: Nutrition. New York: Raven Press Palla B, (2008). Medical complications of eating disorders in adolescents. Pediatrics ; 81:613-23.Pollitt, E & Mathews, R (2008). ‘Breakfast and cognition: an integrative Summary. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, vol. 67 (supplement), pp. S805–S813. Moore D. (2004). Body image and eating behavior in adolescent girls. Am J Dis Child ;142:1114-8. Schebendach, J., & Nussbaum, M. (2002). Nutrition management in adolescents with eating disorders. Adolesc Med State Art Rev 1992;3:541-8. Tapper, K,. et al. (2003). ‘Food dudes to the rescue’, The Psychologist, Vol. 16, pp. 18–21. Worsley, A., & Skryzpiec, G. (2004). ‘Teenage vegetarianism: beauty or the beast?’, Nutrition Research, vol. 17, pp. 391–404. Read More