EAT, PLAY, GROW: PARENT CHILD EDUCATION TO COMBAT CHILDHOOD OBESITY
Aim: The purpose of this evidence based project is to implement the National Institute of Health’s Eat, Play, Grow program into San Diego North County Head Start Centers. The purpose of the program is to educate parents and children on nutrition and exercise to combat the childhood obesity crisis. Parents and children can then use information gained and implement it into the family environment and make healthier choices.
Background: Childhood obesity continues to be a health problem that extends into adulthood and can cause conditions such as Type II Diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that obesity is affecting 17% of children and adolescents in the United States, that is triple the rate from one generation ago. Providing parents and children education on how to make healthy choices can have long lasting effects that can prevent poor health choices as adults.
Process: 15 children between the ages of two and five years of age and perspective parents were given an 11 week lesson plan that included hands-on educational activities that focused on: nutrition, physical activity and sleep. Parents were Spanish speaking only and lessons were translated to provide linguistic relevant material to the participants. Sessions were 90 minutes each and there was a pre and post test given to the parents to measure gained knowledge from the program. Each session incorporated the children into the lessons through play, reading and physical activities such as dancing and playing tag with other children participating in the program.
Outcomes: The desired outcome from the implementation of this program is to give participants enough education to use in day to day decisions that can impact children’s health and to initiate healthy choices for children at an early age. By incorporating children into the lesson plans it is also a goal for children with the capacity to make healthier choices when not accompanied by parents.
Conclusions: The World Health Organization has confirmed the need for early and effective interventions geared towards reversing the obesity trends being seen around the world. The education provided during this extensive program can provide parents with the tools to make better nutritional choices and it allows parents to understand how important physical activity and sleep are for children and adults alike. Understanding how to successfully educate families with programs that are effective is imperative to decrease the number of obese children in the nation.